The Song of the Twinless Twin by Jude Cowan Montague

A prophecy

I had a little twin
He was my mortal foe.
I killed him in the womb
so I was born alone.

Cold Case by Betsy Housten

for S. (1952-1977)

“And I… will write my story for my better self.”
– Elizabeth Barrett Browning

My girl – my better self – I’m so sorry. You deserved
a different ending, one befitting the performer we were,
smitten with allegro and adagio and each speed in between.

Canadian Psycho by Kristin Garth

Pat Bateman didn’t trust a bitch. My bard
American, my bible psychotic,
my prophet takes no slaves.

Out of Place by Stephen Daniels

The home was ruptured, a double-glazed
window invitation, with net curtain sight.

The Face of Agamemnon by Bethany W Pope

Wine can live five-hundred years, away from air,
to die upon your baffled tongue.

Chimaera by Steven Bruce

Her slender fingers brushed the palm of his hand.
+++ ‘Your hands are rough,’ she said, kissing them.
+++ ‘Oh, thanks,’ he said.
+++ ‘They’re still my favourite part of you.’

Anna M by Spangle McQueen

And suddenly
I’m watching your story
in Swedish –
without subtitles.

Juan Ponce de Leon by Bridget Clawson

I read to five clients, at the moment. One is an unusually tall, angular woman my own age, forty-two, who believes she is Juan Ponce de Leon.

Unsolved by Matt Duggan

I still can hear those small footsteps
among the slate caves and snuff mills,

Matricide by Ceinwen E. Cariad Haydon

(CN / TW: child abuse, verbal abuse, strong language, violence)

Slag. Again.
Again. Tonight,
because I walked home
barefoot, shoes in my hands,