He teeters down the hallway, past valets, past cleaners. Snaking down the maze of lavish corridors. Of the Brunston Arms Hotel. His body is light as a ghost’s. Floating. His heart pounds, threatening to burst from his chest, or force its way up his throat. His feet barely skim across the floor. He glides over... Continue Reading →
“Zoetrope” by Mark Ward
A change in the quality of light, an eyebrow twitch, my father’s backlit body haloed in the door frame reflecting the impending - this is what getting caught means; being unable to move, wishing the world away from this, terror filling hollow limbs, shared spit absolved by emptiness, knowing that this is the end of... Continue Reading →
“pyrokinesis for beginners” by Mitch Cave
my body there dissolve into smoke i remind myself of how i am weakness pale kings surrounding me and fires that have collided consummation how i know how to turn fire on and off with the bones of my mind i find it hard to carry my gore along with so much nightfall i search... Continue Reading →
“Holburn Station” by Bethany Garry
The flower that grew under Holburn Station where we had once laid great plans of love, grew taller in the summer months, when we drank to excess and I felt your fingers against my instep – heady and laughing, falling always towards the endless days of sunlight, when we grew in joy. Now the... Continue Reading →
“Dwelling” by Cúnla Morris
I was told that the only home I could ever have was a never-ending you. And sure, sometimes it was nice - when warm light leaked on us as we lazed about for hours, But times became sour, and all we did was ignore ourselves. Everything was never enough. And I stayed in this rhythm,... Continue Reading →
“New Ideas” by Darren Caffrey
Without child We loan out books from the library To be read by the nightstand These loans take all shapes But their size is always the same Too large to take home with us They read as they stand In order of height And by name if they are all the same height We like... Continue Reading →
“Home” by Tagdh Dolan
Home is a difficult Word to find Through lightning and thunder A careless find It comes in soft whispers On cold winter nights Through lovers’ eyes And twinkling skylight I thought home Was with you Until you took flight Now it’s sweet nothing A blackened skylight My home is in moments When anarchy stands still... Continue Reading →
“Exemplar” by Mark Ward
Nothing has been touched for authenticity. The dirt, their lives scattered across this makeshift romance; beds easily pushed apart, bodies indent just like hearts living for incognito weekends away from friends, parents, a life of false starts, pretence. They notice only sanctuary, a door shutting out the world erasing borders, boundaries. This is their chance,... Continue Reading →
“Fifty Years” by Raven
There are no white lines on the road; the divisions are invisible. Out of the window I play at catching the wind in my palm and feel it pull through my fingers the way Burma shave slogans along the highway -- Equality. Solidarity. Heroism. Altruism. Unity. Struggle -- become the wind felt in passing and... Continue Reading →
“Island Home” by Patricia Walsh
Living in a world of our own Excited to belong on a long walk south You and I versus the world together Priceless uniform unity spreads wings Travelling on spec to rebellious territory. A multicoloured burnt offering rises above The slack-assed happiness of a satisfied homestead Voicing travel brochures to whoever’ll listen Attenuating our names... Continue Reading →
“Tectonic” by Alicia Bryne Keane
I sleep at the furthest corner of the house I wake to the click of footsteps outside And cold air fogging my phone screen I dream alternative pasts for myself A holiday to a cottage somewhere; A smattering of faceless friends, and Fights that never happened. I wake up mid sentence I wake up crying... Continue Reading →
“Crisp Fingers” by Kimberly Sithebe
There are not enough love letters to my mother I wasted them all on Oya Who lay under me and forgot herself As the lord of her brothers Who would have sang a song Had she written one We became lovers in this way Sudden secrets to even ourselves So I am here Because I... Continue Reading →
the most important part of the ritual of instagram selfie taking is cleaning the dust off the bedroom mirror. it has gotten clouded with a thin film of dirt since its last use like it always does. grab a discarded towel and rub the glass, to make sure it shines bright and clear like the... Continue Reading →
