Grey Bear Culture Magazine

You reach that next stage over stones
Pegged in swollen mist
And ice froze from the dawn of time,

Holding that coin in your hand
The opening folds towards the light
Creased in-between worlds

Burning shut that door in ultraviolet
Like something has rolled away
Inverting over lives into shades

Crumpling everything into different codes
From one stage to the other
Watching one hand push you back,

Circled in a stage of shadows
And the price of everything
Leaving you unable to move on from life.

By Andy N

– Andy N is the author of ten poetry collections, the last one being ‘Changing Carriages at Birmingham New Street’ and is the co-host of Chorlton’s Spoken Word night ‘Speak Easy’. He also does ambient music under the name of Ocean in a Bottle and does the music for the band‘ Polly Ocean’ and runs / co-runs Podcasts such as Spoken Label and Not the TV Guide. His debut novel is ‘Birth’. (Described as a charming coming of age Novel about the birth of a Writer – available on Amazon). His second novel ‘Death’ is out and the second album by Polly Ocean will follow in the Spring / Summer 2025. His links are here.