When you go I become
the sea gull begging salt from
from briny air,
My heart a deep blue sea.
I channel you in the nightingale’s
perpetual call that awakens my
unrelenting desire.
Come the buttery dawn your faded coat
hangs from my bed post and I
become so small I could slip
inside the lining of your chest,
sheltered by the warmth of your
skin where I belong.
by HOUSE OF HEART
© All rights reserved 2024
my favourite gift is a closed one
that moment where nothing is known
that calm before an unwrapping storm
in anticipation of what’s to come
my favourite book is a closed one
that moment where nothing happens
that calm before a reading storm
in anticipation of what’s to come
my favourite lips are closed ones
that moment where nothing is said
that calm before a kissing storm
in anticipation of what’s to come
my favourite heart is an open one
so tell me true, are you ready for war
many shall ride the carousel with me
but few shall choose to stand with me
my favourite casket is a closed one
that moment where nothing remains
that calm after the final storm of
memories of all that’s come & gone
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024
i hid a frosted rosehip in my jacket pocket
and dreamt one day it would bloom on my chest
warmed through from its roots around my heart
and i dreamt i would walk for days
and i dreamt i would show them all
the expansive allure of my love
i would protect its fragile petals from the chill
of unkind eyes and the grasp of repressive hands
warmed instead from the light of open hearts
and i dreamt i would walk for gays
and i dreamt i would show het al
the expansive allure of love
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024
We return to the beginning, stripped
of our knowledge and rank, bound in white:
a shroud, a swaddling blanket, a bride’s veil,
a drawer stuffed full of rags and bandages.
Trussed up in white and left naked by fear.
The brutal say I don’t learn anything —
that’s why I no longer seek the brutal
as teachers, their blood my blood, their hiss
and spit so familial. Let gentleness
teach me these most difficult lessons
that I must begin again, without rank
or honor to learn a gentle way.
Or perhaps it is the easiest
of tasks: drop your knowledge, begin again
a blank page awaiting a love song —
by WHITECATGROVE
© All rights reserved 2024
it’s alright, it’s okay
you can lay me down now
in that circle poised for decay
or maybe tomorrow
or maybe back then
hell knows when
it’ll always be too soon
to attend such sadness but
it’s alright & it’s okay anyway
i need only as long as i get
& maybe moments more
for my life to matter
for to fill it with you
& the scenes we’ll ne’er keep
when our play is done
it’ll always be too soon
for such sadness to mend but
it’s alright to live & die anyway
you pay your debts with pain
then seek a new currency
& nurse that barb wire heart
but ask what joy would do
even when i’m gone
see, it’s alright, it’s okay
it’ll always be too soon
to pen such sadness but
it’s alright & got a poem anyway
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024
unbolt me 