Lost in Translation, Teaching AI, PageMasters w/ Soul Miles & Lily McCraith (in print)

​Decanter of Endless Water, Issue 6, Soanyway Magazine (online)

N+7, Issue 14, Soanyway Magazine (online)

IF WE WERE GAME

(collective work)

After a test of strength, we agree to switch sides of the bed.

Conversation only starts flowing after the third glass of wine

In our messages we examine each other’s promises and style of approach to see if we’re suited for the next corporeal step.

Keeping an eye on each other, we inform the other with a wink if we see something interesting behind them.

We sit down and start to eat at the same time.

Our hands reach out to steady us when we stumble.

Slowly we freed all of the mice, distracting the cat one at a time.

Still interlocked, we recalibrate the nerve endings of our orbicular oris muscle to avoid repeating the clashing of teeth.

Stretching the springs by spreading our legs wide, we compare each other’s differences in the mirror as we shift our body weight to the left in unison.

The assignation was set for three, and as the time approached we circled the spot in wide arcs, the impressions from our feet recording that we had been there, had made our mark.At three minutes to the appointed hour we left, cycling off in different directions.

The number 5 bus we were waiting for slid by unapologetically disappearing into the evening gloaming fog–we were silently indignant because we were both sure it was empty, but we pretend to each other not to have noticed.

To calm our nerves, we agree to jump at the same time.

We all act as if we have something to hide.

We are quite careful with how much eye contact we make.

We are running over soft and springy terrain, there is no green growth but great levitation could be achieved by digging down into the earth and springing skywards, and this proved useful when we arrived at a locked gate and were there encircled by snarling bully dogs with fetid saliva pooling around their paws. Good thing that one of us likes dogs, is a veritable dog whisperer.

We ask how the other person is, certain that the other doesn’t really care about our response and knowing that we don’t care about theirs.

We breathe out while plants breathe in.

We burn the remains of a 4.5 ton iguanodon drowned in a cretacean bog while we drive my grandaunt to the hairdresser.

We collectively enter negotiations for better working conditions.

We do not play too hard, which might scatter the reds to the advantage of our opponent.

We don’t make eye contact for any longer than a few seconds, even less when speaking.

We don't write our names until the other person gives us the recording means of doing so.

We draw another line on the forest floor using only our feet.

We ignore the person in the corner making too much noise.

We keep eyes on our drinks as we dance to the music.

We must enjoy what we eat, and at least not express ideas that are too opinionated

We play to hit the face of the shoulder of the right-hand top pocket.

We play with sufficient strength to pocket blue and screw to the top cushion for position on the pink.

We pool our resources and construct a mineral mining tower on the first available board space.

We reply very slowly when asked questions.

We run to the same space, but we can't be there at the same time.

We say what we really mean, finally.

We shift our positions slightly so that our parts are no longer touching.

We silently accept we're not first, and we wait.

We sit down, each occupying a place on a park bench, facing each other, and then glaring at people approaching with an intention to sit.

We sit relatively still and wait for the speaking people to be done with the speaking and if we need to cough, we try not to.

We stand looking in the same direction, approximately two feet away from each other, waiting for each of our turns.

We stand up at once, leaving in opposite directions.

We take turns keeping watch, but the other person falls asleep.

We throw away toxic cigarette butts and finches use them to disinfect their nests.

We wait for others to come out before going in.

We wordlessly ask each other to move position on the sofa, noises and gestures only.

Without speaking we carry the sofa through the two doors which sit at different angles, moving it around as we go.

Wild Woodbine, Poetry will be made by all!, LUMA Foundation (online and in print)

Index, Cafe Royal Books (online and in print)