Manes by Joanne Clement _ Come hear the Boer’s hooves. This cavalry canters on, turns _ the corner as might a flood of urgent salmon. Headstrong _ they take to…

So Much Depends by Kris Johnson     ‘With marvellous smoothness and ease, and silent as the stars, the roadway parted twain, in the presence of thousands of admiring spectators….

Haven by Mandana Mashayekhi Ghoyonloo     Coming from the south of the Tyne Or North of Newcastle Or coming from not knowing where Or being lost, totally lost St…

St. Mary’s Story by Wajid Hussain She overlooks the Tyne, stones set in her foundation older than a hundred nations, her stones masoned by names long dust, and again she…

Marching Music by Jason Lytollis     If the crowd would just look up, they’d see the angel with the buffed gold clarion, whose call to arms is so pristine…

The Quayside by Theresa Muñoz     Sorry to have missed your call. Was out, by the river eyeing lit dents in the Tyne   before my coastline train staggers…

Owl in Daylight by Claudia Simmons     I stare unblinking from her shoulder. Time has not ruffled my feathers, weariness has not drooped my lids. I see them swarming…

Up the Monument. Archival Photograph by Alex Shaw     A workman in a flat cap on his honkas wraps three weathered fingers around the Earl’s weathered coat. It’s nineteen…

High Friar Lane by David Spittle     overcast cut through being gutter & stars passed by & passing as dragged clamour of bricked-in bins thunder & glass tipped on…

Gift of the Gab by John Challis     Closing time. The market traders wrap their gifted tongues in greaseproof paper. They transplant the vivid steaks   to cold drawers…