Archive

by Eithne Cullen   The tea hut’s closed no rowing boats for hire the Alfred Hitchcock’s shutters down; people walk despite the cold and mud and warnings to stay home and stay apart.   A little girl flies a kite laughing and free, a game of catch keeps women metres apart. Two guys walk past with bottles in their hands and swig Corona, trendy brand. Gorse glares blindingly, swans ...

by Philip Shamplina   In the beginning, from your birth You’ll never know, in the future, what you’ll be worth Hatch, match and dispatch For some, for a living, they have to scratch Living on the wrong side of the tracks With no-one to watch their backs   For some it will be a battle And many cages they’ll have ...

by Benedict Ushedo   Ragged.   He walks on … In gentlemanly dignity Confident in his strides Threadbare tie in its place   He walks on …   Oblivious of the holes on his shirt Never worries about the patched trousers Unmindful of the toes that have liberated themselves from suffocating shoes.   He walks on …   Bearing the burden of lost time in the rags of ...

by Denise Woodhouse   I like to think I’m not superstitious, yet I always slyly nod or take a sharp, sideways look for your mate, hoping she is not keeping some date with sorrow,   some meeting with ill fate.   The two of you, foraging through your lifelong match, carry me away, in this mirthless stony-skied season, with ...

by Mary Walsh   When I was young, I looked for the brow of the hill. With light footsteps, I made my way to the top but as I reached the summit, I found another hill beyond, another brow beckoning me and leading me on. “Don’t look back,” it warned, “lest you be turned to salt.” And so I ran or ...

by Eithne Cullen   The sign tells us we’ll see the Barking Gecko, well, I can tell you I’ve never seen the Barking Gecko, coming in from Gospel Oak or on the tube from Mile End, anyway.   The sign says I will recognise it by its vivid colour—green— with markings on its back, well I’ve never seen one with white, yellow or ...

by Alison Meakin   Pen to Print based in Dagenham Library, Professional services for those writing literacy. Encouraging the beginner and expert writer, Educational courses provided to make one brighter. New events added with plenty of choices; Naturally, allowing others to hear their voices.   Travel far from the borough to attend, Truly diverse talent with positive vibes send. Open office ...