Issue 52

Dirty Phone Calls

Introduction The dirty phone call is one of those foreseeable and yet unforeseen side-effects of…

‘All That Needs Doing’ and other poems

Introduction As I was reading for this issue, I became aware of the significant number…

‘Tidal Pull’ and other poems

Introduction Popular culture would have us believe that poems of love are poems of yearning.…

‘Paper Weights. Waits. Weighs. Waste.’ and other poems

Introduction One of the ‘discussions’ (our polite word for arguments) we repeatedly have at TBLM…

‘The Ruined City of Thebes’ and other poems

Introduction Mark Doty in his essay ‘Souls on Ice’ says: our metaphors go on ahead…

‘To orchid (as in verb)’ and other poems

Introduction Once upon a time there was an ant, an elephant and an orchid. They…

‘Grace is a Given’ and other poems

Introduction I belong to the generation that was taught to seek (constantly, and sometimes to…

‘fermentations’ and other poems

Introduction This isn’t a conventional introduction for many reasons. Because firstly, an introduction must set…

‘Sailor, Storm’ and other poems

Introduction In Markus Zusak’s novel ‘The Book Thief’, the young Liesel says of her father:…

‘The Berlin Heart’ and other poems

Introduction The heart is the most overused organ in poetry. Except it isn’t used as…