INVADER. By Bryn Fortey

the battle-scarred invader

plants his flag

claims the land

for his triumphant clan

blood will soak

and stain the earth

women will weep

for men-folk lost

the conqueror will

never be loved

but the planet will adapt

    

Bryn Fortey is a veteran writer from Wales in the UK. Widely published

over the years, he has had two collections published by The Alchemy 

Press, both featuring a mix of short stories and poetry.

 He is grateful thatin old age he is still able to put pen to paper and finger to keyboard

An Invitation To Adventure. By Ian Lewis Copestick

Last night I found a credit/debit card
In the street outside the local
shop.
At one time, perhaps 20 years ago
This would've been an invitation
To adventure. Without thinking I would
Have been buying whiskey, cigarettes
And getting cash back. But now,
No. Before I even really thought
I knew I didn't want to get caught
And be taken to Court
For a charge of fraud
Just for a couple of days
Of drunkenness and
Other assorted fun.
I suppose I must be
Growing up, or maybe 
Just  losing my nerve.
I've got old man skin
On my hands too.

Ian Lewis Copestick is a 46 year old writer (I prefer that term to poet ) from Stoke on Trent, England. I spend most of my life sitting,  thinking then sometimes writing. I have been published in Anti Heroin Chic, the Dope Fiend Daily, Outlaw Poetry, Synchronized Chaos, the Rye Whiskey Review, Medusa's Kitchen and Horror Sleaze Trash.

This Anthropologist I Once Studied With. By John Doyle

He reminded me of Bill Murray, Garfield the Cat;

so it came as no real shock 

that little more than months later

Bill Murray would play Garfield the Cat,

thanks to this Anthropologist I once studied with -

deadpan, dour, 

upper-lip a tent that protected his lower-lip

from any retort that might just shoot him down -

like that tribe deep in lush-green jungle he once lectured on.

Stephen who later became a bit-part walk-on 

in shampoo commercials

still swears to God that he saw him smile that day -

we wondered 

if that Murray-scowl would ever be the same,

sitting around a campfire 

under starlight

playing awful 1996 alternative-rock songs 

on his guitar -

for polite
but bored senseless natives

John Doyle became a Mod again in the summer of 2017 to fight off his impending mid-life crisis; whether this has been a success remains to be seen. He has has two collections published to date, A Stirring at Dusk in 2017, and Songs for Boys Called Wendell Gomez in 2018, both on PSKI's Porch. 

He is based in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. All he asks is that you leave your guns at the door and tie up your horses before your enter.

DEATH POEM by R.M. Engelhardt

There's
An old man who
Sits on the
Park bench
Feeding pigeons
Who looks like
Everyone's
Grandpa


Except for
The words
In the shape of
A plaque
Tattooed on
His forearm
In Nam
In Vietnamese

Which read;

You may have
Killed me but
My spirit shall
Haunt you the
Rest of your
Days

And your family
Is now cursed

Forever

Poet, Writer, Author & even a Minister over the last 25 years R.M. Engelhardt has been published in such magazines as Thunder Sandwich, Rusty Truck, Writers' Resist, Dry Land Lit, Hobo Camp Review & many others.

 He currently lives and writes in Upstate NY where he runs the Troy Poetry Mission. A last stop open mic for poets who like to share their work before going to San Francisco or hell.

www.rmengelhardt.com