Author Archives: Tony Single

SEASON PREMIERE AT THE SNOW GLOBE THEATRE // Six Word Story #130

The World’s a powder white stage.

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023

nonetheless

i gave myself away
and the more i gave
the less there was of me

i am only finite
i can only feel so much

i kneeled myself to pray
and the more i prayed
the less there was of me

i am only finite
i can only bleed so much

i resigned myself to another day
and the more i cried
the less there was of me

i am only finite
i am only human

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023

this terminal horizon

rockets, the whistle & drone
chill morning’s zombied air
& perhaps i’m wondering why
as grief covets the grasp of resolve
why more things can’t be possible
why all tomorrows must end

for certain i once was not
dread certain i’ll be not again
but how many days shall pass between
between crib & the yawning earth
for to compose nullifidian hymns
for to soothe in the ghast of dawn

& mainly they drink their own tears
vainly they think their pious fictions
plainly i’ll not be fooled so again
by the quiver of strongmen in bunkers
by gormless rumours of peace
by hope or scripture or fairness or whim

why all tomorrows must end
round & round in war’s grave spin
for to soothe in the ghast of dawn
& the immurement of being
by hope or scripture or fairness or whim
we inhumane vie for suffering

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023

saving private myself

a wall at the edge of my mind
my eyes said not to put it there
well, don’t believe your eyes
what is this, anyway?

is the wall to keep them out
or to keep me, the recalcitrant, in?
well, i don’t care about walls
and you’re no humpty dumpty

can a wall breach to contrivance?
feel like consensus collapsing?
well, you don’t value consensus
and i’m no citizen of the quorum

(and no one believes in democracy anyway
not anymore)

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023

GUEST POST // I Live in a House of Cats by Jen Payne

I live in a house of cats:

three before that were

one – Emily
after the poet
loved blue jays
a thing with feathers

and two – CJ
namesake Joy but
arrived with grief
that lifted with love

then 3 – Crystal
so full of life and love
she sparkled!

[ There were two drifters

Moose, who lived next door but preferred to garden here

and Little Black Kitty who learned to trust slowly but enough ]

Of course Lola,
Zen master
lost then found
found me

Now: Molly
Good Golly,
is Whippersnapper
a name for a cat?

by JEN PAYNE
© All rights reserved 2023