Susan Isla Tepper is a twenty-year writer and the author of 11 published books of fiction and poetry and 5 stage plays. She has been nominated 21 times for the Pushcart Prize in both fiction and poetry. Her play ‘Crooked Heart’ concerning artist Jackson Pollock premiered on October 25, 2022 at the Irish Repertory Theatre in NYC. Adapted from an earlier novel, it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Another play, LADY IN A POST BOX, co-written with poet and writer Ciaran O’Driscoll will receive a staged-reading at the Irish Repertory Theatre later this year. Tepper’s Novel satire titled ‘Office’ has been released as a Second Edition by Wilderness House Press. A new Novel ‘Hair of a Fallen Angel’ will be out in the winter. Susan is a Brand Ambassador for The Galway Review. http://www.susantepper.com

Last Call

By Susan Isla Tepper

Barkeeps know her on a first
name basis: Candy, they call out,
one for the road?
Then the lights flicker
announcing last call.
It’s too dark in here.
Some guy comes every night
to her table, lifts something
off the floor then hands her
something back.
I can only make her out clearly
during the flashes for last call.
Crossing then uncrossing her legs.
They don’t exchange words.
She puts her bit in a big bag,
digging around inside.
You could fit body parts
in there, kidneys
for instance— demand is huge
not to mention hearts, livers, lungs.
World’s a black market enterprise.
And don’t try telling me otherwise.
Honey, I’d say, we’ve never been
properly introduced.
Candy.
Sweet or tart?

Digby Beaumont is an award-winning artist. His artwork has been published extensively in collaboration with writers of fiction, poetry and music. He works on portraits, figures, still lifes, landscapes and a series of drawings on the theme of what it is to be human. He creates his artwork with acrylic paint, pen and ink, mixed media and silk screen printing. Digby is also a widely published writer. His flash fiction, short stories and poetry have appeared in more than 100 journals, magazines and anthologies, including The Best Small Fictions.