Poetry
Crisis
By Diana Ashman Pandemic, a crisis planet lockdown, no autonomy or freedom of choice, people frown, authorities put rules into place, isolation, social distancing, life slows to a pace. As the weeks pass by, [… read more ]
Articles by Richard Salsbury
Memoir
It Started With a Timid Message
Charlotte Comley considers the mental health implications of lockdown. The supermarket shelves were empty and people were selling toilet rolls on Amazon. And then, on the 23 March 2020, Boris Johnson told the country that [… read more ]
Fiction
Bun Penny
By Margaret Jennings When I was a child, my mother gave me a bun penny and told me that whenever I found myself in trouble I should ask Queen Victoria what to do and she [… read more ]
Poetry
Lockdown Journey
By Sue Cornell We venture onto half known pavements. Our legs carry us, our feet accelerate and brake on unfamiliar territory several streets from home. Approaching fellow travellers we nod, smile apology and cross the [… read more ]
Poetry
VE Day
By Liz Kay At Number Nine Mary is humming, twisting bunting. Her fuzzing hands wave to Number Ten where Charlie and Steve are leaving for their daily cycle. On Thursday evening, they had forgotten [… read more ]
Fiction
Compost Heap
By Sue Harper Sarah’s partner remarked: ‘I do hope someone cooks dinner.’ That seemed rather a passive-aggressive formulation, Sarah thought. Why not ask her outright? After all, she did it every single day. ‘Will you [… read more ]
Poetry
The Unlock Dress Code
By Sue Spiers Monday’s mask bears buttercups, saffron buttons under launderette-fog glasses. Beetroot stains her Tuesday mouth like rose lipstick. No one sees her smile. To the bank on Wednesday with leaf-green tree [… read more ]
Memoir
In Search of Portsmouth’s Marginal Spaces
S&C regular John Callaway explores the parts of Portsmouth where other photographers rarely venture. Over the past few months, I’ve attempted to navigate the local landscapes of Portsmouth, the place that I’ve called home for [… read more ]
Fiction
Your Beautiful Eyes
By Christine Lawrence The first thing I noticed about him was his eyes. One eye was a vivid blue and the other a strange shade of brown flecked with gold. I tried to look away [… read more ]
Poetry
Nigra Bamboo
By Maggie Sawkins We thought the planting of it would enhance our patio garden, but its stems hardened. Now after four years it has obscured the view from the bedroom window. We have [… read more ]