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

briar recusant

as much as i fear dying
i’m leaning into persistence
and yes i will endure

as much as i know the rules
i’m leaning into the impromptu
and yes i will dance and play

as much as i remember
i’m leaning into here and now
and yes i will believe for tomorrow

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

ampersand

i have gnawed on misery
thrown peace of mind to the hounds
auditioned for dread shadows &
spun despair into crowns

i’ve swung on rusty wolfsangel
’til twisted tongue tasted sense
depending not on fogyish gods
only upon blood & instinct

you failed me &
they failed you &
the gravity of truth will
bring it all crashing down

i will fall as though i meant it &
much prefer running blind
i’d sooner hie than fulgurate
in the dimming of your minds &

i’d sooner tear all your throats out
to the last tooth & breath
i have gnawed on misery
it’s now your turn… or fucking death

you failed me &
they failed you &
the gravity of truth will
bring us all crashing down

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023

GUEST POST // August 7, 2022 by kipventures

an ode to circus bruises

you browngreygreenpurplebluesometimesred
indication that a new skill has been unlocked
and unlocked
and unlocked again
continued practice making more marks
but eventually
in a week
or two
or month
or so
you’ll fade to skin
and the skill will be rote
and the bruises no longer pop up
because my body
now knows
that pose

and on to the next one

by KIPVENTURES
© All rights reserved 2022