On The Outside 

By Andrew Ballard

Moustached upper lip

colour in my hair

smooth cheeked sons

what I see

photo album page one

dusty fingers

slowly turn the pages

all seems in order

nothing to mundane

smiling camera faces

soccer games

muddy clothes

camping trips

smoky fires

rather fancy

clothes and cars

was money a thing

behind the smiles

and shiny things

not seen on album page

hidden pain

loss and regret

broken family

one life we have

photographed on the outside

we can mistakenly believe

it was all ok.

More Writing Submissions

Lots of frivolous bunnies frolic on trampoline in the sun

Burden on the System

By Martin
a teal blue scribble in the shape of a thought bubble floats in the page, linked to the word “mindshare” below it in cursive. Under this text reads “creative writing awards 2022 shortlisted”. At the bottom of the image are logos from the Mental Health Coalition South Australia, Mental Health Month, mindshare, Writers SA, and Access2Arts

When Sky Swallows The City

By Shaine Melrose

Parting Words

By Naomi M

Poem for rabbit

By Bernadette Anderson