ten thousand beads of ancient light

new poetry & art, reviews of HINTERLAND

it is night to which my heart is sewn, like the moon, a circle of silk. far from daylight’s clamour, the invisible is heard. leopard’s paws. owl’s stare. snakes hunting. roots pulsing. all that aches to be known is lit by ten-thousand beads of ancient light. Saraswati Nagpal

the nights are quieter for me now in a village by a river. the local washerman is away; there is no rhythmic beating of wet clothes against boulders to wake me up before dawn. the mornings are crisp, the solitude of rural living is both sweet and sad. I don’t belong here, not fully, but I cling to the simplicity of myself in these surroundings.

today’s evocative poem, by Annette Gagliardi inspired by Hinterland, spills image after image of this pivotal dance between longing and belonging. Paired with striking collage art “War of the Lone” by Lana A, the two works capture the polarities of our existence, both vast and delicate.

LONELINESS
Annette Gagliardi

My untamed heart winches from winter’s cold,
like wind moaning through barren trees
- like wild horses running for 
the distant cushion of a canyon.

I’m the rain-drenched cat 
	wanting to be let in —
A left-over kiss with the taste of cold, bitter 
	day-after, coffee - like a face turned away.

You are long gone	      past the Milky Way,
past Orion, the Big Dipper, the Northern Star.
	You match the constellations -
		each to a different longing;

Each star is singular in its shining.

No two are alike		
yet they share a similar brilliance
singing a symphony among the heavens,
          their hues of cobalt, teal and cerulean.

A star couple announces their togetherness 
           with double shining, paired in the cold, vast span.

Butterflies, with wings like mouths 
           held open around a single hue —
each one a star in a larger design where you
radiate — reflecting togetherness among the vibrant hues.

I am the last fluffed seed off a dandelion 
		        clutching its final thrum.

Lana A, War of the Lone

our print journal Hinterland is gathering praise and appreciation from readers and poets around the world. for a taste of Hinterland’s beauty, we are sharing reviews from our contributing editors, Victoria Spires, Vikki C and Marcelle Newbold, and from contributing poet, Julian Cason.

“Hinterland is an urgent summons to a place behind truth and memory. These poems unmask themselves as we read, bleeding beyond their own outlines. Spending time with them leaves us changed and charged - broken open in their wake.” – Victoria Spires

“In Hinterland’s esoteric landscapes, writers and artists hold a precinct lens up to the hidden thresholds of philosophy, desire, nature and liminal spaces that both enchant and interrogate the bounds of our interior wilderness. Motifs of love, belonging and transformation segue into complex chasms of memory and cathexis. These expansive works challenge and deconstruct the very premise of “hinterland", awakening their own laws and refusals. From delicate fluvial microcosms to volatile metaphysical terrain, this sophisticated collection redefines the beauty of remoteness within the temporal and the wider human paradox. A distinctive work of wonder and merit to hold close through the vagaries of our age.” – Vikki C

“Drawn from the mist, the tidal edges and the escaping breath, Hinterland from The Winged Moon is a creation of optimism from the between. Words and images explore spaces just outside the knowable, and hold them, naked, up to the light. The beautifully curated artwork visualises the complex layering, delicate interactions and unexpected meetings found in the hinterland, expressing the always more than.”           – Marcelle Newbold

“Take The Winged Moon’s crafted canoe and silently paddle uncharted tributaries deep into our hinterlands. Pass through the tender brush of these overhanging and summoning banks. This is an exquisite collection, a curation of everything from the eerie to the enchanting… and the always so often just out of reach!” – Julian Cason

lastly, we are delighted to be reading submissions to our monthly writing competition, the winged muse, and encourage our readers to submit if they are inspired by the ekphrastic prompt which is an art piece by award-winning artist, Valerie Hammond. click here to view the prompt and guidelines.

tomorrow, for our paid subscribers, EIC Jai-Michelle will be sharing a curated submissions list, besides wonderful writing.

thank you, dear readers, for sharing these Wednesdays with us. until next time.

Saraswati and Jai Michelle

Read about this week’s featured poet and artist here:

Annette Gagliardi’s poetry has been featured online and in printed journals and anthologies in Canada, England, Sweden and the USA. Her first full-length poetry collection, published in 2022 is titled: A Short Supply of Viability through The Poetry Box. Caffeinated, Annette’s second Chapbook, was release by Island of Wak-Wak publisher in October 2024.

Lana A is an editor and writer from Sydney, Australia. Lana’s Syrian ethnicity has often been a catalyst for her love of literature and mythology, drawing on ancient tales that continue to echo down the line. Lana’s other main love is poetry and collage creation, of which she mostly showcases on her Instagram @unmadepoet. She is also proudly part of the Winged Moon team as copy editor.