The Carlisle Memorial Church, Belfast, is an overlooked victim of the conflict here in the North, situated as it is in an ‘interface’ area where the strident voices of the Catholic Church and the Presbyterian Chapel drowned out the often gentler tones of Wesleyan Methodism. Closed in 1982, it fell into disrepair, so much so there was talk of it being replaced by social housing. Continue reading “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience”
Author: John Llewylyn James
Small Things brought Together
It started with just a few twigs. That’s all a natural-born designer needs, to begin with.
Continue reading “Small Things brought Together”
Werifesteria Ambedo
Dead end job,
Dead friend mob,
Dead fridge slob,
Dead bloody blob,
Dead heart throb,
Numb I watched the surgeon fix me,
Numb I spoke in recommend therapy,
Numb I held the medicine prescribed for me,
Numb I smelled bitterness around me,
Numb I listened as my soul ran away from me,
Play
It’s morning, the shades have gone
and with them for a while the woes.
Smell the earth, this bouncing place,
listen out for newness, the touch of hope.
Run out into weather and sweet air. Continue reading “Play”
Grannying for Beginners
“Sausages?”
“No sausages.”
“Noodles?”
“No noodles.”
Azure eyes widen, bottom lip juts. “Nanny Nina has noodles AND sausages.”
I see her dad Jason at three – same eyes; no pink dress, just a red and blue Spiderman costume. I washed it so often the threads became web-like. Should’ve stocked up… why have I forgotten everything?
Monastery Experiences
“Progress from small beginnings. Keep to the Yoga
and eat sensibly.Meditate. Incantate the prayers you
learned as a child.”Anon
The Road to Damascus
On the Road to Damascus, the debut novel by Anthony Viney, former member of Fermanagh Writers, sees its official launch in Enniskillen this April. It will be available in print and as an ebook on Amazon and Kindle.
Fermanagh Writers Meetings
Fermanagh Writers meet weekly in Blakes of the Hollow, Enniskillen
APRIL SESSIONS:
4 – weekly meeting, Blakes, 7.30pm
11 – public holiday, no meeting
18 – weekly meeting, Blakes, 2.30pm
25- The Road to Damascusbook launch (author Tony Viney), Blakes, 7.30pm
Prospective new members are always welcome.
March Issue Call for Submissions
We live in what the ancient Chinese used to call ‘interesting times’, and it’s not over yet (whatever ‘it’ might be).
Sometimes it feels like we are crawling from a car wreck, with no idea of how it happened or where we are now. All we know is that we cannot simply carry on doing what we used to do, or what we wanted, to do without further consideration.
This has happened before; it will happen again.
It is not a time for grand visions, yet every crisis is also an opportunity. In all the bewildering noise, remember the definition of information – any difference that makes a difference. It is a time to sort out what is truly important, and to start taking those steps will that will enable it to flourish. Not a return to the normality that once was, but a humble groping towards something possibly better.
So the theme of this Spring’s Corncrake is Small Beginnings. We are looking up to about 800 words of any kind of writing – whether it be poetry, flash fiction, folktale, legend, memoir or other non-fiction. Previews and reviews of recent and upcoming Arts events are also welcome, particularly those in Fermanagh and the surrounding area, as are images and links to relevant media.
Submissions to editor@corncrakemagazine.com
Deadline: March 15th
The Things that Make for Peace
It’s been a busy Autumn, as various social groups have returned from their long hibernations and diaries are once more filling up. Continue reading “The Things that Make for Peace”