Deborah Finding On average, a woman tries to leave her abusive partner 14 times before she finally leaves for good / A fortnight has 14 days / The Beatles released their first two albums in 1963, and both had 14 tracks / There are 14 pounds in a stone. The longer you carry something, the … Continue reading Sonneting

            Phoebe Stuckes I wrote a book of poemsthat no one readI bled into a bag and sold itI’m certain this data will be usedto incriminate me in the future when we were not speakingI saw your face in the etherand it hurt like a frost I had a dream it was so coldthe sky and … Continue reading Big Lizard

            Heather Chapman But then we stepped through the doorsand July lay down so gently. Inside Isaw birds shortchangedinto silhouette through red capes;swerves of felt beckoning white rabbitsthrough invisible windows. You would have lovedit, but you wouldn’t have believedit. All the pains were fake – the hacksawgrinding awfully back and forth, the knives.Now I feel queasy … Continue reading Letter Sent After a Magic Show

            Trenna Sharpe                         after Laura Jensen A lot of people died this yearand I have the gall to worrythat a murdererhas been lying in wait for meall week at this Airbnb. The long hallway is dark.I might not have turned on that particular lightmyself. Someone in heels walks across the floor upstairs.She’s clomping on my sky. … Continue reading 1455 Belmont Ave, Chicago 2021

            Katy Wilson-Scott The social worker came to visit on a Thursday, no:            a Wednesday. When she knocked on our bluedoor, my dad was annoyed, no: my dad was raging.            He smiled at the social worker, no: he swore atthe social worker: bloody hell, not again, we’re in the            middle of our tea. Yes, she said, I can see … Continue reading beans and sausage

            Jemma Walsh When I was 14, maybe 15, I worked in a hairdresser’s for the summer. It was a small local business and I liked the owner, Marie. I’d sweep the floor, wash hair, ask customers hairwasher questions about their holiday or weekend plans, not that I cared about their plans, who knows what I … Continue reading The lost pleasure of Eugene’s head

            Poulami Somanya Ganguly It was a big house on the mountainswith a long drive leading to the front door.There was snow on the drive. I took my suitcasefrom the small boot. The living room had large windows.My sister’s child was petting a large dog.A friend had invited me. Don’t remember who.I drove there in a … Continue reading Northern Gothic

            Will Snelling Two gulls are giving each other an earfulcheek by jowl inside the wind-slapped cliff-face.Below them, we traipse across the shoreexperiencing nature’s glory in our flapping coatsas their argument scatters on the wind,coarse as grit between the teeth.We’re almost embarrassed to be listening inwhile they go at each other, presumably at oddsover who last … Continue reading Pett Level

            Amy L. King Whose hands were always busy carving something;table legs, red meat from the butcher, our small names into the belly of a tree. Erin, who held meby the wrist whenever she led us through a crowd. Who made sure I knew how easy it wasto throw a woman over her shoulder. Whose name … Continue reading Last Poem for Erin

            Sophia Argyris Every moment I’m rehearsing escape.Our whole species is thinking it,considering the possibility of lifeon better planets. I’ve learnt to blendthe senses; looking is touching, hearingis taste. I know when you’re watchingand move in more serpentine ways.I say This is fun let’s keep dancing,while in another city someoneis fighting a fascist and in a … Continue reading Exit Strategies