Chris Michaelides

        The Water Lines   See – across the pale bright stream, above the water line, a small tree bends, its branches moving bare against a spring-clear sky. Below, its darker twin, conjoined at water’s edge where tree base touches...

Oliver Comins

    Return Journey So here we are, dozing on a train which flounders along, travelling towards a place we call home. We know the tide will have turned before we reach our destination. The carriage shimmers as it passes over these tiny, necessary gaps between...

Brett Evans

      Reading Sean O’Brien in the Bath On the first floor of an ex-council house this fat, pink alkie reads O’Brien in the bath. At his shoulder the pint glass of cider mocks his sweating face. The cold tap drips – he lifts his eyes from the...

Maurice Devitt

      Hanging the Mirror   I was thinking that maybe this wasn’t the way: then you arrived, perfectly-equipped – inflated hammer and rubber nails – City and Guilds poking from the side-pocket of your overalls. Like a safe-cracker you tapped...

Deborah McClean

      Easter 2013 …and off we went to Burnham-on-Sea, creeping into the first gaze of the new icy sun. Oh! I held your hand and kissed your lips through supermarket sandwiches. Our newborn skin screamed against the minty sky; blue raincoats...