Giving my ex-boss a hand job for £20 (mates rates)
by Jane Ayres — His request took me by surprise / since I’d only invited him round for coffee // making it clear there was to be no more sex
Archive
On Trying To Notice Joy
Polly Atkin on her love of tea, Teaism, and what Leila Chatti's poem 'Tea' means to her
Finishing mummy’s pictures
Rachael Matthews reviews The Illustrated Woman by Helen Mort (Chatto & Windus, 2022)
Two pamphlets that sing together
Isabelle Thompson reviews I Hate to Be the One to Tell You This by Zoë Walkington (Smith|Doorstop, 2023) and Past Tense Future Imperfect by Jon Miller (Smith|Doorstop, 2023)
Trial and Error
by Josh Geffin — Sitting cross-legged in a small room / opposite a Zen Master – no shit – / I say I’m not sure what I should be doing, / I don’t know what my calling is. // Smiling
punk ballet. Act 1. / there is more to come
Bruno Cooke profiles Bristol-based poet, writer, performer, and slam champion, Vanessa Kisuule
Photograph of Vanessa Kisuule by Jon Aitken
I am cobalt and cherry pulp lyric
Tim Murphy reviews VISIONS & FEED by Maria Sledmere (HVTN Press, 2022)
Lots wider inside than it looks
Stephen Payne reviews The Nature Thief by Henry Walters (The Waywiser Press, 2022)
we hope to have sand in our shoes
by Rose Rouse — my friend’s crystal-studded sunglasses match the station / pan-asian cafes and tattoo parlours have moved into public houses
Crossing the Line: Walking in the Cheviots with Dante
Stewart Sanderson considers the notion of 'crossing the line' in poetry while walking his beloved Cheviot hills
You are less separate than you imagine
Charlotte Gann reviews The Hopeful Hat by Carole Satyamurti (Bloodaxe, 2023)
To walk, move the ground backwards
Mat Riches reviews Spider Time by William Gilson (Wayleave Press, 2022)