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Story by Joseph Young (Read author interview) September 29, 2009

art by Robinson Accola

Palmetto

The train waited like a tiger, breath in the grass. She climbed the deep embankment. Water? she said, to the child, a tar-stained cat.

Thresh

He handed her over the pile of crabs, waving white in the hull. Thanks, she said, to her receiver. The man put her down, pointed toward him, his particular crossing.

Rest

The lamb had weathered to a set of knobs. Meanwhile, next to it, the stone kept accountable the sky. Jesus, he said, in wont of water.

Saved

The waves were dark though adorned in the domes of jellyfish. Toward one she threw a stone. Theyre my grandfather drowning, she said. Sand had caught in her ears, the tender band of her suit.

Wet

Each day, the sky was ruined, black and greened. Newspapers carried ink to the streets.

About the Author

Joseph Young writes microfiction in Baltimore. His work has appeared in Lamination Colony, Wigleaf, FRiGG, Cake Train Grey Sparrow Journal, and others. A volume of his microfiction, Easter Rabbit, was published by Publishing Genius Press in December 2009.

Joseph Young writes microfiction in Baltimore. His work has recently appeared in Lamination Colony, Wigleaf, and FRiGG, and he has work forthcoming in Cake Train and Grey Sparrow Journal. A volume of his microfiction, Easter Rabbit, will be published by Publishing Genius Press in December 2009.

About the Artist

Robinson Accola creates artwork for SmokeLong Quarterly as needed.

This story appeared in Issue Twenty-Six of SmokeLong Quarterly.
SmokeLong Quarterly Issue Twenty-Six
ornament

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The March Micro Marathon 25

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We’re doing it again! We’re homing in on the micro: 100-word, 250-word, and 400-word stories. In March 2025 SmokeLong is hosting The March Micro Marathon, a 24-day workshop with a new writing task each day, peer review in small groups, 3 webinars, a reading and interview with Michelle Ross and the editors of 100 Word Story, and 3 competitions with cash prizes.