Category Archives: COLLABORATIONS

et tu, amphora?

they said that i ought to be ready
conserve water for a rainy day
so i held my amphora steady
plunged the neck into the sauna bay

they said that i ought to be ready
conserve darkness for a blacker day
so i held my amphora steady
drew into the neck every bit of grey

they said that i ought to be ready
conserve the hours for a longer day
so i held my amphora steady
fed the neck final gasps of blood spray

what’s wetter, bleaker & more drawn out
than the death rattle of julius caesar
i’m really going to savour this
no one needs to crown another old geezer

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024

golgotha souvenirs

the label on the art print says:
untitled, blood on paper
the artist: christ, the time: back when
crucifixions were the trend

the theme: a story, old as time
man on man bloodthirstiness
buy two prints, the third one’s free
pay with cash, lord have mercy

the seller: yellow smoke-filled beard
wrists bandaged with dirty rags
he’s dragging on another spliff
how far can one push this grift

he flips the tap & fills a glass
with something red, takes a sip
says if i don’t like what he drew
there’s magnets & corkscrews too

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024

moonwalks & jitterbugs

hey, rocketman, where are your wings
where are your heart-shaped sunglasses
& what are those drops of blood there
smeared along that yellow brick road
who’ll save you from critical thought
you think it’s gonna be your time
who’ll spoon-feed you zen magic now
the touchdown’s gonna smash you up

rocketman, where’s your piano
your pocketful of skimming stones
exchanged your ticket to the moon
for cheeky mooning & moonshine
who’ll grant you the life that you sought
you’ve fought so hard to make that climb
who’ll sing to you your swan song now
that splashdown’s gonna wreck you up

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024

a life not lived

stale memories in the cupboard
forgotten dusty souvenirs
that shirt you used to wear to church
the viola case on which you’d perch
those magazines with bums & tits
that more wholesome mickey mouse pin
you found on the path two streets over
near to the white cliffs of dover
the tin with lollies stuck together
mint & lemon with orange peels
‘twould be best to not partake
of these out-of-date belly quakes
faded photos with shabby corners
also out-of-date, make the heart shake
the more years fly, the more’s at stake
for lives with dead dreams in their wake

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2019

the blunder fable

i wanna eat too!
said the blob to the boy
but the boy wouldn’t share

the blob nursed a grudge
started to muster gall
waited for the right moment…

but the boy went away
never to be seen again
what was a full blob to do

unable to hold it
the blob swelled up & burst
gall splashed everyone around

hunger for vengeance
always fails to satisfy
leaves you feeling hollow

but it’s also the boy
who should take some blame too
what a shit little meanie!

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024