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Message from Marcus Price:

After two years as poetry editor, I have decided to stand down and hope that someone else will continue in the role.

Thank you to all those who have donated poems.

Some poems/reflections on the GASi Summer School in Rijeka
By Ana Lina Vodusek

Shadow

There is my life
I see
and feel.
There are my friends and family.

But there is a Shadow
here
with me,
I cannot touch
nor smell
nor see.
Always
standing
close
to me.

Is that
anxiety
or fear
of uncanny?
Of the unknown
I cannot see?

Or is it
the smell of death
the rage
that fights
inside

the guilt
the shame

of being seen

as small
and naked
in front
of You?

But who is you?
Are you my friend
or foe?

I cannot tell.

Oh, touch
me gently.
Kiss my cheeks.
Allow
my feelings
bad
and good

to let them be
free
to fly
and storm.

And be accepted
as they are.

As they belong

as long

as they belong
to Me.

In – Between me and you

It was goodbye before we met.
There was no me, no you, no we.
It was a moment, maybe more
of words like birds, the touch, the smell.
The look of wanting
The lust to live.

There was a lot
of going on
The group
The people
Women most
You scared of them
Me scared of men.

How crazy if you mentalize,
relations are…
With all realities in one,
in two in threes…
With loose borders…
or too strong.

I hate myself to ruin all
in my own head
to not feel small
and hurt…
…and cry

for me and you,
for mom and dad
and for us all.

Love is the word
I search
to feel.

Loved being there
with You
and All.

Love

they say
like
they
know.

Family
they say
like it is natural.

Having kids
they say
is beautiful
like
they know
how to be

normal.

Woman
is
mother
loving
kids.

Like she
has to know
her place
in this

Making sense
out of it

Not being
a man.
Is it really
always
so logical?

Or is it biological?

Having kids.
Is.
How to cocreate
a safe space
out of chaos.
Finding love
together,
being lost
together,
not knowing
what is natural.

Body knows
I say
cause I feel

when to back off
and when to squeeze in.
Be embraced
and love myself
and them all.

Poem written for World Mental Health Day 2019
By Swati Prabhu

Please email any poems you would like considered for publication to
Peter Zelaskowski
peterzelaskowski@gmail.com