[Image Description: An old Indian woman sitting on the bus. Her hands are on the seat in front of her. We do not see her face.] Photo by Cottonbro on Pexels Poem by Tanvi Jeph Nani She had Dyed black hair mixed with some white hair A red bindi on her forehead placed symmetrically She used to drape a sari with a lot of patterns on it She was my nani, my grandmother, my friend My nani used to make the best achaar that I ever had My palate still has that tangy flavour of her achaarAfterall it was mixed with love and selflessness of hers I have bitter-sweet memories ..read more

   [Image Description: Photo of a night sky through the trees, showing the milky way and purple light sky. The forest is dark.] Photo by Kaye Meister Poem by Sydney Lei Canvas of the Night Night is a feeling, a feeling  where all matter ebbs and swirls  in the universe, and comes to a halt. Where waterdrops echo, where mama owl hoots her chronicles, stories  that have never been told. Let epinephrine drift away  through flowing streams of blood. Soothe your contracted muscles, let them sink  into deep sleep. Inhale, exhale. Let air flow through yo ..read more

  [Image Description: A black and white photo of a crowd of people marching down the street with phones, cardboard, and phones.] Poem by Renee Photo by Mohamed Elamine Msiouri from Pexels #protest!   A press of bodies in The late afternoon sun. It’s June, London More a moment than a place Mary turns to a camera, smiles Beneath her mask. Someone is standing atop a car and laughing Their doc martens are leaving Dents all over the crumple zone.   Laura Kuenessberg* decides to make an appearance The crowd hisses at her In milkshake language** In bit-u-men language In y ..read more

  [Image Description: Black and white photo of a black man. He has one of his hands behind his head and he is looking away from us defiantly. The photo has a pink and green glitch effect.] Photo and poem by Psalmuel Benjamin An Intercessory liturgy where a lover combats cold For favour Not this hour of 2. When a gentle tap Drums on my planked body in my Bed. Brother whispers to me, like the Discreet order of the night breeze– Swimming steadily behind our window, Of her over-the-phone-request to tell Me something. This time, my soul is as Vague as it used to be– when I used to Me ..read more

  [Image Description: On a cloudy day two black women are walking past cars. Both are holding food and drinks in their hands and in the baskets on their heads.] Photo by Adi Perets from Pexels Poem by K. Asare-Bediako This Land This poem is pregnant with distractions, a baby of dreams is conceived & a mother bathes in her country's grief. Today marks the natal day of a black widow, full of pathogens; a woman who swallows pain like paracetamol. Chaos is a new song making waves on the streets of Accra. It's June 4th & the reminiscing of history is smoking a pipe on the ..read more

   [Video Description: A recording of Becca Lloyd performing her poem Objectify Me at an event. ] Video and Poem by Becca Lloyd Objectify Me Frustration is an understatement For the feelings, I have been forced to feel, Conceal and learn to heal from. I am lost I am found; all these women speak up, Sometimes I make sound. It doesn’t feel enough, Words fade to dust and I end up on the train With a phone directed at my skirt, to my face, to my waist, Where are you putting that trace of me? Who are you showing? I am not yours to be knowing. I didn’t say a word. Why did ..read more

  [Image Description: White hands holding an opened jar of honey. Their fingers are almost touching the golden liquid inside.] Photo by cottonbro from Pexels Poems by Fathima Roshni This hurt you're feeling, don't trap it in the jar of love. for I and his grieving heart Two spoons of sugar is enough to balance the bitterness of a cup of coffee but you don't know how much hope does it take to wash off the blood from the wound love's sword made on you. You try to clean it with the fresh cotton stored in the hidden cabinet of your body. You're wondering why your body doesn't tak ..read more

  [Image description: A stack of colourful books sits on the table. There is a hot drink in a light green cup next to it. Above are words: Risen Book Club: Books We Read in One Sitting.]   Edited by Kseniia Gridneva Hello, bookworms! This month’s Lit Club theme is Books We Read in One Sitting. Enjoy!   If you want to read our most recent edition click here or all of our archived editions, click here.    If you’d like to join Lit Club or suggest any books/genres/themes, drop us a message on our Instagram.  [Image description: Meg's hand is holding Oranges are ..read more

  [Image Description: Yellow flower in the pot on the windowsill. The flower is the only thing in colour, while the rest of the world is black and white.] Screenshot taken from the PS3 game "Flower" developed by Thatgamecompany and released in February 2009 Poem by Ashton S. Laing The Beast In a concrete jungle, nothing can bloom, Apart from one flower, The flower of truth. Its nectar is bitter, Its leaves are spiked, It’s rooted in your dreams at night. People pass by And they always cower, At this monster, fearing their lives. Fearing their lies, They trie ..read more

  [Image Description: Woman wearing a blue dress, sitting down and talking to a man in jeans and a shirt. They are in an office environment. There is an elephant under the side table.] Collage by Kseniia Gridneva Poem by Joshua Turton The Elephant in the Room Ignore me, they say. Don't speak: repress. Who wants too much unwelcome stress? Just let me grow, just let me breed; resent makes for delicious feed. Until you say my twisted name, you are doomed to play my game. You know I'm here - I know you do - you just hate to say it's true. Whilst you parade in misery, I'll parade i ..read more