• Golden sunlight spills across a tall sunflower leaning into the light, its bright yellow petals catching the glow of a warm afternoon. The background blurs into soft greens and sparkling sun flares, giving the whole image a dreamy, late-summer feel. say hello Text: Sunshine, John McMahon, POETRY

    Sunshine

    Don’t leave it to chance —
    say hello,
    before the seeds pass us by.

  • Sunlight breaks through clouds in a golden sky, with long rays shining down over a landscape of distant hills and silhouetted trees along the horizon. The MockingOwl Roost owl logo appears in the top right corner. golden dragon TEXT: Golden Dragon, Poetry, David Dephy

    Golden Dragon

    The dragon is golden. The sun is the Golden Dragon, encircled by rays, burning spirits, cleaning heavens from shadows.

  • A lone, leafless tree stands in the middle of a wide, snow-covered field, its dark branches reaching outward against a glowing sunset sky. The horizon burns with warm shades of gold and orange, while heavy gray storm clouds linger overhead, creating a quiet contrast between darkness and light. power lines hum Text: Stillness After the Storm, Sara Etgen-Baker, Poetry

    Stillness After the Storm

    The power lines hum,
    low and uncertain,
    like a man trying to remember
    the words to a song…

  • A sharply focused close-up of a honeybee perched on the bright center of a yellow flower, its delicate wings lifted slightly as it gathers pollen. The soft green background blurs into the distance, creating a calm springtime scene that feels alive with quiet motion and natural purpose. yellow confetti TEXT: Spring’s Golden Menace, Poetry, Sara Etgen-Baker

    Spring’s Golden Menace 

    A sneeze hangs in the air like a threat,
    while the oak tree chuckles in yellow confetti.
    My car wears a coat of guilty dust,
    proof of spring’s indecent proposal.

  • Warm light glows across rows of polished wooden piano or organ keys, stretching diagonally into the distance. A rich strip of red felt runs between the rows, adding a bold line of color against the smooth wood. The repeating keys create a steady, rhythmic pattern that feels quiet and expectant, like music waiting to be played. The title sits across the top in textured script, with the author’s name just below. cembalo - TEXT: Listen to Handel, Nick Cooke, Poetry

    Listening To Handel

    This is where
    The melody comes in
    And the raging mind has
    No choice but to simmer…

Quarterly & Special Issues

  • Poetry Special 2022 cover
  • Introspection issue cover
  • Sleeper of R'Lyeh cover
  • cover image of the MockingOwl Roost, Volume 1, Issue 4: Community
  • giant elephant in forest with a man standing in front of the elephant
🦉 Submissions next open from June 1 to August 31 2024
February 26, 2026
A square image with a cozy, wintry, and peaceful aesthetic, designed for a poetry piece. The foreground features a clear glass mug filled with coffee, resting on a thick ledge of fresh white snow. The background is a soft, blurred bokeh of winter whites and grays, suggesting a snowy outdoor scene. The overall mood is quiet and reflective. A black owl logo is positioned in the lower-right corner. Never-Never Land of Rest Text: In Praise of Late February, Shamik Banerjee, Poetry
Published by Shamik Banerjee at February 26, 2026
Categories

In Praise of Late February

This planet, once a schlocky sketch Made by December’s hue — graphite — Becomes a splendid fresco where The paints are flowers and sunlight. The sky, a multiplex-like screen, Displays a movie where a few Small, plumy planes hide in the clouds Then once again appear in view.
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February 25, 2026
A black-and-white photograph shows a large domed government building with ornate stone architecture dominating the background. In the foreground, a city bus passes across the frame, slightly blurred to convey motion and everyday urban life. The contrast between the historic structure and modern traffic creates a sense of movement through time. Calcutta TEXT: Kipling Said to Stay Away – But Can I; Literary Travel Series; Melanie Corbett
Published by Melanie Corbett at February 25, 2026
Categories

Kipling Said to Stay Away — But Can I?

As I look forward to this trip, I caution myself that Kolkata may be in many ways similar to Delhi, with the same grime, dirt, and chaos of any large, old city. But, I also hope that it will be more relaxed…
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February 24, 2026
Bold green background with book cover image in shades of green and black with a blood-dripping bullet hole and money scattered. TEXT: Death of a Billionaire, a Satirical Sci-Fi Murder Mystery Review - Zina Mona
Published by Zina Mona at February 24, 2026
Categories

Death of a Billionaire, a Satirical Sci-Fi Murder Mystery Review

Despite the predictability of the characters typical of murder mysteries, the plot was fresh and unexpected, engaging me through all the twists and setbacks. There was never a moment where I was actually able to predict the ending.
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February 18, 2026
Published by Cyndi Lublink at February 18, 2026
Categories

The Stranger in Our Bed, A Film Movie Review

This mystery-thriller kept me guessing. It is set in England and, in part, at an old family estate in the country, both of which lend to the movie's mystery. From the beginning, I could feel the tension that proved to weave throughout the story.
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February 17, 2026
A square image containing photographs of the 4 covers of The Sims franchise. Each is presented as if inside a clear CD case. The background features a gradient of blues and greens. The text is outlined in a thick black stroke at the bottom of the page with the genre vertically along the side. The overall feel is organized and informative. The Sims TEXT: The Sims at 25: A Retrospective on a Video Game Icon, Nereesha Patel, The Sims, The Sims 2, The Sims 3, The Sims 4, Video Game Review
Published by Nereesha Patel at February 17, 2026
Categories

The Sims at 25: A Retrospective on a Video Game Icon

In the span of 25 years, The Sims has become one of the most commercially successful and recognizable game franchises ever created. Despite its imperfections, its simming community maintains a strong presence online.
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February 15, 2026
Side Roads and Detours issue cover - Light sky blue as main background, with cover of the magazine issue to the right with bold blue sky with vibrant white clouds over a well-traveled road, with mountains to the left. TEXT: Standard Issue - Volume 6, Issue 1: Side Roads and Detours - the MockingOwl Roost contributors and staff
Published by The MockingOwls at February 15, 2026
Categories

Side Roads and Detours

Life is like a meandering path through a fantasy world forest. Amid the trees wildlife, monsters, and new directors could come at you, detouring your life plan, your hopes, your dreams. But not all side roads are bad things. Some could be wondrous moments that lead to delights and growth, others may simply bring you path to your truest road after a bit of wandering. After all, as our beloved Tolkien once put it, “Not all those who wander are lost.”
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February 10, 2026
White background with scattered baking supplies around the edges of the image. A book in red and other vibrant colors rest in the lower left hand corner: The Whisking Hour. TEXT: Rita Mock-Pike, Cozy Mystery Review
Published by Rita Mock-Pike at February 10, 2026
Categories

The Whisking Hour — An Advanced Review of Murder, Baked Goods, and Theatre

Now, when I say delectable, I mean it. Practically every page of “The Whisking Hour” drips with baked-in goodness in a vibrant, descriptive tone. For, you see, the narrator is Juliet Capshaw, the owner and head baker at Torte, a cafe and bakery in the small town of Ashland, Oregon.
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