There is only one of these childhood treasures left now. Rest in peace, Mr Oddie. 😔
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2026
Tag Archives: Life and death
ask nothing
infinity
a crumb, our collective mind
from the day we are born
we’re enmired in longing
& we reach all our lives as if
our slow death has barely begun
infinity
we’re avoiding in the rain again
as it washes away the tears
past stars inert down the lane
dare we to wear our insides out
like we were ever here
who are we to hope for love
as we lift our heads above
the skies could fall any moment
how on earth are we alive
infinity
too many arks on mountains
for any of them to be the one
our jesus is nothing
our buddhas are nothing
so too our drowned expectations
infinity
it’s another god for the blind
yet we feel that white room calling
boundless, all walls fallen away
we’re dispossessed in night’s array
how heavenly the stars
who are we to hope for love
as we lift our heads above
each moment an accusation
how are we still alive
what if infinity left us blind
to vanish beneath the sands of time
& yet we hope
yet we love
we live
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025
Share this:
age of dissent
even the smallest body
laid waste in the smut of war
holds more dignity than you
you titans of craven hatred
titans of grubby fascism
may heavy the hereafter youth
their bones be a blight upon you
& yon god resolutely scorch you
all titans from the befouled earth
then itself from living memory
see the old men declaring war
when they ought to be busy dying
clearing way for the new
fear you the ghosts of our children
& all that they doth represent
may their legacy of bravery
smother all blood of titans
rot you in annals of time forgot
even the smallest body
laid waste in the glut of war
may their bones be a blight upon you
smother you blood of titans
rot you in bowels of time forgot
the strong shall be made weak
& the weak forever strong
clear way for the new
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025
Share this:
white man (go ooga booga)
you keep hunting brown people
how does that make you feel
are you feeling big enough yet
did you get those extra inches you needed
this caveman mentality of yours
it makes you more tribal than them
why fear those who bleed out like you
& why hide your proud face behind that mask
a clear & present danger
but not them, it’s entirely you
& something has to change
now you’re moving on to the woke
on to the alphabetic people
the different, blamed & broken
the compassionate who use their words & hearts
this gunman mentality of yours
it makes you more brutal than them
& now you’ve moved on to ice fucking bitches
don’t you see, to the face equals fascism
something has to change
but not them for you
it’s you, little man, & only you
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2026
Share this:
Tati’s Father
In 2019, I visited with my creative partner, Tetiana, in Ukraine. I wanted to experience what everyday life was like for her there, and was lucky enough to stay for a period of about three months. I had known Tetiana for years by that point but not her family, who still welcomed me—a complete stranger—into their lives with open arms. They really were so very generous and accepting, treating me like I’d always belonged there. I’ll always be grateful for that.
I loved spending time with Tetiana’s family so much that I vowed to myself that I’d return one day. However, there will be one less person to greet me when that day finally comes. Sadly, her Father has just passed away. As you can imagine, Tetiana, and her Mother and Brother, are gutted—so am I, to be honest. Her Father and I often bonded over our shared love of heavy metal. We’d do devil horns as a greeting, and he’d comb through YouTube clips to introduce me to many of his favourite, classic bands.
While I was there, Tetiana and I cobbled together some personalised mugs as a gift to her family—a thank you for allowing me to stay with them. Along with loving all things metal, her Father was also a huge Beatles fan, so I’m sure you can tell what famous photo our own image was aping. The man on the far right there is Tetiana’s Father. He was so fucking cool, and I hope my drawing captures something of his indomitable, adventurous spirit.
Truly, he was a beautiful man, and the world is poorer without him. I miss him greatly.
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025
unbolt me 