lame dog
he has three legs
& a smoker’s cough
but he don’t sweat it
lame dog
chases cockeyed pigeons
& sneezes at the sun
gnarly butt-wagged tail
lame dog
he don’t lick the hand
that give the medicine
‘cos he got self-respect
but lame dog
always shakes paw
even if it makes him
plop on his butt
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023
Dear Reader,
Guess what? We’ve spent the last two years writing a script that clocks in at a whopping 268 pages! What is this script for, you may be wondering? It’s for a graphic novel!
Of course, a lot has happened during those 24 months. But, for a pretty obvious reason, our work was almost stalled before we even began in February 2022. The future seemed pretty uncertain and we questioned the sanity of setting out to make comics while the world was on fire.
Nevertheless, we decided to go ahead. And we persisted. It’s a good thing we did. The war, after all, is still raging and it turns out that keeping yourself busy will help you to cope with such an unimaginable reality.
By the way, we should be clear that we haven’t written the next ‘Maus‘ or anything—although we haven’t entirely avoided the war topic either. Despite everything, we’ve tried to craft a light, humorous and hopefully hopeful story. In short, we’ve tried to stay human.
So, there will be a lot of emotions, a little sex, drugs and heavy metal. Oh, and Jesus in a bikini. (Oops! Was that a spoiler?) Anyway, we have a feeling you’ll be intrigued already!
The drawing phase of our grand project begins in earnest next month. How long will that take? Well, not as long as the scripting phase! Fingers crossed, maybe?
We also have a very ambitious plan to release this story in two languages: English and Ukrainian. We’ll even create our own original font so we won’t have to worry about the copyright lawyers breathing down our necks.
Wish us luck won’t you? Or just watch this space. More to come!
Slava Ukraini & Terra Australis,
Your Tati & Tony!
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024
Meeting where “Your insight
is imperative,”
but participation
is optional.
“Let’s catch up
soon,” shared by
people passing
in echoing hallways.
“Love, love, love what
you did there,”
praising mediocre
work.
“Your email must have
found its way
to the abyss of
my inbox,” a common tale.
“No offense but…”
often prefaces
unsolicited
perspectives.
“Take your time,
there’s absolutely
no hurry,”
with deadlines whispering.
“Just jesting,”
comes after,
softening
sharp words.
“I’ll ponder over it,”
a placeholder,
while decisions
drift.
“Wow, you’ve really
surpassed yourself
this time,”
for varying efforts.
“Couldn’t have achieved
it without your
unique contribution,”
when roles blur.
by KEVIN L. MCDANIEL
© All rights reserved 2024
You can find TROTTERSVILLE #1 here > Ba Dum Tish!
by TONY SINGLE & TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2024
See how a Seed, which Autumn flung down,
And through the Winter neglected lay,
Uncoils two little green leaves and two brown,
With tiny root taking hold on the clay
As, lifting and strengthening day by day,
It pushes red branches, sprouts new leaves,
And cell after cell the Power in it weaves
Out of the storehouse of soil and clime,
To fashion a Tree in due course of time;
Tree with rough bark and boughs’ expansion,
Where the Crow can build his mansion,
Or a Man, in some new May,
Lie under whispering leaves and say,
“Are the ills of one’s life so very bad
When a Green Tree makes me deliciously glad?”
As I do now. But where shall I be
When this little Seed is a tall green Tree?
by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM (1824-1889)
Public Domain Poetry
unbolt me 