Dedicated publisher of fiction, poetry and memoir
This week, I have had the privilege of being one of the first people to read Jude Itakali's forthcoming book, Crossroads, due for release on 17 May 2021. It is a collection of poetry and prose-poems, combining many different poetic forms and traditions. It also contains several short stories in verse form. Jude blends all... Continue Reading →
Incontinent we come into this world;incontinent we leave it:defenceless, cradled inour mother’s arms. Trailing clouds of heavenstreaks of sunsetstreaming down the cheeksof those whose hearts we leave love-lorn. And those who find themselves unloved, incontinentare cradled in a heavenly embrace they left this world too soonor lingered, too-long lonelytheir footsteps arenot difficult to trace by One who... Continue Reading →
The washing machine sloshes with a dim, somnolent hum, but that's not it. My heart pumps, blood also sloshes: if I close an ear, I can hear it. That's not it either. I draw breath, try to breathe the light, breathe out the darkness: is this it? Getting closer. Time spent in meditation is time... Continue Reading →
Next weekend marks the start of the May Day bank holiday in the UK, while in other parts of the world we celebrate International Workers' Day or Labour Day. In honour of this, and in recognition of the emergency on planet earth, I will be holding a Sonnet Sunday on 2 May on the theme... Continue Reading →
I have just had the pleasure of reading this short poetry collection by Rishika Jain of The Ethereal Unicorn. Rishika is 13 years old and has already ventured into the publishing world with this new book, a poetic celebration of her love of nature. The impression I came away with after finishing the book was... Continue Reading →
I’m a pest, I’m a pest, anapestically speakingfor I rhyme every timewithout pausing or breaking each monotonous linewith a flick of the keys:I can drone on for hourswriting stanzas like these; but I like a good metrethat’s as firm as it’s strongand as swiftly rememberedas your best-hated song; so will someone please stop mebefore I’m sent... Continue Reading →
At liberty for the first time in my life:free to just drive and driveor dive into the sea; to live without fearno longer to carehow harshly you judge me. At libertyto stand alone upon a mountain top:I'll stand beside you should you careto join me but I do not fearto go my own way. At libertyfor the... Continue Reading →
Sometimes I have trouble letting go. Whether it's a fixed idea, an obsession, or my feelings about a particular person or thing. Without the ability to let go, however, there can be little peace of mind or spiritual progress in life. So I'm actively (or should that be 'passively'?) learning to let go when I... Continue Reading →
Cowering in the cupboard: well I would be if I could emitting a sharp hiss at the slightest approach of danger. Well it’s almost like this:‘Get back!’ I hiss 'And leave me to face the dark side alone, againI didn’t ask for this, but I’ve been given...' ‘There are worse things happen at sea’you say, and so... Continue Reading →
If you’re looking for meI might just bein deep poetic heaventhrough mirror-halled mazesof metaphorsguided by vulture or ravenI’m wandering, wondering sharing your hope and your paindiving the deep seas where trawlershave emptied the oceanseeking out hydrothermal ventswhere life may begin againand I’m screaming ‘stop!’and I hope we’ll wake up from this madnessdeep in poetic heavenit’s hard... Continue Reading →
Experiments in Fiction 