Legacy He leaves a threadbare rug laid out for me like an invitation. Cold stubble under my toes I feel the patterns mapped out by his feet and step into them like snowshoes to carry me over the deepest drifts. (Commended in Second Light’s Poetry Competition 2013 and published in ARTEMISpoetry November 2013) … Continue reading Two poems by Olivia Dawson
Author: And Other Poems
‘Whale’ by Gordon Gibson
Whale Winter: windless, and a morning frost Yielded, softening in the southern sun. Kaikoura was still and bright, and the air carried The sweet scent of the glass-green ocean. We sailed in a small craft, stopping Where, we were told, the shelving shore Pitched precipice-like to dark depths, And we waited. No waves stirred the … Continue reading ‘Whale’ by Gordon Gibson
‘The Bird Room’ by Dawn Gorman
The Bird Room There were no birds here, just books about them, maps on the walls with a forest of pins to mark where he’d seen them, and drawer after drawer of eggs. Her bed was squeezed into a corner; she drew in her borders so she could fit. A leopard-print chair was pushed up … Continue reading ‘The Bird Room’ by Dawn Gorman
Two poems by Mark Russell
For Harry, Wilma & Queen George The company assembles on home turf – The Dolphin. One whisky, and dog tags to help us home. Camel calls a taxi to take us to the start – The Britannia. From here our orders are: pints of bitter only. Wire gets a text in The Crown & Sceptre. … Continue reading Two poems by Mark Russell
Two poems by Ken Evans
In Zero Gravity If ever you are sucked out into space by an ill-judged partnership, a scheming co-worker, the belligerent family member, you’ll know what love spurned feels like: your eyes bulge but cannot shed tears, out beyond the troposphere. The moisture on your tongue boils, blood does not flow. You lose what’s down or … Continue reading Two poems by Ken Evans
‘Ain’t she sweet’ by Lizz Murphy
Ain't She Sweet We pace off the spare hour the streets quiet our bubble gum breath in front of us chat between ourselves get our bikes get our skates bash our tennis balls against the neighbour’s gable wall knock on another friend’s door a walk down the street A big chunky car tawny cruisy slows … Continue reading ‘Ain’t she sweet’ by Lizz Murphy
‘Ship’s Desk’ by Sarah Sibley
Ship’s Desk I could have been flung overboard with smoke floats, not detained at port without explanation. I imagine the bottom of the ocean, the torment of tentacles tugging on my nestled drawers while plankton swish through keyholes. On solid ground, there’s not the comforting creak of the ship’s bowels but they found me a … Continue reading ‘Ship’s Desk’ by Sarah Sibley
Two poems by Louisa Adjoa Parker
Yellow Sheets Afterwards, I swaddle you in plastic sheets; yellow and crumpled as an old raincoat, they will protect you from the rain. Today is the first and last day. I will not look at your face, tiny and still-pink, I know it will accuse me. But I see your little fingers, cold and stiff … Continue reading Two poems by Louisa Adjoa Parker
Four poems by David Tait
Talisman I don’t need an amulet around my neck, don’t need a jade bracelet upon my wrist, a twist of string, blessed around my shin. I don’t need onions or jasmine above my door, don’t need to live on the eighth floor of this apartment complex, could take the fourth bed on any … Continue reading Four poems by David Tait
Two poems by Pam Thompson
Her Grown-Up Dress When she came at last to that row of shops on the long road, having left behind the dirt track, railway-line, the sluggish brook and had fastened round gold slides in her mud brown hair, pulled plimsolls on her feet so the backs weren’t squashed she found the shops were boarded up, … Continue reading Two poems by Pam Thompson
andotherpoems.com 