Sentire Issue Three

O O N N T T

Sonnet

junkhuckster’s

SketchfromelMuseodeNavarra HANNAHBERESFORD

SandontheGlass

Thewinebottle capbursts–Icouldnotcontrol thespills then comesthefumble AsLowell’sDolphin, beached. Herswasfilled withalltheflower stemsahand couldhold–

Insideandinvisible

Inhiddenbloom.

Dylan’sSarareturns Savanna-la-Mar

Onthebeachfront, glassfull. Comecrash,we fall

toawave, Distant.

DAVIDQUINN

, p y g forbuyingcheap,mymotherwouldhavechastised.Afterafewweeks,in whichwe’dtestedvarioushairstyles,fromsimplepleatstojaunty pineapple,mysaplingstartedtomoultanddidsoratherdramatically,not clumpbyclump,butinapealingsortoffashion,likeasnakesheddingits outerlayer.

Howeverdisturbingthehuman-likehairhadbeen,Iguaranteethatwhat laybeneathwasmorechillingbyfar:apink,unfocused,gelatinousmass hadlurkedbeneaththemop’ssurface,apartiallyformedalbinoeye,still moreliquidthansolid.Forneitherthefirstnorlasttime,Iwonderedjust whatI’dbeensoldinthatmarket.Itsmilkypupil,ashadowypuddle

withinapool,dilatedadoringlyasIcameintoview.Stillitsfaithful custodian,Icontinuedtowaterhereverysecondday(theplant hadbecomeasheinmymind),andappliedtheeyedropsIusedformy hay-fever,whichcalmedtheinflamed,waterylookslightly,althoughthe eyeremainedfarfromsolid. Atthethreemonthsmark,Ietchedanothergrooveintothewallbehind herwithpencil,proudofherprogressfromsixinchestoeight,and noticedanewfeaturecatchingthelight:ababytooth,thefirstofseveral thatwouldverticallylinethestem,sidewayssentinelswithnoobvious purposewhatsoever.Whenshestartedtotalk–onlygurglingatfirst, althoughitsoontransitionedintoahappyandincessantbabble–it becameimpossibletofindaplant-sitterfortheChristmasbreak.Iwas meanttogotomymother’s,butsincethelastsitterpointedlyblamedmy babygirlforthelossofafingertip,wordappearedtohavespreadthatmy housewastobeavoided.Sowestayedhomefortheholidays,justthetwo ofus,andIdrankeggnogandsanghercarolsandtriednottooverthink thesituation. Yearslater,shestartedtowither,succumbingtotimeasweallmustdo, andspatoutaroundofseedsthatsheinsistedIpasson;my grandchildren,ifyouwill.Isoldthemtothemarketmanasbonsaiseeds.

artwork:

Undertides

MAJAKOBYLAK

ScreamingataPhantom

Composed.Ifeltaliar.

Grassstainswheremyheelsdigintodirt willbebleachedtomorrow,madeinvisible.

Howareyou?tellme(butafter).

whatIaskinsilence,Howcouldyou?

Pretendnottospeakconstrainedbreath.

ButIknowyoufeelit

aswhenwekissedexposing.

Trainhome,silkwrappingaroundthestranger whosehipstouchminecrinklesasheopens elbowstuckedawayhisfalafelandhoumouswrap.

Bitesswallowsbites(doesnotchew).

Breathingweperipherallystarethensmilethenavert. eyesreturntotheirwrap.

Clumsilyunbuttoningmyshirtonce, yourfingersscreamedinsilence,wearitloose.

Theirritationofthepause,Iliked (butforyou)Iturnedupnaked. andachedasyoustayedclothed.

Astructureofmeant-to-happen-like-thisconcealswhatwas.

Uniquelyus,we,likeeveryone,playedmaturely. needtosquabbleunfulfilled, Ismileinadult.

Trainhome,strangerswaddledbymyhipsstands.

Outside,watermockssilk,itshinesthendripsthenblows inthethievingwind.Takeitaway.

Opacityneverkeptyouwarmandour... charade?israinedupon.

Themacerationofourwrapburns.

