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 the First Mate, who is a card-carrying Nazi. He has … Continue reading ‘My Life as a Film’ by William Thirsk-Gaskill
The World is Moving Closer to its Sun There are these white birds that follow elephants around and they eat, from their dung, the seeds the elephants haven’t digested. The feathers of these birds are covered in oil, a sheen that ensures they go untouched by any of the elephant’s filth. One morning I was out walking By the shores of Lake Kariba when I … Continue reading ‘The World is Moving Closer to its Sun’ by Michael Stewart
Walking to the Bridge What succour is it easy to give back, when you’ve lost count of the times she’s forgotten what her memories fed her? How lucky she was. How long will her last legs last, or the will to trust my care? Her thankyous mean as much as amens muttered during mass – religiously bare. Each kiss is a kiss goodbye, as … Continue reading A poem by Tim O’Leary
And Other Poems 