by Helen Ivory | May 21, 2020 | Featured, Poetry
The Romance Languages My mother is learning French in stumbling little phrases. Bonjour, Julien. Bonsoir. Who is Julien? Merci, Julien. Salut, Julien. Bonne nuit. I imagine a man dressed all in blue, drinking a glass of Badoit. ~Bonjour~, Julien,...
by Helen Ivory | May 20, 2020 | Featured, Poetry
The Passenger Via hand to hand and hand to mouth, they pass a line invisible. Via blast of air, puff of smoke, handshake, warm embrace, the tourist shares a secret, without telling us. Via soft-soled tread in airport lounge,...
by Helen Ivory | May 19, 2020 | Featured, Poetry
Yeah that place is a dump Tastes like poverty: wide roads, no one with fuel to ride them. Casinos and bingo- coins like wishbones, dream of swimming in them. Even here, shiny leaflets and theatre lights, the floor cries dust balls, DIY people for...
by Kate Birch | May 18, 2020 | Featured, News, Picks of the Month
There are a myriad of reasons as to why voters chose ‘To the Occupier’ by Beth Booth as the IS&T Pick of the Month for April 2020 which is a tribute to the many layers in this fine poem. Some found it haunting, melancholy, rich with emotion, some...
by Helen Ivory | May 18, 2020 | Featured, Poetry
River Teviot, Borders, 2020 The Bridge Guest House is peeled open, emulsioned walls still hung with summer landscapes, boys fishing, bedroom doors politely closed against the swell that excavates my sleep, unearths the time our neighbourhood was...