Fragments 1

Overtures – a rumour. Darkened.
Wide-angled lens exposed purlieus.
‘Ministers need to take heads out of sand.’
Abstemious craws, promising landscapes.

Fragments 2

Bamboozled foothold, nonplussed hedgehog.
Detail of a second – close-up.
‘Move patients to hotel to free up beds…’
Skid eyes, as though bemused.

Fragments 3

Croon, it’s viable – don’t blub.
Slide trays keep record.
“Critical incident declared.”
Young‘uns edge in family mirror.

Fragments 4

Peach elflock on bather.
How inimitable this lustre?
“…scheme due to begin within weeks…”
Peppy colour, anomie is genial.

Fragments 5

Morass, gloaming slugs.
Pinkies loading film.
“Declared victory yesterday.”
A braggart’s overshadowing tower.

In 1998, Christopher Barnes won a Northern Arts writers award. In July 2000 he read at Waterstones bookshop to promote the anthology Titles Are Bitches. Christmas 2001 he debuted at Newcastle’s famous Morden Tower doing a reading of poems. Each year he read for Proudwords lesbian and gay writing festival and partook in workshops. 2005 saw the publication of his collection LOVEBITES published by Chanticleer Press, 6/1 Jamaica Mews, Edinburgh.