A new poem by Island Bay poet James Brown. Insulation My barber says that people no longer being able to afford houses is a no-brainer opportunity. He turns on the tele. Cue the leafy suburbs. Cue the dawn chorus. The tent of realty is specially crafted to respond to inequity. Its breathable fabric repels applicants … Read more
New work by Island Bay poet James Brown. Cruelty to Animals We got you so the children could learn about looking after something more vulnerable than themselves – aged 4 and 6 as they were – learn how to feed you and keep your water topped up, and to let you in and out when … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer James Brown Liking Similes Here, the cicadas sing like Christian women’s choirs in a disused cotton mill. ‘Letter from the Estuary’ by Erik Kennedy When I hear cicadas, their singing always reminds me of Christian women’s choirs in a disused cotton mill. I picture the conductor’s arms bent in … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer James Brown End For five fucking years and fuck knows how many fucks he was fucking my friend and she was fucking my husband. Angry? Do I sound angry? These things happen. That’s what he said. Marriage is a journey and sometimes you reach the end. … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer James Brown. Flying Fuck We spend too much time doing things for people who don’t give a flying fuck about us. What is a flying fuck anyway? Is that line earning its place? It could probably be cut. James Brown, 2017 The Spinoff Review of Books … Read more