age of dissent

even the smallest body
laid waste in the smut of war
holds more dignity than you
you titans of craven hatred
titans of grubby fascism

may heavy the hereafter youth
their bones be a blight upon you
& yon god resolutely scorch you
all titans from the befouled earth
then itself from living memory

see the old men declaring war
when they ought to be busy dying
clearing way for the new

fear you the ghosts of our children
& all that they doth represent
may their legacy of bravery
smother all blood of titans
rot you in annals of time forgot

even the smallest body
laid waste in the glut of war
may their bones be a blight upon you
smother you blood of titans
rot you in bowels of time forgot

the strong shall be made weak
& the weak forever strong
clear way for the new

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025

soldat (a final kiss)

you squeeze the hand of fate
knuckles white in the skull of night
time to choose between fight or kite
will we ever feel ready today

the price of going away
won’t be as high as if you stayed
how on god’s weaned earth has it come to this

another plated community
can you smell the sulphur in the air
mind the inevitable siren blare
more bodies filling moats of fear

the price of going away
won’t be as high as if you stayed
but first i must tell what you mean to me

let’s never forget, woman of my dreams
as i trace your shoulders, broad & free
would you flex those biceps, strong for me
then crushing thighs & disarming sighs

the price of going away
won’t be as high as if you stayed
i’ll miss you but we can no longer believe

the eastern border has disgorged
war, the insatiable hurricane
it swirls & pukes our discarded aims
bulimic in its vile intentions

the price of going away
won’t be as high as if you stayed
& fate always seems to begin like this

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2026

hennadii

a beatles crossing
ghost prints through chechelovka
now here you’re a tree
nourish me with your good cheer
i’ll never wish you weren’t here

your love never fades
nourish earth with your good cheer
we’ll never wish you weren’t here

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2026

stillbirth

when stars tore themselves from the sky
impregnated earth unto ruin
a city groaned in labour of blooms
orcs then stormed her depleted womb

& the bodies they left behind
of these there were far too many
yes, i remember bucha
but you still call it zachistka

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2026

edges first

every light restored
every line repaired
the names are piling up
none will be forgotten

from ukraine to minnesota
we the people rising up
be the leftover puzzle piece
fascists don’t know what to do with

i guarantee your safety
said the spider to the fly
but as more rockets fill the sky
the more each bullet tells the lie

no one has ever owed us heaven
but we’ve the right to take home back
be the leftover puzzle piece
fascists don’t know what to do with

voters dying in minnesota
another grim winter in ukraine
more genocide for real estate
to sate the bloodlust of billionaires

but every light will be restored
& every home will be defended
be the leftover puzzle piece
fascists don’t know what to do with

by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2026