wakensong

if theirs was the path not followed
then how could we have ever known
of their hopes veiled, atwist in shame
yet now we know
departing eden saved our lives
from the tyrant we thought we knew
meta alpha spitting swords of flame

pious choirs cleaved to the throne
he churned their psalms into a voice of ruin
his shadow sloped through every heartland
so now we know
that whenever he swore to bury us
each variance of will collapsed their brains
they tore themselves on the teeth that hound

we truly blest have truly moved on
presuming to carry gentle our selves
’til we wake to say the soft parts loud
it’s all we know
that if you’re enough then i am too
so will you be my hello for the last time
and tell everyone i love them

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2022

TATI’s & TONY’s DEAD POET TOUR // The Dead Child. by Charles Hamilton Musgrove

Life to her was a perfect flower,
And every petal a jeweled hour,
Till all at once–we know not why–
God sent a frost from His clear blue sky.

Life to her was a fairy rune;
Her light feet tripped to the lilting tune,
Till all at once–we know not why–
God stopped th’ enchanting melody.

Life to her was a picture book
That her glad eyes searched with eager look
Till all at once–we know not why–
God put the wondrous volume by.

by CHARLES HAMILTON MUSGROVE (1871-1926)
Public Domain Poetry

middling grace

god could visit their dark room
go through a thin crack in the wall
light their life with a glimmer of hope
but god has grown so fat and lazy
he can only fit through a grand church door

by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2022

100 WORD SKITTLE // Once Upon a Lent

God spake to me in a dream. “Arise, my son. Hasten thee to the kitchen!”

I arose. I did hasten me to the kitchen. At the fridge I did pray, “What now, Lord?”

“Bratwursts be Satan’s handiwork. Thou must cleanst thine abode of these sin sausages via fasting and supplication! And maybe a bin.”

But I ateth my filleth of them—did it matter anyway how evil be conquered? Still, I did fell to the floor in bloat and faint.

“Forgive me, Lord! Save me from your wrath! (And excess pounds…) I only did this in your Name after all!”

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2022

GUEST POST // lead balloon by LM

possession is 9/10ths of the law
so humanity has written

televangelists flaunting god
for pro/fit/

really gets to me
how
vapid &
empty
their cult
personality can be

I think you’ve already read this part

impossible to possess the intangible
you can only admire the sheen

I’m holding a lead balloon
knowing it’s gold
knowing it’s never going to float
this song on repeat
I can’t stop singing

hold this for me

by LM
© All rights reserved 2021