stripes and buttons

your hot tears drop onto my knees
like the ash of a careless smoker
they burn tiny holes into my pants
i’m thinking, “it’s nice these pyjamas are old”
and hugging you close

by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2023

quinquorgasima

the night fell upon
wakening my pocket god
he saluted you

but you were absent
so i had to pray alone
this late shrove sunday

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023

let me speak tongues (or take my tongue away)

the mind is a storm
get me out of here
away from the teacup &
its thousand eyed babel stare
let me live & breathe

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023

shuhada’

rest now, sweet irish
as unforsaken
more whole than the rest of them
hollerin voice saintly fire
and still unbroken

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023

eccedentesiast

authenticity
gets killed by degree
behind each smile’s treachery
i wish my face wasn’t this
that you would see me

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023