A fascinating and sometimes damning exploration of how classical mythology has been used by the Western world to either perpetuate patriarchal norms and expectations or to dismantle them. Morales gives long needed attention too to how myth can be subverted by women, people of colour and the LGBTQ+ community; she reveals the intersectional nature of … Continue reading Review of Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths, Helen Morales
after Dorothy Parker “And rip the hearts of men in half And toss the bits away” - Dorothy Parker I dream too much of tearing your heart from the cocoon of your chest. I dream too much about revenge followed by redemption, for women, for … Continue reading Watch it burn
for Aimée Divisions had already been drawn before you were born — our blood would be thick but we were pulled from different rivers, silt running down our thighs: I remember the morning I held you, brushing distance from your brow and learning your name, just as you would learn mine — stumbling over … Continue reading Sand sisters
with you / or in your arms / with stones in my pockets / or kissing the sea. Alone / watching the sky / turn primrose pink / sprawled across the floor / giggling delirium / with alcohol in my bones. Sat at cliff edges / vertigo / wrapping cold hands / around my wrists … Continue reading Where I belong & things I shouldn’t say:
I play hide and seek with myself: concealed behind bed sheets, curtains and the lines drawn in childish crayon across my face. I giggle in the darkness then trace the oyster edges of my bones in the mirror - whisper “I am still here.” Here, despite the fact you rest your head against my back … Continue reading Object Permanence
Today, on Thursday, 1st October, (aptly National Poetry Day) Olivia Snowdrop celebrates the release of her debut poetry collection, Snowdrop: A Collection. Below is an interview with Olivia and there will be details about where you can buy the collection and follow Olivia, as well as a link to my advance review. KRISTIANA: Snowdrop: A … Continue reading An interview with Olivia Snowdrop
You arrived at the beginning of me, a life spent so lonely in quarantine, bobbing in the breeze so effortlessly, bubbles pop blue like the sky and the sea. I watch you come in twos and threes, loved up in ruffled up feathers and yellow smiles; swallowing the sunshine, golden syrup, before drifting upon the … Continue reading A Sonnet for Bluetits
after Sylvia Plath Silence shudders through the room, yet I find forgiveness, whilst carving sculpture into my tomb. We love like gargoyles in gloom, painted grins for hearts bleeding. Silence shudders through the room. I search for bones and flesh, a womb to call my own, whilst whittling sculpture into my tomb. … Continue reading Mad Girl’s Love Song
I haven't written about being in the bath in a while. Larkin wrote about lambs whilst I write about the pink between my toes; wondering if when I was born I knew I would be raised for the slaughter. My lamb eyes blinking, drinking in the sun. Until I learned how to drink bathwater. … Continue reading My lamb heart
My pale, baby face blooms unseen in your bedroom mirror; I watch you, beautiful woman who is not yet mine, dancing in the scent of summer and hypnotised by half moon shadows playing across creaky floorboards. It's Friday night and you shake off those playground blues, put on your high heeled shoes, too dark … Continue reading Friday nights with you, before me
