• 6:59am by Shane Koyczan

I’ve been told that people in the army do more by 7:00 am than I do in an entire day

but if I wake at 6:59 am and turn to you to trace the outline of your lips with mine I will have done enough and killed no one in the process.

• untitled by Halina Poświatowska

be near me close because only then i am not chilled

the cold roars in from space

when i think how big she is as compared to me

then i am in need of your two interlocked arms two rays of the universe

• the quiet world by Jeffrey McDaniel

In an effort to get people to look into each other's eyes more, and also to appease the mutes, the government has decided to allot each person exactly one hundred and sixty-seven words, per day.

When the phone rings, I put it to my ear without saying hello. In the restaurant I point at chicken noodle soup. I am adjusting well to the new way.

Late at night, I call my long distance lover, proudly say I only used fifty-nine today. I saved the rest for you.

When she doesn't respond, I know she's used up all her words, so I slowly whisper I love you thirty-two and a third times. After that, we just sit on the line and listen to each other breathe.