VEX BOMB 006

ISSUE 006

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VEX

BOMB Poems from the Ventnor Exchange Spoken Word Collective

ge a r a g e th From 17 July

shows. open m ics. exhibition spa ce. interactive p oetry.

Proud partner of Creative Island’s CAN YOU HEAR US? Project.

We are running some special workshops, open to all, that will generate poetry for our special new Ventnor Fringe venue ’the garage’ 𝟐𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥: Poetry Pharmacy Writing Workshop @boojumandsnarkiw - 6pm-8pm 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞: Exhibition Writing Workshop - Ventnor Park 5:30pm-7:30pm 𝟏𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞: Poetry Pharmacy Writing Workshop - Ventnor Park - 6pm-8pm Both the exhibition and poetry pharmacy will then take place between the 17th and 26th July at Ventnor Fringe.

CAN YOU HEAR US? Celebrating All That The Island Is

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Night Bus I love Like the feeling of riding a night bus Not knowing Where your stop is Knowing It could only be Complicated Unnecessary Unknown Panicked that I'll miss it Left stranded Out in the cold With a hill I can't climb My heart Is a hill I can't climb Since it broke Forever Always Maybe

Now I love everyone Perfectly In every beautiful moment When they are Exquisite Naturally unnatural The sun and stars Shooting From their Lips and fingertips But My thoughts Linger And I confound Myself

Brina Calkins Art by R. J. Leppard

Thoughts, Fowl and Funerary Practices Robbie Leppard I saw a hearse at the junction.

The subtle half-baked internal philosophy and reflection of mortality.

Shrug it off.

Two ducks pecking at the grass, indifferent to the rain that surrounded them.

Staring as the cars lazily drift past.

They crossed the road.

Both making it.

That hearse has driven off now as well.

Carrying someone unknown to me elsewhere.

Again, that half-baked philosophy comes back.

Shrug it off.

Text from the poem on the previous page:

I am disgusted by the summer breeze naked edges curling in the warmth I am barely here, a boulder in nightly asymmetry I ache for sweat, for salted drops, for coughs, for snot, saliva strings to dry up in my folds punch me, crush me, unload your rage in bitter screams I won’t let the neighbours hear I swear, I swear your curse is safe with me did I not house your silent tears unconscious gasps, your rustled love I’d pluck my insides clean to taste your silence where are you love? where are you wrath? let me whisper dreams to you again

cody pevreall

VEX, The Ventnor Exchange Spoken Word Collective, meets fortnightly on Thursdays at 7:45-9:30pm starting on 8th January 2026. There is an earlier quieter session from 7:00pm on the same days.

Find us on Facebook and Instagram @vexspokenword or email us on vexspokenword@gmail.com