Curethreewordsunspoken:quiet.

ThoughtsspiralandgrowaloneasI(don’t)sleep.

divergingintothoseI’llshare,thosewewon’t. Wehavelethalf-truthsstockpile, andclungtofaçadesthatkeepuswarm thenthrowustothebirds.

MATTHEWTAYLOR

Arabella

WalkwithmeArabella,talkwithmeandtouchmyskin, Thisthincoatingofmistmarksmylastbreath,lastOctober, Yourleaseoflifewassignedwiththathand,Icouldn’tstop, Suchpoetry.Intentyou’dfoldthosewide-eyedlies, Formeinbutterfliesandpaperplanes,againandagain, I’dkneelinprettyashes,powderingyourspiritspent Onhaunting,yourtalcumlavenderscentheknows, FlowslikeliesArabellaanditallfallsthrough, Idon’tbelieveaghostofmecouldbelikeyou, Couldlooklikeher,amodernbeauty,whatacruelty, She’llneverageagain.BornofhiswordsArabella, Ourdeaddilemma,shiveringasilkuponmylips, Agentleripoftimeyoubringtheautumnbacktohim, AndIinfragments,stitchingbacktheslipwithit, Delusionshoneyed,I’lleatmyfilloftruthsthatlie, Inwaitforoneanother.Arabellahowyoulaugh, YoupickthescabthatstingseachtimeItakemybath, Inmemories,hotastears,Iwatchthesteamandsmoke, Ofyouflushthemirrorwetwithallthewaysyou’vesmeared, Andsmudgedmeintospiralsroundthatever-presentform, Ofhim.Arabella,watcher,spectre?Idreamofsilenthalls, Andliveinmorningwalks.Ifeelyounow,ashakysigh, Bymyside,wepassalongtheterracedstreetsthatrolllike, Minutes,wepassyourtimewitheverystep.Youreverygrin, WalkwithmeArabella,talkwithmeandtouchmyskin, Withinthisdewydaybreak’sresolution,I’llplucktheheart, Andexorcise,allthephantomsthatlolledaroundinfickle, Truths.Itestyourlies.Heopenshiseyeslikesweetwrappers, Arabella,Ihearashatter!Perhapsnow,youandI,wearegone.

Sonnet

Ireachtokissthroughflakesofage-dulledgold Theknuckleswhiteaspurerevirginedsoul thatoustsasmanyliesasitcanhold andswallowsme,ingulpingmouthfuls,whole.

Ifill-begottenlovewereminetomould I’dpurgemycrookedheartofallshestole InherIcannottrusttopassaprayer:

Inlife,indeath,shetemptedne’eraSin, Yetinmylungsshe’dwhispered,deepwithin:

‘Ifwantwaswonttosate,I’dlayyoubareYou’dpluckmeinthischamber,layerbylayer; I’dshieldyoureyesfromever-watchfulHim.’

TildeathI’llnursethisspellsheusedtosing, andbleedtilsaltyseashavebloodtospare.

DEWEIKUNG

PeripheralTalk

Intheviolenceofamoment,thereweretwoofus.Iwas insidethecar,lookingout,thinkingthatthenightwasredder thanI’deverseenit.Hopingforthelilacofmorning.

Youweretappingyourfingersonthewheel, andweretoodistantinrhythmtobelookingatanyone thing.Ifwehadnoticedoneanother,wewouldhaveseen thatthereislittlewecandonowtoberedeemed.

Butstill,fromwherebothofusweresitting,the strangedepthofdarknessrose,stretchedintofingersand soughttohold.Wecouldbuildthisworldentirelywithour hands,Isaid.Yes,youreplied,wecouldbuildthisworld, entire,withourhands.Butwedidnotmentionourrage.

Wedidnotmentionthehouse,anoldfriend,appearedfrom thedirtasiffromnowhereintheonceemptyfield.Ormyodd habits,jointsslottingtoasortofhalf-sleep:alwayshiding, alwaysfindingmecrouchedincorners,unlacinganailfromits cuticle.Northewomenontheradio,thatwecannotsave.

