balbal (the deflowered stone)

the dawning of solace
it feels like a pauper’s dream
adrift atween the peaks of myth
adrift atween

& baba yaga looks upon them
jawline set against the sky
cliché & lies brand her the monster
cliché & lies

lost to the claggy mountains
sundered kurgan & knelled tree
old memories traced to stone
& moss her fertile crown

fumbled by affrighted hands
her former name lays in ruin
cook & eat them bantling heads
cook & eat them

how did it all go to pieces
baba embraces the silent scream
she cannot be peculiar plain
she cannot be

lost to the claggy mountains
sundered kurgan & knelled tree
old memories traced to stone
& moss her fertile crown

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024

vista obscura

why are they vanishing?
to where are they going?
amid yews and larches
squeezing out wet moss
the foxes looking on
are wondering too
beady eyes and pointy noses
sniffing out of dense fog
following faintest trails
before they too disappear
and only a silver cobweb
left shivering on its twigs

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023

Sally Forth!

Our Dear Readers (and maybe even Patrons—past, present or future),

They say that change is as good as a holiday. Is that true? Well, we’re about to find out!

You see, we feel it’s time to refresh our Patreon page and make being a Patron even more cool and compelling! (Can it be possible?) We decided to write this post to let you know what changes you can expect to see there pretty soon.

Firstly, we will be introducing tiers of patronage. For those already paying $1 a month, there will only be a small change. Instead of the weekly update of a Trottersville comic strip, you’ll get a monthly update on our new project called Crumble Cult. We’ll call this tier Kahukura Wero, and soon you’ll know who this is.

Secondly, you’ll be enticed by the extra goodies we’ll be offering in the higher tiers (or, at least, we hope you will). We won’t tire you with the details right now. Just know that the highest tier Patrons will get five private Patreon posts per month and the occasional meow or purr on top!

Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for a slight banner change on Patreon in the coming weeks. We hope you’ll like it!

With hearts full of ever blinging gratitude,
Your Tati & Tony!

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024

TROTTERSVILLE #4

You can find TROTTERSVILLE #1 here > Ba Dum Tish!

by TONY SINGLE & TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2024

finger food

the sign said ‘beware of alligators’
and ‘do not feed the wildlife’
but i believe in making your own luck
so into the pit i threw my wife

only the best cuts
juicy thighs and butts

greens, vinegar, salt and pepper
the saucepan boiled, the knives sharpened
then i cracked an egg and added rice
to “din dins!” cry the alligator harkened

only the best cuts
tongue kebabs and guts

i draped the table with a festive cloth
and located grandma’s silver cutlery
added napkins, flowers, ambient light
for the alligator to dine in luxury

only the best cuts
and freedom for my nuts

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023