Vivienne Bailey Grains of sand grate against the soles of Hope’s feet, sticky specks of beach memories. The city pavement seeps up through her rubber Jandals, fingers of ice slicing between her toes. Last night she’d dreamed of Tokomaru Bay. The old wharf reaching out into surf-tipped sea, its greying timber worn, polished by …
Category: 2017
Permanent link to this article: https://4thfloorjournal.co.nz/contents-2017-2/vivienne-bailey-2017/hope/
A date with denial
Helen Vivienne Fletcher I didn’t invite you in. _ You slipped in through a door _ I was sure I had locked. _ You covered the windows, _ disconnected the phone, _ put away all the mirrors. _ _ My arm was bleeding. _ You took my chin _ between your thumb and finger …
Permanent link to this article: https://4thfloorjournal.co.nz/contents-2017-2/helen-vivienne-fletcher-2017/a-date-with-denial/
An honest goodbye
Helen Vivienne Fletcher He touched my arm _ at the end of the night. _ _ This will probably be _ the only time we meet, he said. _ Though we might see each other _ on the street one day _ and we’ll both give fake smiles _ because we know _ we …
Permanent link to this article: https://4thfloorjournal.co.nz/contents-2017-2/helen-vivienne-fletcher-2017/an-honest-goodbye/
It’s cold
Wesley Hollis It’s cold. Or so my temperature gauge tells me. But the sun will be up soon. I like when its rays hit my solar panels, charging me up, getting me ready for the day’s adventures. _ This planet is named after a fearsome and mighty warrior god. I’ll never understand why – …
Permanent link to this article: https://4thfloorjournal.co.nz/contents-2017-2/wesley-hollis-2017/its-cold/
Therapy
Olivia Aroha Giles The office wasn’t what Lois had expected. The walls were eggshell blue and the furniture was feminine and comfortable. There was even a vase of fresh roses on a low glass coffee table. _ ‘I’ve never had therapy before.’ Lois flicked a glance at the therapist Helena, a tall handsome woman …
Permanent link to this article: https://4thfloorjournal.co.nz/contents-2017-2/olivia-aroha-giles-2017/therapy/
What shall we write on the RAMS form?
Nicola Easthope The external world is revolving around me, says the child, while the teacher revolves gently around the circumference of a larger circle. Through a drone’s super fish-eye, school would be an amphitheatre on the margin of a west coast thrust six centimetres north during the second midnight minute and if …
Permanent link to this article: https://4thfloorjournal.co.nz/contents-2017-2/nicola-easthope-2017/shall-write-rams-form/
Spirit meditation
Nicola Easthope Sit quietly with your eyes closed. Let your breath slow and fuuu– you’ve spilt your sweet milk tea in the lotus of your lap. Remember your breaths. Visualise the fawn heat fertilising the lower half of your body burning, moist, vital soil. In your mind’s eye take up the vacuum cleaner, …
Permanent link to this article: https://4thfloorjournal.co.nz/contents-2017-2/nicola-easthope-2017/spirit-meditation/
P soup
Rob Hack for Scott Guy _ _ The young men are restless, generation x y kill _ ambiguous gender vicarious thrill _ soft and hair free, pyrotechnic on RTDs. _ Crazy old life, Toffler’s Future Shock _ _ the silver tsunami, the end of a golden age _ who bought the golden kiwi. _ Yeats’ …
Permanent link to this article: https://4thfloorjournal.co.nz/contents-2017-2/rob-hack-2017/p-soup/
Almost quite certain
Rob Hack Clouds now, and a breeze from Antarctica _ Clipboard carriers darting about. _ Public bar greeting: what you lookin’ at mate? _ Soap opera news, and soft cocks in charge. _ _ So he left New Zealand forever for the third time. _ Wouldn’t come back despite the Warehouse sales. _ Couldn’t …
Permanent link to this article: https://4thfloorjournal.co.nz/contents-2017-2/rob-hack-2017/almost-quite-certain/
The fact alternative
Janet Colson I don’t remember when I left you exactly, except it was definitely ‘I – left – you’. Fact. You couldn’t leave me because you hadn’t left him, if you see what I mean. Come to think of it, I do remember. You parked your shoulder on my doorbell for four or …
Permanent link to this article: https://4thfloorjournal.co.nz/contents-2017-2/janet-2017/the-fact-alternative/
