don’t cry
we’ve a full life, don’t we
with full bellies
& you are here by my side
with love aplenty to fill our sail
own nothing & be happy
is what they’re bound to say
yet we’re happy anyway
are we not
you are mine & i am yours
too many fish in this world
are fighting to be upstream
near the lighthouse seen
no such thing as water in nets
only good days & some regrets
so, let’s be mindful, love
time is a loose spool
& the river winds on
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025
nothing but regret
is this how we truly are
i think i feel us
enclasped in this tested life
have you forgotten to breathe
today was better
but we’re so very old now
grief soaken eyes now
has pain dimmed your sight
trauma lines your folded bones
the horizon’s dreams
banish away sun’s last light
can we forgotten aright
today was better
but you’re so very cold now
closed soaken eyes now
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025
hey, rocketman, where are your wings
where are your heart-shaped sunglasses
& what are those drops of blood there
smeared along that yellow brick road
who’ll save you from critical thought
you think it’s gonna be your time
who’ll spoon-feed you zen magic now
the touchdown’s gonna smash you up
rocketman, where’s your piano
your pocketful of skimming stones
exchanged your ticket to the moon
for cheeky mooning & moonshine
who’ll grant you the life that you sought
you’ve fought so hard to make that climb
who’ll sing to you your swan song now
that splashdown’s gonna wreck you up
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024
stale memories in the cupboard
forgotten dusty souvenirs
that shirt you used to wear to church
the viola case on which you’d perch
those magazines with bums & tits
that more wholesome mickey mouse pin
you found on the path two streets over
near to the white cliffs of dover
the tin with lollies stuck together
mint & lemon with orange peels
‘twould be best to not partake
of these out-of-date belly quakes
faded photos with shabby corners
also out-of-date, make the heart shake
the more years fly, the more’s at stake
for lives with dead dreams in their wake
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2019
unbolt me 