Blurry red fills his vision as he crashes back against the ropes,

back aching for the support of the taught cords.

Bruised and battered, he fixes his gaze upon his adversary, who rests

brightly lit in the dark room.

Editor’s note: Simone Kurial took the Synapse Storytelling Contest first place award for creative writing.

Editor's note: Kelly Crotty is the third place winner if the Synapse Storytelling Contest creative writing category.

I'd give up my throne,

I'd give up my crown,

To see the world painted,

In that beautiful shade of brown,

Deep is the vale,

Deeper than the seas,

For there's more to that eye,

I am greeted by a cool morning’s energy

carried in the brisk air breaking on my back.

Refreshed, I approach the towering sanctum.

Its spire rends the sky, providing a lofty perch

for a lone gargoyle.

When you promised to make my brain sing color,

I jumped at the chance.

You were a painter of vibrancies,

inking trails to collect on debts for every

sunset stolen from your palette.

Dimming day’s sunset

Metal birds take off ... descend

Head on his shoulder

Bathed in golden rays

Frigid, Icy Nights

Chatting Faces of six continents, in the highline of the 7 line

Crowded, moving rivers along the conduits of the underground

Running, yelling, begging faces

Rolex, Suits, Prada, Nike

Miles wind the mechanics of my feet,

counters and clocks to tally the movement of my toes.

I pace alongside psychiatrists and counselors on cracked cement

as their words like a foreign language

Look outside the window,

The pine tree with a million needles,

Needles that glisten at their tips,

With a million beads of raindrops,