Last night the dreams poured in through the window. The plants, brought in for the first threat of freeze, let them rest and take stock on their last leaves. The dreams— knowing so much— didn’t know where to enter when I taped my mouth shut. And then they just became me, and I became the window, which amounted to nothing but seeing. I woke up in the back of my head and my understanding of the size of the sky turned purple, pink, and apricot. I think my place on this earth is in my … Continue reading Knowing and Oh My, 2 poems by Julia Falcinelli →
Christine Wilcox is the 3rd place winner of Streetlight‘s 2026 Essay/Memoir Contest She slips into Mass during the processional, as if she’s part of it. But she’s on the left aisle, not the center, where the incense trails the short, skinny acolyte like a contrail, briefly enshrouding Father Johnny Johnson. For a moment he looks like something. She keeps pace with the thurifer, then sidesteps right into a pew about seven back. The first thing you notice about her is the Santa hat. Campy red velour, with the white trim, and the snowball tassel, too. But, to … Continue reading Flare, Strobe, Pulse by Jeffrey Kane →
Our touring barge plows south through Mekong waters soon to arrive in the Delta. It’s been years, yet the names of these places are still familiar. Glossary of napalm and agent orange, of families fleeing, of death. I stand on deck and see a peaceful land, little battered boats, hut homes, rice-carrying hoys, their painted eyes alert for evil spirits. Everywhere in the brown current, islands of hyacinths float — invasive spread of jade leaves, plum blooms and unseen roots that hang in the water and thrive. Close by a flat boat drifts, nets piled … Continue reading Unseen Roots by Martha Snell →
Another Medicare commercial came on TV. It was getting to be time for bed. Brad knew that if he didn’t turn off the television and get out of his recliner it would be midnight again before he got under the covers with Julia. He could have been in bed by now if he had gotten a wink and a smile from her as she went up to bed, but she gave no hints there would be romance. That part of their relationship was trending downward. They still got along fine, but more like … Continue reading He Died In Her Sleep Peter Wallace →
Joy. Love. Silliness. These words come to Eileen French’s mind when asked to describe her paintings. A figurative artist at the McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, French’s oversized portraits feature men and women at play and in spontaneous scenes that suggest animated narratives. French’s recent McGuffey show was called Kinship, a collection of paintings that celebrate the connections between us all, a confluence of souls. Among her paintings are a number that celebrate her daughter, Whitney. She died as a result of domestic violence in 2017 in Charlottesville. She was thirty-three years old. While … Continue reading Eileen French’s Figurative Paintings Celebrate Kinship →
Streetlight Voices: Short Fiction & Memoir · Thank You For Calling by Margaret Watson Podcast: “Thank you for Calling” is a story about endings. A fictional story performed by Jennifer Sims. Read the story online: “Thank you for Calling” by Margaret Watson Jennifer Sims is an actor and voice over artist who has voiced hundreds of projects across all genres. After attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts she wandered into a career in advertising. She worked as an ad agency producer for ten years before she found her way back to her creative path … Continue reading Thank you for Calling by Margaret Watson →
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