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New beginnings, Volume 3:

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Introduction

Contents New Beginnings Kath G. Contributors Kath G. A note Kath G.

Poetry

Spark Kath G. The Lovers Kath G. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Kath G. Skinny Dipping Kath G. The Funeral Kath G. Inflamed Currents of Mind Kath G. Mental Rot Kath G. Kill the Moonlight Kath G. A Warning to Boys who Angle Kath G. Myself Kath G. Me Mum Kath G. a map of Yemen and others (2020) Kath G. The Backwards Year Kath G. Precious, of the essence Kath G. A zoo in my room Kath G. Isolation Kath G. Speak up, Speak out! Kath G. Uni Days Kath G. uni grad boat Kath G. In Time Kath G. Eden Kath G. 03.08 Kath G. 03:30 Kath G. My Alexander Kath G. Validation Kath G. You Make me So Sad Kath G. The Son Drawn from Water Kath G. Visitors at Allah’s House Kath G.

Short-story

No Man’s Gallery Kath G. Necromanitc Kath G. Gemini Kath G. 70s Kath G. Aqua Kath G. Bilston Kath G. A letter to the Prehistoric Woman who painted rock art at Bhimbetka Caves Kath G.

The Funeral

Kath G.

I can’t stop thinking about you

dead by the road, where grandpa crashed

thirteen years ago. I was seven,

 

shook from slumber

by my mother, breaking

the news that her father was gone.

And I, fathered,

was too young to understand

his leaving

meant building life upon

 

disappearances:

 

a table with one less plate,

his car, headed nowhere.

The Marlboro, unsmoked,

made the air suffocating

in this house with

too

much

space.

I was young when I learned death follows

life—the shadow tethered to our feet.

Each morning, we begin our wake,

listening to the hymns

of our youth. The radio,

playing eulogies

for what has passed.

at night, the mourning lingers:

 

I shake myself awake,

troubled by the thought of you

against the pavement,

of blood

on you, of mine

in me.

 

I rehearse each of your rides home as the last—

Counting forty dinners, forty Marlboros,

collecting our final goodbyes.

 

See me grieve in your presence

so when the night of disappearances fills

the house again, I might find a life

not

completely

 

undone.

Editors for The Funeral not yet setup.

New beginnings, Volume 3:

New Beginnings is our third and final volume of 2020. It is also our longest yet, with close to 100 pieces having been sent in for review from over 80 writers. Additionally, this volume marks a step towards making our initiative even more inclusive, having opened submissions for art and photography, too.

2021 may not be the new beginning for which we are all hoping. In fact, it is likely that the world will stay largely the same. However, that doesn’t stop us doing what we can to make it a little better. In supporting and being involved in an initiative whose primary motivation is to build one another up, our team and readership have certainly proven to be committed to making positive change already.

First published by Ta Voix 2020