Nancy Campbell's 'The Cemetery'

The CemeteryWe settled here, scarcely believing our fortune,no more to scull the seas. The island was safe butthere were many deaths: driven by the darkness men killed their kin; others drowned in shallow water before they could reach the sea. The island was safe but...

'Ivory Soap' from Maria Jayne

Ivory SoapI used to want to be a priest when I was little and my mother said, “You can be anything you set your mind to” On Tuesdays we used to go to the health food shop after my brother had CCD. We would walk with my mother from the church on the top of the...

Cynthia Ruth Lewis's 'Diluted'

DilutedBlinded in the supermarket, walking dumbly through theaisles, packing my cart high with sustenance; steaks,breads, cakes, hoping to put some flesh back on yourwhittled frame, hoping your sudden plunge in weight isnothing serious, not the unspoken...

Two short poems from Ian Chung

Breaking Up For DummiesDear [name of ex-to-be],    There is no easy way    to break the news to you,    [blundered attempt at tact].    I just want you to know    [lame excuse or...

Wendy Ann Greenhalgh is on Exmoor

Exmoor I couldn’t tell what it was at first. I was barely awake. The mist curdled over the heather and the dawn cry of the curlews kept whipping the clouds up and up – so that whatever it was seemed to be steaming, trailing dry ice. The air was grainy...