Tag Archives: Writings

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

the antisocial démarche

make them fear
i hear you say
but can we not
just let them be

make them hear
everything you say
but can we just let
them pass on by

bring them near
i hear you say
but i’d rather
keep to myself

with a sneer
bring them near
make them hear
make them fear

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & 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

literary romance (literally)

approach the shelves
& find yourself
between the titles on spines & bones
endpapers & front matter
buttress your thoughts
& out your innards

caress the pages
& hear their whispers
between the walls all echoes & cries
an index of truth & lies
& vibes besides
all for your disbelieving ears & eyes

savour the words
& feel their taste
between the tongue & palate
then show me the words
like a string of spaghetti
unspool from your lips to my plate

sweep up the breadcrumbs
& pocket them
between the smartphone & mint drops
then pull away the parentheses
of forbearance from my mouth
& kiss while the present tense is rightly wrong

by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2025

TATI’s & TONY’s DEAD POET TOUR // A Hope by Charles Kingsley

Twin stars, aloft in ether clear,
Around each other roll alway,
Within one common atmosphere
Of their own mutual light and day.

And myriad happy eyes are bent
Upon their changeless love alway;
As, strengthened by their one intent,
They pour the flood of life and day.

So we through this world’s waning night
May, hand in hand, pursue our way;
Shed round us order, love, and light,
And shine unto the perfect day.

by CHARLES KINGSLEY (1819–1875)
Public Domain Poetry