Ticking away like a bomb about to blow
Take one, Take two
And… action
Oops, sorry, you didn’t like that
My little joke I see
Stoked the fear in your eyes
Until the bell tolled the hour
And you smiled at the thought
Of a church nearby and safety
…and escape
You don’t have the time, I said
Snapping the trap shut
Listen, God has given you a clue
Let’s count together
And decide together
How long I shall take…
Namiq Sadiyev (Azerbaijan)
THE DAY WAS BREAKING OUTSIDE
Translated by Oleg Hasanov
Namiq Sadiyev was born in 1997 in Azerbaijan. He graduated from a technical institute and works as an engineer. He has been writing dark fiction and poetry since his school years.
The day was breaking outside
Why does everything happen so soon?
I’m looking at my hands and I see
The red glimmer of our blood
Your body was nearby
But you weren’t beside me
Hang on, wait, and I’ll be there
Here in body, and there in spirit
We’re lying in the sea of blood
It’s a pity you’re dead, and I’m still alive
You can’t see any of this, but you wait
I’ll come to you to say how beautiful you are in this wide sea
Our beginning was so beautiful
And so beautifully it all came to an end
This lovely beginning
Of our sad end…
Fiona Cameron (Wales)
ME AND LINDOW MAN
Fiona Cameron works as a Lecturer in Creative Writing at Bangor University, where she convenes modules in poetry, transformative writing and children’s fiction. Her first full length collection of poetry, Bendigo, came out from Knives, Forks and Spoons Press in 2016. Her second collection, She May Be Radon (also with Knives, Forks and Spoons Press) came out in May 2021. Her research interests include: eco-poetry, the domestic, and children’s fiction.
not really now not any more
you’re still here
I’ve learned to accept you
I suppose
as a fragmentary friend moving in sheets of time
you weren’t such a great friend back in ’87 when you wouldn’t let me sleep
pushed your way into the stories I wrote at school
pushed your way into my dreams
or any time in the early 90s
when I wanted to dance or write or sing
without you
or your dumb head in
my peripheral vision
’84 was your big year
they unburied you
the news – not your preferred medium
I know
I know
I know
too grabby too fast
they gave you a stupid name
I get it
It was demeaning
the timing was all off
you were are all over the place
but oh! that coverage!
made up for lost time right?
but really 
