A shadow meanders across the lawn. Inside, a murmur of mourners cram into the condo dining room. Family sit solemn on hard chairs that ring the room, Ellen’s the bud in the crowd’s flower, high-coloured from the company and the plastic glass of wine her grand- daughters refill for her. I see her catch on […]
Frances Boyle
Frances Boyle (she / her) is a Canadian author, with three books of poetry, most recently Openwork and Limestone (2022) as well as a novella, Tower (2018) and an award-winning short story collection, Seeking Shade. (2020). Her writing has appeared throughout Canada and internationally including work in or forthcoming with Ink Sweat & Tears, The Honest Ulsterman, The New Quarterly and Freefall. For more, visit www.francesboyle.com .
Feathers
Perfect, precious girl, ancient eyes a friend had said My dancer child, my swan queen. Tall wisp of wiry strength, priestess shaking the cloud of your dark hair. When you first moved, you leapt. Your dad let your tiny self fall at (I thought) a frightening angle, but you laughed for more. We pushed you […]