The Morning is Quiet, by Robert Schechter

The morning is quiet. There’s nothing I hear. I think there’s a riot of hush in my ear, a growl that is purring, a sleep without snoring, a monster not stirring, a lion not roaring, a shaking that’s steady, a wave that’s not breaking. I’m rested and ready. It’s time...

Indian Cradle Song, by Piu DasGupta

The water begins in the river The river begins in the mountains The mountains begin in an earthquake The earthquake begins in a tremor The tremor begins in the earth’s crust The earth’s crust begins in the ocean The ocean begins in the moon-tides The moon-tides begin...

New Baby, by Paula Thompson

Nine months of waiting – best part of a year. Mum’s belly a beachball; mine swelling with fear. What if they love me less than before?      When our three becomes a four. Our house filling up with mysterious things: monitors, bottles, baby slings. Nappies. A...

The Platform Clock, by Andy Nuttall

Tick … tock … tick … tock … Can you hear the platform clock? Crowds are queuing in the station, Dreaming of their destination. Bags and trunks and packs and cases, Bound for umpteen different places! Up the line the track is singing; Silver rails are faintly ringing....