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

one year, three months, twenty-nine days

muteness sticks to the tongue like velcro
seals the lips like a zipper
this song has neither melody nor lyric
only air sirens accompaniment

by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2023

empty thus

bodhidharma stares at the wall
time ferments, goes sour like milk
it’s another air-raid warning

people go down to the shelter
people stare at a shabby wall
people drink up soured time

karma, you are a fucking bitch

by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2023

aokigahara

deadwood on a silent shore
the crack of daylight on her face
says maybe she won’t want to die
one day

ever unsure
unable to see tomorrow
yonder rot & spore
& chokehold of black trees

the war in her brain
can anything numb the pain
thunderclouds or amnesty
they say the forecast is up to she
dumbly she hangs ‘tween root & limb
awaiting the rain

ever unsure
the marrow’s in the morrow
this is what they say
but hope is a blithe man’s game

deadwood on a silent shore
she doesn’t know how to be
defiled she hangs lightly
for another day

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023