Creative Non-Fiction

On His Blindness by Lauren Bishop-Weidner

By AULA Editor

Doth God exact day-labour, light denied.
 (John Milton, 1608-1674)
 Everyone recognized Dr. Nelson.  A political science professor at Southern Illinois University, the man was a campus fixture, kind and gentlemanly, impeccably dressed.  We marveled at the dignity and ease with which he and his guide dog navigated the hilly, wooded campus.  He was exotic, intriguing, [...]

Welcome to Egypt by Dawn-Michelle Baude

By AULA Editor

Algammah considers this urhent massge
apologize to Allah from all soles which will be gone
no way during this severe facing
Oh God wi are sed
 
The call to jihad on the wall of Alexandria University of Egypt is a far cry from the fliers cheerfully exhorting, "Join Chess Club on Thursday!" or "Textbook Sale!" that [...]

Juxtaposed by John Medeiros

By aulapress

Minnesota.  I am here, but how did that happen?
Here is blue and green and white.  Song in the air: whippoorwill by day, cricket by night.
            These are the things that matter most today.
            And I’ve been here since some once-upon-a-time January, when the frost first performed its wintry dance on my lenses and I stepped [...]

Desolation by Patrick O’Neil

By aulapress

            "Hi, welcome to Taco Bell. Hope you're having a nice day," said the girl standing behind the counter. Her monotone voice so void of emotion it could have been computerized.
            "Define nice," I answered, and looked around at all the colored plastic and brushed aluminum and wondered why this was what fast food [...]

Blue by Loretta Williams

By aulapress

I still miss those pajamas — my hospital pajamas — white with blue roses and thin stripes.  My mother made the pajamas for me when I was seven. It was my first trip to the hospital to see if doctors could divine the odd sloshing rhythm that had made my heart unreliable since birth.  Whatever [...]