Jyothsnaphanija

  The Milky way’s Horoscope A milky way, curious of her day’s horoscope, Reads astrology headlines. Puzzled, she lights a sacred camphor lamp Reads again. Still unsatisfied, she sprinkles some leafs and flowers along the silvery river And returns to the news...

Elisabeth Sennitt Clough

    The Cowry Shell How many palms have clasped the measled back, thumbed their way along the blue-grey watermark to negotiate three sacks of corn or a new bride? Little womb of the sea, it births an osseous mouth all tucked and crimped in with hints of baby...

Jessica Schouela

      The Collie I Never Had I wanted to adopt a collie and I didn’t copy that from that from anywhere I swear my mother always said if we got a dog it would have to be a collie which never happened because of all the shedding we predicted we got a shih...

Julie Hogg

Vettriano Life I was truly alone like any romantic pigeon-holed into an edgy corner happy hour oysters rare rib-eye steak lush red wine I danced to jazz he tumbled whiskey with cut glass lustre I followed him up to this cities natural planetarium saw the curve of the...

Char March

    “It’s all about your embouchure” My Dad led our brass band on the euphonium; Mum did percussion from the kitchen, on the saucepans with the odd kebab skewer. Me and our Mark were tubas; Great Auntie Flo (when she had her teeth in) was flugelhorn. Our...

Deborah Turnbull

      Stink Spirit You have found a way to repress it: That human waste dumped in you, Stewing in its own juice. The dull pain Of being almost grounded — A slowed mutant, inflamed. A stranger unclogs your slurry guts Of car parts, bicycles, festering...