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Kayla Cook is a writer, artist, and book reviewer based in the USA. She can usually be found reading several books at once or spilling her twisted imagination into the physical world by writing or drawing. Having practiced art from the age of two, she used to daydream of becoming an artist for DreamWorks, but she ultimately set her sights on becoming an author. Books have long been her sanctuary, and it’s her dream to provide for others the adventure, solace, entertainment, and enchantment that so many authors have provided for her. To this end, she’s authored and illustrated a range of works including nine full-length novels and countless novellas, short stories, and poems. While her novels tend to be fantasy, her novellas and short stories generally slip toward the horror end of the spectrum. Kayla is still working to find homes for her stories, but she’s currently in the process of revising them, focusing primarily on her latest novel—a New Adult high fantasy which she plans to make her debut. She also runs two websites, one for book reviews and the other for . . . everything else. If you’d like to connect with Kayla, please feel free to visit her websites and social media. To read her latest short stories, poems, personal musings, and writing tips, please drop by her author website, www.kaylacookauthor.com. There, you’ll also find some of her artwork, including a few pieces of concept art she’s created for her coming debut. To find some great books that are already published, please check out her book reviews at www.kaylacreviews.com. For a full list of her profiles and websites, please click : https://kaylacook.contactin.bio/

Envy for the ease Of taking wing Soaring high Buffered by the wind Gracious voices Uplifted in praise Singing together At sun’s first rays Gowns of colors Glittering in dew Reflecting reds Purples and blues Envy you I do So when I dream I’m one of your kind Taking to wing

In darkness Moonbeams of silver Cast opalescent light On her sculpted soul She is a moonflower Whose bud unfurls In a magical twirl Drawn open by the light The air is heavy With the perfume Of passion’s sweet nectar Love is a night flower © Lorene G. Rogers Aug. 18, ‘22

You leave nothing lost to notice only admiring the curves of my voice safe and sound in the cacoon of your verse coddled and caressed by words you use to delve in the holes of my imagination You are a soft stroke away from a poem ... ~ ©️ Priya Patel 🕉

didn't want to go her back in so much pain she had nothing to lose and everything to gain herself, a pediatric nurse she tried everything tens unit, cold/heat nothing worked - nada not a single thing could have climbed the stairs which she decided not to do she took the elevator - got trapped - who knew cellphone came in handy called the office to advise office gal came right away - following her cries 911 - two firetrucks pulled up outside geared to the hilt with axes they arrived for a full half hour, they tried - they pried and they pried a-sweatin' and hopin' 'till the doors finally opened free at last - free at last ©️ Lorene Rogers, Jan. 28, 2023

she knew he was gone even before he was born this death before life still she carried him crying him to heavens doors bathing him in tears ~ ©️ Priya Patel,  Jan 16, 24 🕉 Artwork by Medha Srivastava titled Motherlove

Between our lips Shared kisses pass And wine Never tired of old passion Mad music Seductive, Intoxicating dance Of ancient fashion Til at last you lie Beneath my shadow As hearts, driven to Love and lust's gallop, Falling at last to rest One heart beating Against the other. Donovan Baldwin

