Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Earth.
Little Seal
My brothers and sisters are strong. I am told we traversed the plains, even beyond the horizon where pink converges blue and expands into the great white heavens. I have no memory of this journey, but Grandfather says I have strength in my bones and that bones carry memories, so I am strong too. Most days, Grandmother boils willow bark and qulliq, which heal my lungs. My brother Nanook is growing the fastest; he is getting muscles and often pummels us younger ones to the ground to wrestle and Grandmother yells “get off Little Seal!” I laugh so hard I can’t breathe. That’s what grandmother calls me, Little Seal.
By Nicole Mitchell4 years ago in Earth
Inside and Out Life in the Islands
An Inside out Look at Life in the Islands Life in the Pacific Islands presents an interesting dynamic between law, culture, poverty and many other quirky things in between. Let’s take a journey and see just how special one particular place can be.
By Lyndsey Wilson4 years ago in Earth
The Foodie
1. There's been another car accident at the intersection up the street. I heard the shriek of hastily braking tires and the booming smash of metal on metal a few minutes ago as I was slicing a reddish-green heirloom tomato to put on my French-style open faced brie-on-sourdough breakfast sandwich. I don't want to let the toasted bread get cold, but I have to go see if anyone is hurt. So I throw on my fuzzy black coat and take my sandwich with me as I walk the half block to the north. A fair compromise, I think.
By Elizabeth Bynum4 years ago in Earth
The Esky
Caleb and Jarrad tilted the esky onto the grass, careful not to splash the contents onto themselves. The liquid glided smoothly from the tub, striking the grass below before taking its time to settle into patches of dirt. Once the pair had pushed the now empty esky to the back of Jarrad’s ute, Caleb lit up a cigarette and walked away in quiet contemplation, leaving Jarrad to gather the remaining components alone. His gaze zoned in on the missing cat poster clinging to his neighbour’s bins.
By Rye Taylor4 years ago in Earth
The Esky
Caleb and Jarrad tilted the esky onto the grass, careful not to splash the contents onto themselves. The liquid glided smoothly from the tub, striking the grass below before taking its time to settle into patches of dirt. Once the pair had pushed the now empty esky to the back of Jarrad’s ute, Caleb lit up a cigarette and walked away in quiet contemplation, leaving Jarrad to gather the remaining components alone. His gaze zoned in on the missing cat poster clinging to his neighbour’s bins.
By Rye Taylor4 years ago in Earth
The Riddle of Rayne
There was a grey overcast haunting the sky, congested with storm clouds brewing by the second. Rayne felt the sand, slightly cold from the fall chill hanging in the air. The pieces fell through her fingers, never staying within the palm of her grasp, almost as if they became dismembered at the touch of her hand.
By Megan Serna 4 years ago in Earth
Lulu
Lulu is short for “huluppu” the ancient Sumerian word for a date palm tree. This tree was found after the Flood and rescued by the goddess of love and death, Inanna, Queen of Heaven. She planted it in her garden and nurtured it. This story re-envisions the original myth, "The Huluppu Tree" in which the tree is cut down by Gilgamesh. In this story, the tree survives both the Flood and Gilgamesh. Told from the perspective of the little, rescued tree, this story gives voice to her memories of the different stages of her life: as a dream within her parents memories, as a little seed being born, falling into the earth, rooting, and blossoming into maturity, becoming part of a community of trees, before being brutally uprooted by the flood. The sections are meant to be read out loud and spoken. Like the phrases of ancient stories, the meaning of each section changes when read in different rhythms (i.e., depending on where one pauses for a breath) creating a very personal experience with the tree.
By Kristina Koutsoudas4 years ago in Earth
It’s Not Over…
In the beginning, growing up Monique always felt different from her family and the world around her. She was a curious youngling whom would keep her eyes in the sky and wonder what was out there. Yearning for more in life, while feeling out of place. Young enough to know she couldn’t fly on her own, but wise enough to know that there were endless possibilities to life and what could become of her. Monique often wondered why she chose to ascend from her stardust-self to an earthly being and select the family she channeled into, given the dis-functionality and historical trauma she would inevitably need to overcome.
By Ebony Book (she, her, hers)4 years ago in Earth
The Life of a Housefly
A Housefly rests on the cold, tiled surface of a kitchen floor. Its life has been short, and it is ending now. In its last moments, the Housefly is full of resentment. The world all around it is bright and full of life, and it is all too aware of the brevity of its own existence. The plants on the windowsill are a vibrant green, the birds outside are jarringly loud, and even the impossibly old and brilliant sun seemed to look down on the Housefly with its billions of years of life and laugh.
By Anna Maria Barrett4 years ago in Earth
Community Cultivation
In the heart of the city, there are blocks, after block of abandoned homes. Vacant buildings that were once promising businesses are now community eyesores neighborhood hazards and safe havens for rats, filth, and sadly the homeless. These high-risk areas attract crime, and in many areas drug activity. Many of these areas are historical and rich with history. I often wonder why city officials seem to ignore the obvious deterioration of our once beautiful, and productive city. I imagine we, who live in these communities no doubt must, take action, show more than initiative if we plan on saving our land, being purposeful. and having community growth.
By D.C.@UN-BrokenGRAMMAR4 years ago in Earth
