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A Magazine for Sheffield

Careers advice

Let’s imagine, for a moment, smoking is an animal. What kind of animal will it be?

Something violent and endangered, I think. A bizarre evolutionary
offshoot, e.g.:

  • an electric eel with venomous fangs and the mane of a lion;
  • a black rhino with the limbs of a newt.

Now, let’s suppose it has taken your tongue in its black lips and pulled
until you’re screaming on the floor, your mouth a bloody mess.

Why? Who knows. Perhaps it needs tongues for its children.

Next, let’s assign the tongue its standard symbolism: speech, language,
the power of expression.

And, let’s not forget, the tongue has a sexual connotation.

When smoking feeds your tongue to its children, how will you react?
What will it be robbing you of?

This is how it feels to work in advertising.

More Poetry

Flood Risk Management Strategy

What if climate change meant turning parts of the city into flood mitigation reservoirs? This poem imagines the result.

The Way I Flourish

Poems from Sheffield Flourish’s The Way I Flourish creative writing course, exploring themes of narrative, identity, journey and home.

Hymn

It’s one of those days where you’ve found God, finally.You’ve been heathen for weeks but now your body— its bumpy legs, its fingers…

It’s one of those days where you’ve found God, finally.You’ve been heathen for weeks

but now your body— its bumpy legs, its fingers grippin

Sometimes It Helps

I rode around the garden today on a big white horse.I was naked except for sunglassesSometimes it helps.To feel extravagant and…

I rode around the garden today on a big white horse.I was naked except for sunglassesSometimes it helps.To feel extravagant and theatrical.D
More Poetry