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 Premiere 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
Mad-Dash Guy
Under the bridge
working girls, busy
in the dim damp
take no
notice of him,
nor do the junkies
and drunks heaving
near the crumbling walls.
He’s been following
said target carrying briefcase,
who uses this route
for work every day.
Mad-dash guy
calls out hello
genial in manner before
Punching
unsuspecting target
to the ground—
A moment later
extending a hand
helping the shaken man
to stand— even going
so far as to dust off
the natty suit jacket:
Best pay up mate.
Next time is different,
guys that come next time
will take out your teeth
one by one
with pliers.
The place filthy
with vials and wrappers
floating in puddles.
A recall—
floating a matchbook cover
in the pond, nearby
the posh boys
floating miniature boats
of stiff sails and masts.
A fast moving cloud—
and mad-dash guy is smoke.
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.
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