Whosoothetheirskinwithpain,thenreturninthemorning totheircubicles.Youmutteredbeneathyourbreathatherstory, shemustbeinsane.Ilookedoveratyou,said,she’snottrying tobesaneorsensible,she’sjusttrying.Youdrovefasterthen.

AndIhadn’trealised,butIrubbedthetearsintomycheekbones, letgo,lookedoutagain.AndIcan’tseemtohelpitthese days,itleaksoutofmewithoutmucheffortorthought.

Iamtryingtobekinder,especiallytoyou,beforeIleave, sosoon.ButnomatterhowItry,youseemhalf-remembered.

Andafterallthis,allIknowisthatsanityisnotthepointanymore. Words,exchangedinthedark,onthedrivehome orsomethingclose perhapsthisisthepoint.

Self-Fashioning

Iscoopmyfleshlikewetclay,takinghandfulsfromthemeatofmythigh toshapealargemound.Pressinridgesfortheribcage,smooththe stomach’sextendedsphere.ThefastfoodthatIatethroughmytwenties, metabolisedintoflesh:she’llsharemytasteforcheesychips.We’remadeof thesamematter.

Irollfingersandtoesfromtheskinaroundmyribs.Adarkveinruns throughthefistfulofclay:tattooink(mybodystillbearsthememoryof beingeighteen.)Imassagethatyearofmylifeintosoftsubmission, fingerstingedgrey,andpressthestainedappendagesintoplace.The muscleofmycalfformstheshapeofherskull.Hernoseismadefrommy heel.MybodyhasdigestedtheNortherntwangofmyhometown,butas Ipinchoffmorefleshtofashionavoiceboxtheclayrefusestoholdits shape,softenedbythedripoflongSouthernvowels.It’sstilltoopliable asIpressitontothecolumnofherthroat.Myfingerprintindentsthe surfaceandsoftclayclingstome,symbiotic.It’llneverfullyset,kept dampintheosmosisofculture;shegurglesspeechandthelarynxdribbles downherneck. Finallymoulded,myGolemstaresatmewithmyowneyes.

WithmylastremainingfingernailIreachforwardandscratchmyname intoherforehead.Shesmileswithamouthentirelyherown,andIsink backdownintothedirt.Wearemadeofthesamematter.

HANNAHBERESFORD

LLA MITH

On“inamination”

massagechairsaresexualbeingsjustas

abrickwallisbacksupport.leave

uncountedhalftheworldtowantonlythe partthattellsexplicitlywhatitfeels

andjumpoffthelongestbridgeintheworld itgoesovertheocean(atlantic)

thepiersthatholditupswayinthewater

whentherearenocarsontheroad

iswearicanfeelthemundermyfeet

talkingbacktothewater

anotheroneofthoserelationships

detectiveandthejewelthief

actorfilmandthecamerawatching

codeandtheelusivebrokenpartofit

everyonewantssomeoneelsetoeatthem

butthere'sjusttoomanyvegetarians

whichisnotanideologicalproblem

justanaestheticone,aproblemofwant thatiseasilysolvedbyallthepylons

curvingandcurlingonthesidesofhills

talkingamongstthemselvesonsun-driedplains metal-teethstructures,graspingelectriccable billionsbig,imaginarynumbersbig

butstillsocloselyaspirational

icanfeelthemundermyfeet

tellingthewateri'mfartoodehydrated andalive,formyowngood.

junkhuckster’scommuniquétothemanupstairs/ saxogrammaticus

ItisroundaboutSeptember15thand the summer heat has not stopped burning,thesummercrowdshavenot stoppedcoming,and–Youupthere.

dear god or other puissant creature (do you read me) dear god (is this thing on) dear god (I have a list of demands)thisismyhuckster’sprayer (deargod)blightthecropsbefoulthe wells rain fire upon the earth it is tourist season and they are buying fridgemagnets

Hello. –Ihavealistofquestions. deargodIamatroubledcogIhavesat behind this counter all day I have peddled garbage I have foisted crap I couldsellyoupondscum(ifthefancy caughtyou)deargodthisisapolemic

