winner takes all

my fall is your spring
your fortunes litter my way
with bitter bay leaf

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2018

the strand (lost paradise lament)

seraph, a man in a grain of sand
how far you have fallen
all trace of you got swept beneath
the sea of time, your alleged crime

you tried to pay your respects
to the last breath, but lies still lie and
fidelity has long left the stage
he’s gone, never to pass this way again

you bear the echo of all that was
with the weight of a dead crown
are these the days of clarity
in the sea of time, a bitter wine

lilies grow amongst the skulls now
the aftermath of your unseen war
have you not seen through the tears
you, the unreconstructed man

silence, and dark tranquillity
morning star, you blanch at the dawn
parlay at the speed of trust’s decay
this sea of time, the mere sublime

grief has frozen you to the shoreline
the pain of you reaches into a lie
verging on hope, though god knows why
a quiet smoke seeking ascension’s sigh

who will come for you now
who will comfort you, bury you

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2018

’til river do us part

a black river rolls its waters in state
past a dirty hut’s stoop and manor’s gate
a white nymphea on the satin river’s breast
eyes enthralled like a bride’s at a funeral fete

the young maiden stands on an old dam crest
folding a long wedding dress to her chest
a cold wind hugs her shoulders, her ideal mate
it whispers to her in feverous behest

a black river rolls its waters to the strait
aloof, indifferent, like the decrees of fate
the young maiden on the satin river’s breast
the hearse carries the bride to her wedding fete

by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2018

GUEST POST // Dry by Mark Renney

She is dry
She is sand
I can tell
She is a castle
About to crumble

by MARK RENNEY
© All rights reserved 2018

the hard facts of life

take it in both hands
turn it inside out, wee sprog
your fave teddy bear
it can rather surprise you
it’s not stuffed with fairy floss

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2018