Now more than ever before, public art is on the rise. New murals crop up in cities, large and small, on what feels like an everyday basis, each one breathing new, vibrant life into the streets that were once blank canvases for creativity. The terms graffiti and street art have long been used interchangeably to describe these public art installations—but what should we really call them? Is there a difference? If you’ve ever found yourself wondering if the way you refer to your favorite public art is accurate, you’re certainly not alone. Let’s explore the origins of graffiti and street art, the similarities the two share, and the key differences that set them apart. What is graffiti? Depending on who you ask, graffiti is either a form of vandalism, or a form of art—or both, simultaneously. By definition, graffiti refers to markings, photos, words, initials, or drawings that have been spray-painted, sketched, or even scratched onto walls, sidewalks, or any other publicly accessible areas. It’s pretty common to hear someone refer to any and all of these instances as “graffiti,” but as it turns out, the word graffiti is actually a plural noun. So if there’s just one, it’s technically considered to be a single graffito. Derived from the Italian word with the same spelling, graffito translates to “incised inscription or design,” and is a derivative of graffiare, which means “to scratch.” Though contemporary graffiti is most commonly created through spray-painting methods, historic works of graffiti—many of which can be traced as far back as the beginnings of human civilization— were scratched into cave walls and monuments with sharp objects like stones. Graffiti over time The graffiti we’re familiar with today, such as tagging of names, first began appearing overnight on underground subway cars in major cities like New York and Philadelphia as early as the 1920s. Graffiti is most commonly created illegally, which contributes to the art form’s negative reputation rooted in crime, delinquency, and rebellion against authority. Graffiti’s presence isn’t always negative, though. Throughout history, graffiti has been continually used as a vessel for political and social activism, especially among those who have long been silenced or purposefully omitted from larger societal conversations. In the 1980s Keith Haring used graffiti to comment on the drug epidemic and AIDS crisis, and more recently, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh has created messages addressing gender inequality. While technically, such graffiti is a form of illegal vandalism, it arguably serves as a necessary disruption to daily life, forcing people to pay more attention to specific issues. What is street art? In contrast, street art is, quite literally, art that can be found on the street. Defined as “public-space artwork that’s created for consumption outside of the typical art gallery setting,” street art is essentially synonymous with “public art” as it encompasses a variety of mediums like painting, sculpture, or stained glass. This intentionally broad definition is key to understanding the scope of what street art covers, but public murals are by far the most common form of street art. These expansive, often larger-scale works of art typically painted on open walls or sides of buildings are most frequently created in partnership with companies, brands, or local organizations, but have also at times been commissioned by city officials to discourage and prevent illegal graffiti. So, if a public mural is considered street art, does that mean graffiti is also a form of street art? The answer is: sort of. Because they are so similar, graffiti and street art are often conflated and used interchangeably—even in some artistic circles. But technically, graffiti and street art are both subversive art movements on their own, and graffiti actually predates the modernized murals we generally see in cities today. The exact origin of the term street art remains ambiguous, but the distinction between graffiti and street art became clearer within the mainstream art world during the 1970s and ’80s, possibly due to the fact emerging street artists who wanted a way to differentiate their work. In fact, many of the earliest street artists and muralists either drew inspiration from or started out as graffiti artists themselves before making the switch. Today, these murals and other forms of sanctioned street art are still largely perceived as more socially acceptable and legitimate than graffiti, but their presence in cities around the world remains complicated. What are the key differences between street art and graffiti? Street art and graffiti overlap in many ways, but the key differences between the two lie in technique and intent. Graffiti artists are, in general, unconcerned with the public’s reaction to their work. Graffiti isn’t about pleasing or connecting with the masses—alongside its function as an internal language, it is largely a means of self-expression. In contrast, street art is created with a specific public audience in mind, especially when it’s commissioned by businesses, local organizations, or city officials. Street artists and muralists often aim to provoke audience interest and interaction through their work, or at the very least, a certain degree of understanding or appreciation for whatever it is they’re trying to convey. This post is a portion of this longer article published on September 14, 2020

Your words brush silky on my psyche Their touch as real as my hand I'd love to pull you close and move My lips upon your chin. Your warmth sparks the hidden me Burrowed in that secret place You show me your skills and me Wanting only to please. Its only words upon this page And thoughts so hot they burn If only I unleashed my will To send love in return.

Together we walk in the rainy dusk Lushness and silence surround Save for the pitter patter  Of all those drops coming down Two bundles trudging side by side Heads down in defensive stance Wet and alone on this daily chore Hunkered below protective branch I love to walk in the autumn rain Feeling mist lite on my skin Heavenly waters quelling thirst Feeding trees and living beings My dog however hates to go He’s not a fan and wonders  For what good reason are we here Wet soaking through our covers He doesn’t comprehend its he Who has all the control We’d hurry in if only he’d  Kindly finish up the show Jumping puddles, straddling gutter Rivers with leaf boats floating by We’re homeward bound and not too soon Neither of us remains dry

Left me alone in silence screaming how could this happen to us Left me alone or was I just dreaming The one I thought I could trust Couldn’t stop shaking my heart was breaking a stabbing pain in my chest As he stared at the ceiling my heart was reeling I had always given my best… And now -- this mountain… My lips were trembling couldn’t hold back the tears for I knew in my heart as he tore it apart The heartache would last for years ©Lorene Rogers Oct. 10, 2022

Where leads this beckoning road, This silent, time-worn street? Does it lead to secret places, where Angels and demons meet? Or, does it fade with forward steps, And slowly cease to be? Perhaps it reaches unknown lands, Which I am doomed to never see. Yet I cannot long each road ignore, Nor allow my steps to turn, From each strange path to somewhere, And new things I must learn. Donovan Baldwin