What if the rains do not come, the season does not break? What if the flowersallturnfromthesun,andthe bookstores are all rackets and tourist traps,andthehighstreetsandsubway carsareallfacesandlimbsandnokin tomeatall?

dear god (one time) some fucker handedmeamagnethesaidyougota cleaneroneoftheseroundbackIsaid I’ll look (I did) and lo there it was I pickeditupIdancedajigIputitback and I came back up and told that fucker nope all out dear god (don’t worry)thisisalie

Whatifallmylife’slabourhasbeento feedkeychainsandfridgemagnetsto themawoftheearth,thebellyofthe ocean?Andwhatifonedayallthese trinkets rebuke their far drowning, washupontheshoreline,swallowthe beaches, the trees, the towns? What then, if no moss grows among the ruins?

fucker nope all out dear god (don’t worry)thisisalie

All right. But how about this? In September heat the world curls and drieslikewiltingflowers,andthereisa little cow sat across from me on the windowsill,hisbacktothegreenhouse and the garden, looking forward. As though not a cynical token of our travels cast in red and white plastic, and after an old friend, we have namedhimSaxo.

deargod(Ibetyougetthisalot)do fridgemagnetsgotoheavenordothe soulssuffocateintheircellophanedo they remember the heat of human hands the slick of human sweat (the taste of human skin) dear god I see your novelty coin (this is a lucky penny)butdidyoureallyspendtime onAlcatraz?

dear god (sorry to bring this up but) whentheytookyourboyrenthimto scraps scattered scraps to the winds tookthescatteringsforsouvenirswas there any precious love (at all) impartedonevenonefingerthatwas notamidsttenthousandbarren

But what if I bore him worshipfully home, to the home we have made together,likeatoenailofChrist,and what if he is loved, so loved, because we stolehimfromtheairport.

not amidst ten thousand barren imitationswashedoutdeargod(please tell me) what purchased joy is not touristiciscleanis real

(doesthishelpourcase?)

SAMDEMARCO

photographbySamDeMarco&HendrikjeDorussen

Aboutaweekbeforemybrotherdied

ItwasjustaftervisitingConnorthesecondtime.DadandI weresatonbagsofsoilintheMeirB&Qcarpark,waitingfor Ad to come back. September Summer had come. Golden sun,warm,powderedcloudlesssky.Peacefullyquiet.Itwasa few hours before sunset, but you could feel the shadows lengthen,thedaygatheringin.Stilling.Dadleantonhisstick betweenhislegslikeaswordaslightglancedoffthetrees.We werewordlessandcalm.Wedidn’tknowifConwasgoingto makeitoutofthisone.

“Lightlikethismakesanythingbeautiful”,Isaid. Dadmighthavenodded,tappedhisstick.Atleasttherewere plentyoftreesabout,hesaid.Histremorshummed. Wewereshimmering. Itwasbeautiful.

JACKHEATH

Selene

Howyouglow

Remarkedthesunasherose

Tothemoonglidinglow

Everythingyoushow

Fromyoureyetoyourtoes

Howyouglow

Seedsofworshipdowesow

Anddriveoffthecrows

Tothemoonglidinglow

Attentionisyourfoe

Yetforthemyoustillpose

Howyouglow

Asyoudrawupyourbow

Awayrunthedoes

Tothemoonglidinglow

Whetheryoudecidedtostayortogo

Nomatterwhatyouchose

Howyouglow

Tothemoonglidinglow

HANNAHWORRALL

“AndIamhorriblylimited”,

Iamlockedinthisdarklighthouse

Surroundedbyanoceanofcreatures

Humansofallformscomeoutandcreepatnight

AndthoughIcannotbreachthedistance

Iamthemandtheyareme

Iamthewhoreandthehomeless

Iamthekillerandhisvictim

Iamthewindthatcoversthecorpse

Iamthebloodthatstainsthehands

Anddespitethetearsonesheds

Despitetheregretonenevershares

Eachofthemhavethisglow

Thissparkthatirradiatesfromwithin

Itmerelyflickersinsome

Itisablindinglightinothers.

