Philip received his MS in Psychology from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada. He has published Five books of poetry: Mirror Images and Shards of Glass, Dark Images at Sea, I Never Finished Loving You, Falls from Grace, Favor and High Places, and Forever Was Never On My Mind. Three novels, Caught Between (Which is also a 24 episodes Radio Drama Podcast https://wprnpublicradio.com/caught-between-teaser/), Art and Mystery: The Missing Poe Manuscript, and Far From Here. Two plays, The Apparition and The Poet’s Masque. Philip has a column in the quarterly magazine Per Niente. He enjoys all things artistic.
They looked at each other, blank-eyed, after the delivery van drove off, outside.
What’s the matter. Why the look?
I told you already. I don’t like this.
Don’t like this? Don’t like what? The TV’s here, right? Look at it. There it is. What more do you need?
It still bothers me I never heard of the company you said you ordered it from.
What? Why? You said you were nervous it’d never get delivered ‘cause you never heard of the company. I could even see that, maybe. But—here it is. What’s the big deal now?
They gazed at the TV on the floor between them.
I don’t know, I—hey listen, I think anybody hit in the face with a name like the “Regulation TV set factory out West Bruce Toothpull” would think that’s fake.
Uh. Okay. So the name’s odd. But—here it is.
Yes, I know. But—oh, never mind.
No no no, wait. Here it is. It’s plugged in. It’s powered up. What were you going to say still bothers you? Come on.
Okay, okay. I almost think we shouldn’t have it, that it shouldn’t be here.
Why?
I guess because I—think its dirty—like something I can’t touch ‘cause I don’t know where its been!
Instant’s stunned silence, then, Jesus Christ, that’s crazy! How can that be?
Don’t pick at me now. You forced me to say that! I wasn’t going to say it, but you forced me—so don’t look at me that way!
Okay, okay—I didn’t mean—
Oh yes you did. I always know what you mean! You got me started now, so—shut up and listen! First, the name of the company. You see it anyplace on any paperwork we got?
I don’t know, maybe—I—
Never mind maybe. The answer is no! Next—did you see the van it came in?
Okay, sure. A big white van. So?
That’s the kind of van you always called a kidnapper van. Remember?
Huh? What—I never heard that term—kidnapper van. What is it?
Oh, again, a nice pat convenient answer. I swear, you’re so stubborn.
Stubborn? Really? When I’m simply honestly saying I don’t remember things the way you do? I just—just don’t know what a—kidnapper van, or whatever you said—I just say I don’t know what that is, and—how is that being stubborn?
Okay. Maybe not stubborn, but—what you’re admitting to can’t be true, because I can see and hear you as clear as a bell, telling me all about “kidnapper vans” way back when. Why have you decided to get your back up and lie about it to me, today?
Wait—hold it, this is going too damned far!
Really? No! I’llgrant you that liar may be just a hair too strong, maybe you’re just forcing yourself to believe you don’t remember to keep yourself clear of being an actual liar, but—
What? That’s crazy!
No, no! Never mind—pay attention! When you used that term back then, I asked you what a kidnapper van was, and you told me clear as day. You said—
No! Can’t possibly have happened! I’ve never heard of such a thing!
Hold it, don’t cut me off—yes you did, because you explained that a kidnapper van is a van of one blank color : mostly white or black—other colors are rare : with no windows in the sides or in the back door and no—
No! Can’t possibly have happened! I’ve never heard of such a thing!
DAMN it don’t talk over me! Uh—okay, a van with no lettering of any kind and even sometimes with blanked-out license plates, this all being so, so that—
No! Can’t possibly have happened! I’ve never heard of such a thing!
—the victim can be snatched, and thrown in the back there, and then with the doors locked the kidnappers can drive away to the secret site of their choice to do what they wish to the victim in secret, and—
No! Can’t possibly have happened! I’ve never heard of such a thing!
—and if even someone saw them grab the victim and take off, there’d be nothing unique about the vehicle to tell the police to look for—
No! Can’t possibly have happened! I’ve never heard of such a thing!
—and you capped all that off with some kidnappers even take the van to a scrap dealer for crushing, once they’ve used it in the kidnapping grab and—
No! Can’t possibly have happened! I’ve never heard of such a thing!
—then they can proceed with the rest of their plan for the use of the victim for this that or the other—and then you said—
No! Can’t possibly have happened! I’ve never heard of such a thing!
—you said that was all that there was to be known ‘bout a kidnapping van.
No! Can’t possibly have happened! I’ve never heard of such a thing!
But, the description I’ve just recounted, I got from youway back then!
No! No! I’ve never heard of such a thing! What are you—you are calling me a liar?
Uh—isn’t it possible you may just have forgotten what it is? That wouldn’t mean you are a liar. Perhaps a bit forgetful, but—
What?
