George Aiken’s Map, 1846 As if these paper islands were crumpled in a ball and crushed and hurled into backlit rain and rolled before a filthy wind - she wrings the sheet and smoothes it with strong palms, as if next she’d iron these wet and whalebacked hills - as if a capsized gale … Continue reading ‘George Aiken’s Map, 1846’ by Jean Atkin
Author: And Other Poems
A poem by Joanna Grigg
Traditional Crafts in Rural Areas by Joanna Grigg If it was messy, like he’d put a gun to his head, or something involving knives, they’d shut me out. The hall was dark, no windows, the oak of panelled doors and quiet sounds coming under, through. Otherwise they’d call me in to watch as they … Continue reading A poem by Joanna Grigg
‘My Life as a Film’ by William Thirsk-Gaskill
It is shot in black and white, with subtitles and set aboard a German U-boat in World War Two, called U-214, nicknamed “The Berlin Bear”. The Captain downs shots of schnapps in every scene except when the boat is pursuing or being pursued. His exterior of brutality is a pretence and he secretly hates … Continue reading ‘My Life as a Film’ by William Thirsk-Gaskill
A poem by Alison Lock
Piano Lesson Under my palms are apples, skin red, I feel their waxy blush as I hold them in a tight but nervous caress. I must not let them fall onto the keys as my hands arch in a grip as they tip over scales, throw arpeggios this way and that. ‘Have you practiced … Continue reading A poem by Alison Lock
‘Repossession’ by Rebecca Goss
Repossession “Did you buy apples?” I look at our replenished bowl and you describe the last house of the day. Taps strangled with tape, tank drained, letterbox sealed. The debris of hurried exits – one trainer, scattered CDs, pens, cheap clothes and a last bin liner, too heavy and cumbersome, its pan handles poking through … Continue reading ‘Repossession’ by Rebecca Goss
‘R x’ a poem by Hannah Lowe
R x R and me take up for “time being”. We’re a strange pair, him gawky and bright as a dewed hedgehog, I arrive everywhere in clinging primaries and haze of Amarige. All this talking talking. His wire glasses multiply the kind sparks of his eyes, he notes my glitter polish, says he wears … Continue reading ‘R x’ a poem by Hannah Lowe
Two poems by Michael Scott
My Dad painted by Francis Bacon Oxford Heart Centre – Critical Care Unit Someone off stage, drags him by the hair, his face smudged upwards – chin tilted, fish hooked lip, gumshield and tubes smeared left to right. Behind, digital blinks monitor oncoming strokes. I stare, eyes shut, open to a … Continue reading Two poems by Michael Scott
A poem by Andrew F Giles
Monsoon Then - as diamonds - stratospherical broadcasts, cast out live across the sea. His homeland glinted, dressed up in bijouterie, but - held to the light - the faultlines of el último respiro. Breathed in, the elements became fast, masters of magical acts: somehow, on a back street of history - blockaded, … Continue reading A poem by Andrew F Giles
Two poems by Richie McCaffery
The truth so far In the chalky trough under the blackboard, lessons dusted and already forgotten. The teacher is squawking away once more, scratching into the tabula rasa the truths so far about God and arithmetic with the expungible white of fossil shells. (first published in The Rialto; from Spinning Plates, Happenstance Press, … Continue reading Two poems by Richie McCaffery
Two poems by Penelope Shuttle
Long Man The Long Man holds open house at Wilmington, the Downs are his backyard, his walking poles know their way home, they know where the best blackberries grow - not far from Heaven Farm, not far from The Lavender Line, the shadow village of Ripe, he won’t share them with me, though the … Continue reading Two poems by Penelope Shuttle
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