PhotographybyDelfiDorussen

Iamlockedinthiscathedral

SomesortofQuasimodoaboveallParis

Youcanhearthebellsandthecrowd

Anomniscientbeingthatfliesaboveinthesky

Iseethroughwalls,Iseethroughhearts

Iamthelovers'sensualembrace

AndIamthatlonelyerringsoul

ForIamtheindividualandthecollective

Iamthefuryofthemob

AndIamthesmileofachild

Iamthecryforjustice

AndIamthekinglaughingonhisthrone

Iamtheflaringfireinthestreets

AndIamthecandle'splacidflame.

Thereisthisglarethatwandersaround

Itcrossespathswithangelsandbeasts

Thisglowisboundlessandfleshy

Itfillstheemptychaliceingod'shand

Overflowsoutofthevessel

Andpoursdownintotheworld.

MARINEPÉREZ-GUILLOCHON

HENDRIKJEDORUSSEN

AndI’dpleadforfixingtoSheForpeepingatlipssameasmine: Myedgesraw,bleedingrepent. Soshedid-aGenesistale.

“Howitshouldbe”: Thoughhisbreathlinedwithpome, AndtarnishedrecollectionsHersabittersweetcure.

ThoughglossedinshatteredsinAprickingofperfectpout.

Herradianceglowsthroughcracks,

BeyondthesicklyBorderlandDrippinginthesamesheenasmine.

Herglowisbeyondglass; Pushinghersinagainstmysin, IndulginginourMother-tongue: LanguagesShecouldneverunderstand.

AndSheshouldneverfind.

ThoughsomedayShewill.

AndIprepare,servinglife’sduty: Connectingfragmenttofragment, Reflectinglightofmyown.

Iburstthroughmosaictofind: Glowiseternal-notjusthome.

MEGANGENIN

alstroemeriamonotypeplate,ISOBELDINIC

Ne

neon

ispreciousmetaltoajellyfish,isiron.rottingtothemfeelsliketakingahairdryertoadesert, dryingoutonwetsandcravingthewet

underwhichthey(huddle).so,thisbeachismine,ruled

beneathmyshiningarmourofseawater-thatglows,don’tyouknow,don’tyouknowthatit glows,inthesliceofOctobersunitishalf-termIamstudyingthehalf-lifeof neon

beforetheyexpectmetoknowwhatthatmeans,beforeatomsareonemarkquestionsand notgrainsofsandthesandatmyfeetdoesn’thurtenoughgroundglassinmyeyeshoulddo thejobfine,itspiecesravenousformydiscomfort-edknowledge neon ispreciousmetaltoajellyfish,Iknowthat,justtherightamountofatomsbeforeIcome alongandpokeitwithastickandithastostingexceptunlikeabeeitisalreadydead lashingoutindecayasIclutchitnearas neon

toyingwithitsgreyelectricityuntiltheirfootstepscamerunning-adornedwithjellyfishamInow asthedeathgetsinmyfingercrackswithanalcoholicinsistencenottobreathe.so,Iturnblue onthebeachasitdrainsmeoftruths.

AscendingWithMyFather

Weascendtheislandintheseatogether

Iliketothinkofitasasortofquest:

Throughtherowsoffernslikehandsreachingforaking

Brushpastthebarleywhiskersandfoxglovetentacles

Alongthepathslikearteries,footprintsofsomeformerkinship

Beyondthosebeardedcragsandontoourplinthofrock

Wewalkupwardswithintent

Findourselvesarisenfromthemudflatsbelow

Walkinginsearchofadmirationfromthesentinelseagulls

Butalsothequietjoyofadmiringtheunspoolinghorizon

Ipointoutthattinytraintoyou,whichseemstospotus

Heavingalongtheshorelinewithafriendlychug

Darkchocolatesandscorralthecarswithawaterybreath

Boatstremblenervouslybythedocks,waiting

Meadowsbeyondstretchoutlikeaweddinggown

Seamedwithriversandbuttonedwithcattle

Thetoweringgreybridelooksdownonus

Godlyasthesungentlykissesherforehead

BackatthetentIcheckyouforticks

Examineeveryinchoftheselegswhichmirrormyown

Trytoignorethebloodythornscrapesandnettlestings

Concludethere’snothingtoworryabout

Welookouttoseaandwonderifthetidewillevercomein

Underthemoon,waveslapontherocksandlullustosleep

BERTIEKIRKWOOD

TheCoralMother

Thesea-sweepingcurrentalludessailors, Thoughneverus.