—but no way could you be considered a liar. That is, if you claim to have simply forgot.
{wink}
What? NO! I did not forget, and am not a liar, both. Both things, and both, and—
Hold it HOLD it just one more thing—and that is why I fear this damned TV—I fear what may have been done to it—and what it may do to us in revengeif we let down our guard!
{crazy eye}
Step back—
{crazy eye}
Dear God!
Look down, up, away, and into straight into pierce probe prod and stab-b-b-b w’, the n say softly as humanly possible—Let’s talk about something else now, okay?
Okay sure. If you’ll admit you believe me.
—NO but I never no b-b-b-ut I it’s always but I this, and but I that—Let’s talk about something else I tell you say one damned more syllable—
Ah. Okay. Sure. I believe you.
Good. Deep silence in-tween in-tween, deep silence—both then turned and left the tense airless room after one pulled the plug on the no-name TV and pushed it into a corner. Over there in the corner it sits to this day under stuff come on top more and more and so under that stuff on top of it there, under it all, there it sits alone; the dark room
two steps from the bar and just a drink from Hell.
SINCERITY
I wrote love poems
on the back of my hand,
always meaning
to put them on paper,
but the ink wore out
or was washed away
just like the emotion.
CONSTANCY
Some things a woman says are bridges
raising grief over happiness.
Once, I could only be satisfied
if she was always there, then just a touch
was enough, then the sound of her voice
and finally just the thought of her.
A face can grip your mind like unrelenting tongs
and wipe out everything else,
like a barrage of hail strafing
your gently swaying fields;
you wouldn’t find fire down a well
or dew on a lightning bolt,
so don’t hope for something more.
THE COCOON
I found a cocoon made of twigs
somehow stuck together in a lattice.
I don’t know why, but it never opened
and many years later I went away
leaving the cocoon behind on a shelf,
while whatever creature lay inside
never learnt what it truly was.
S.C. Flynn was born in a small town in Australia of Irish origin and now lives in Dublin. His poetry has been published in more than a hundred magazines around the world. His collection “The Colour of Extinction” (Renard Press, October 2024) was The Observer Poetry Book of the Month. “An Ocean Called Hope” (Downingfield Press, May 2025) is forthcoming.
Maja Milojković was born in 1975 in Zaječar, Serbia. She is a person to whom from an early age, Leonardo da Vinci’s statement “Painting is poetry that can be seen, and poetry is painting that can be heard” is circulating through the blood. That’s why she started to use feathers and a brush and began to reveal the world and herself to them. As a poet, she is represented in numerous domestic and foreign literary newspapers, anthologies and electronic media, and some of her poems can be found on YouTube. Many of her poems have been translated into English, Hungarian, Bengali and Bulgarian due to the need of foreign readers. She is the recipient of many international awards. “Trees of Desire” is her second collection of poems in preparation, which is preceded by the book of poems “Moon Circle”. She is a member of the International Society of Writers and Artists “Mountain Views” in Montenegro, and she also is a member of the Poetry club “Area Felix” in Serbia.
Rubina Anis is the Headteacher of Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh. She has obtained her honors and Master’s degree from the Department of Arts and Crafts, Rajshahi University.
The smell of victory comes from the footsteps of the Turk
Listen, talent grows from every word of the Turk
One nation, two states are crying out with your breath,
Burn and destroy those who fought against your homeland,
Türkoğlu! For thirty years, Karabakh has been groaning underfoot,
Our heart is in ruins, our land is in ruins, it cries for help,
Lands full of martyr blood look shorter than you,
Ildirim, go to your troubles,
Turkoglu! Say thank you to the land and give your blood to the land
He who puts on his homeland’s clothes and gives his life to his homeland, Rising willingly to the summit of martyrdom,
Get into the enemy’s chest, indelible mountain,
Türkoğlu! God shared his unshakable power,
You declared your bravery and courage to the world,
Fight for summer history with your blood
Tax the flag to the victory summit,
Türkoğlu! He stands straight like a lion, a Turk’s head does not bend.
It fights to destroy its oil, it knows no fear,
Know that the country is indivisible, know that martyrs do not die
Feel sorry for the court of justice, Türkoğlu!
Poet-publisher, author of five books. AYB and AJB, Iraq Turkmen Writers Union, Central Asia, Yeni Avaz, Historians and Writers Member of the union, from 2018 to 2022, editor of the “Azad qələm” newspaper, from 2023 to 2023 “Literary pearls” journal from the province installer and chief editor. 2020-ci year KĪVIHÍ’s Rəyasət Committee “Poet of the Year” media award by decision, In the 2021 year, Central Asia, Yeni Avaz, Writers and Historians Union’s Əmir-Teymur fund The “Turan Unity” medal he established, In the year 2023, she was awarded the “Heydar Summit” honorary diploma and many other honorary diplomas.
