the sea edge congregates, a hundred rivers blossom, gift pools of life to darkened rock, gentle meander around ancient beds. the slow reveal, ripples of sand, evidence of undertow, of the light skim surface, its ink stain deep, affecting what it can't let lie. Marcelle Newbold
the optimistic promise of the coming spring is starting to show, greens pushing through mud, the light sooner and earlier each day, a walk along the shoreline less scarce. as dark world news dominates i look to nature for community and strength.
our HINTERLAND edition is now out in the world, in hands and on screens, today’s accompanying poems are ‘The Low Queen’ by Laurinda Lind and ‘Remembrance’ by Roy Duncan, with art from Gabrielle Tamaya ‘Threshold Stones’. at the coming crossroads between winter and spring, these beautiful pieces speak to gathering power, a movement from passive to active, thresholds, and the wildness & grace the earth holds us in.
THE LOW QUEEN Laurinda Lind After Hans Christian Andersen, “The Snow Queen” If you want to be a witch, come to me on your belly. If you only want to be a woman out in the world, then you are still a wind that blows four ways but heats all the chimneys for a hundred miles. It’s cold out there, but leave some of your clothes behind so you can feel your way with your hands and your feet. Before you light up the north at night you must make a message of yourself like a cod with a code in its flesh: once you read this, run. Run like a cold blood through all the length of the land. --First appeared in Compose REMEMBERANCE Roy Duncan The river slows, melting. A tumble of songs. I see you carry the sky, as if we were both whole. As if the Sun broke us open, running to where water cedes power. And we speak in spiral, an intonation. A harmony, rounded and pentatonic. Gathering moments, cast as stone and circle. The way an ocean draws magic from the night
thank you for reading, we hope you have enjoyed our selection, stitched together so gracefully by Marcelle Newbold, one of our contributing editors who will be reading poetry along with our other editors for our next print edition.
and for our paid subscribers this week, our EIC Jai Michelle Louissen will be discussing our first book club novel ‘the reindeer people’. we will also be announcing the winner of our latest ‘the winged muse’ poetry/microfiction/prose competition. The winning selection, alongside four other commended pieces, will be published in an exclusive micro magazine next wednesday, so do come and find us to enjoy the incredible writing we have gathered in our wings.
until next time
Marcelle Newbold and Jai Michelle Louissen
read about this week’s featured poets and artist here:
Laurinda Lind lives in New York's North Country, close to Canada. Other poems appear in a variety of journals. Her first chapbook, Trials by Water, was released in summer 2024 (Orchard Street Press). She won first place in Keats-Shelley, Foley, Peggy Willis Lyles, and Northwind writing competitions.
Roy Duncan is an emerging writer from Australia, often focusing on ideas underpinning beauty, connection and disconnection. He has cats and a PhD in astronomy.
Gabrielle Tamäya is an artist, spirit-led animist and cræft practitioner. Her work is rooted deeply in the Land of the British Isles, giving voice to the Unseen. Working closely with the Land and Ancestors, her work explores several core themes including those of remembrance, transformational journeys, inscendence and healing. gabrielletamaya.co.uk Instagram @gabrielletamaya / @foldweg
"a hundred rivers blossom" / "gift pools of life to darkened rock" - such a beautiful write by Marcelle Newbold, and gorgeous poems by Laurinda Lind and Roy Duncan.
Adore the art, adore the poems. All the winged moon editions sit happily in my beside basket.🧺