Groundinganchorsintorich, Gurglingwaves.

Ceaselessswaying

FromtheseislandstothoseMediterraneantales. Overice,afterdark.

Floatingabovecoloursthatremainunseen, Theoceanisonesmallboat.

Abreachingwhale

Ascendingthroughtheblueepidermis Ofsiren,ofrealmyth.

Touchit, Tideandmoon.

Breatheit, Greenandblue.

Thisbodydoessomuchforyou. Ofthis,thereisnootherOursiren,ourcoralmother.

REBECCAWRIGHT

"Thetaleisalsoreminiscentoffolktalesabouttheswanmaiden,anotheranimalbride withwhomthesealwomansharestheabilitytoshapeshift;inbothcases,aman domesticatesthembythwartingtheirabilitytomoveacrossspecies,buteventuallythey escape. "

-PenguinBookofMermaids

Selkie

Youpeelthefurfrommyskin, pluckthelumpsofcoalfrommyface.

Youfoldmycoatcarefully.

Youaregentle.

Youreverethatyouhaveit, thatyouholdmeinyourhands.

Youcradlemyweteyesinyourpalm.

Myreflectionwrithesandblursonmirrorsea.

Iwouldnotseemyselfinthestillofitssilver.

Thisfreshfilmpricklesatmypulse, Vibratesunderyourtouch.

Thisistheskinyouhavedressedmein.

Fleshyinterfaceofyourhometowntastes.

Collageofchemicalclippings,viraloffcuts,femininescraps.

shellsbyHendrikjeDorussen

TheSingeroftheSea

Growingup,Iusedtothinkmerchantmeantsingerofthesea.

Iwouldtripit,glideit,overmytongue.

Thechassh,ertheaireofmyFrenchaunt

Whowouldprayoverthepot,theonionsandpotatoes

Andbeefshe’dgrazewithswollenknuckles

Beforeopeningthemupwithaknife murmuringherprayers,herloveinlowchansons

Tomyearbelowherelbow.Herlover Lost,belowthewaves.

Pirateswouldcometomeindreams, Withblueskiesandbarrel-chestsfilledwithrum

Andsong.Norapeandscurvy.Nocapitalism

Orqueerhomosociality,lifeledinrebellion.

SpeakingFrenchtheysunginEnglish

Nowwearereadytosailforthehorn

Andtheword,Iwouldchanttheword

AswemutteredalanguageIcouldn’tspeak

Inmyheart,searchingforthelove Lostbelowthewaves.

WithmerchantnowIsmellsawdust, Thehardskinofbricksclickingintounmortaredblocks.

Mydad’snails,handsnofingersbutallpalm, Discardedsafetyhelmets.Diesel.Andvowelswhichdrop Flatasgranite (Sparklinglikegranite,too),

Theanchorbelowthewaves

JACKHEATH

Shippingforecast

Grandadplayedtheshippingforecasttome

Earliestmorninginthecaravan

“Showers,later,galeeightsouth-westerly”

Hewouldtunetheanalogueantennae, Weallhadtohushasthebroadcastran, Grandadplayedtheshippingforecasttome

Althoughwewerefarinland,stationary. Andhereitcouldnotbemoredifferentthan “Showers,latergaleeightsouth-westerly”

Perhapstoremindhim,thoughdistantly, Shipskeepjourneyingthesea’swidespan, Grandadplayedtheshippingforecasttome.

Thatsailorsarestillatherwildmercy, Thathermightwillneverbetamedbyman: “Showers,latergaleeightsouth-westerly”

AlthoughIlivedlandlocked,thecallofthesea Reachedmethroughthehabitsofanoldman; Grandadplayedtheshippingforecasttome “Showers,latergaleeightsouth-westerly”

JAMIECHEN

TheWhale-Road

Thewhale-roadispaved Withflecksofplastic,inhaled Likesomescroungedfag-ends

JOEWRIGHT

SketchbookDrawingsoftheBeachatWarnemünde, partoftheGermanBalticSea LAURABRACEYCURRY

Rockpooling

Oncewegottiredofthewaves

We’dwalktotheheadland

Torockpool,squeakyCrocsscrubbingmyanklesraw Withinsistentgrains,absolved

Withaplungethatspiltandre-tiltedthelight, Marblingandwobblingtheblue.

Neckcrickedfromcrouching, Iwaspoised

Andintentonbrightshells:clamsandscuttlingcrabs

Intinyworldsmytoespickedslicksofseaweedin

Ahoneycombmazeofmirroredtroves.

Mylovelanguagebackthenwas

Thegiftofaparticularlysmoothpebble, Orthealienbrushoffingersasweblottedthesun Beneathus,hunchedoverthepool, Oursaltyhairintertwining, Breathingineachother’stremulousair.

JOEWRIGHT

AtBamburgh

AtBamburgh,herhands

JOEWRIGHT

Onminewerecoolseawater, Printingbighotstones.

ThingsIprobablyshouldn’tsayforawidevarietyofreasons or,BackfromtheBeach

lickme tastecoldseaonmyskin

breathemein smellburntsandinmyhair

listen I’lltellyouaboutamermaidwithoutatail inmyeyes you’llseepixelatedsunlighthorizonjostling drawnear movecloser touchme

EMMABROWN

Hereweareontheconcreteseawall.

Beyondisthesinkingworldofsilt andooze,ofshellsandstones,and thetideiswayoutteasingusthatthe endisatbay.

Therearecouplesbentandprobing thesludgeforsomething.Aman sweepsametaldetectoroverthe scree.ASaxonwharfjagsfromthe mud.

Doyouremembercomparing timetablesinSeptemberofYearTen?

Ournotesmeltingthosecoldrooms. Ourfish-tankofinnocentglances.

Foroncewearekidless,thetwoofus ontheseawallofmyfortieth.

Inafewdaysyouwillmeetaclimate scientistwhotellsyouwhatisto come. Justcouples,kidless,probingthe sludgeforsomethingbyaseawall jaggingfromthemud.

Seasalter,September2022 SAMBUTLER

Plato’sCave

Wind,howl: watchingshadowstrickledownthewall, greyscintillaofbeyondto entertainyoufrommycave.Thebed rocksontheseafloor.

Fragmentsofshellprick thesoftbody(oystermeat,letmeslip downyourgulletstillraw&cold) &frondstickle,theirtouch stickyandseductive.

Writhewithmemoryofthesea.Strip fortheogre,frogmonster,myCalibanlover realiseyourbonesbeneath &letthembebleached bythetide.

Dissolvetheform &treasurethesexlesssiltremains.

Inhalethedeepsalt. Thereispowerinsuccumbing. Nowbegone,begone,nowstay.

EDENGRAY

artworkbyELLASMITH

HowtoSailaBed,

Ineverlearnedhowtosailabed orwhy tostay afloat. Blackandblue i blueandwhite never ends further thananyeyecanbe seen, splashing crescendoes against thewoodenframethrashing,windroars

louderthanblood: choking,nearretching gag but no thingdislodges, nothingchanges.

Only thescentshifts, strengthens,putrid and pungentofpitilessantiseptic wouldthe salt suppress thedeathsmell? theworldtastes thesameinsideandout, hide ,cloudsuponclouds iceimpersonatingcomfort, let’smakeapillowfort willcollapse thenIamtobe smothered.

Lightlaterdarkens:therearebruises juice-staining myneckeverso gasp grasp thereisnothingleft sheetsspasmedtoshreds Blue blue blue blue blue

EDENGRAY

AspecialthankstoallourIssue3submitters

co-edited&designedby

HendrikjeDorussen &HannahBeresford