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 is moving toward production in Ireland. 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

Dark Water

By Susan Isla Tepper

A couple at the next table
converse in some Baltic language.
Familiar, though more from a dream.
Vivacious she leans toward him
a yellow scarf
knotted around her throat.
Underneath I suspect is tender.
A chill, the night air wafts in
whenever the door opens.
I imagine them near dark water.
Quick switch— the man
turns surly, folds his arms,
leans back in the chair.
Twice the server
a swarthy sort
café towel tucked as
apron into his jeans
has pressured me to order.
I can scarcely speak.
My tongue lassoed by
too many men
lost to this or that.
A carafe of wine later
I’m still choking
on my life.

Claire Polders grew up in the Netherlands and now roams the world. She’s the author of four novels in Dutch, co-author of one novel for younger readers in English (A Whale in Paris, Simon & Schuster) and many short stories and essays. She’s working on her first memoir and a speculative novel. Her flash fiction collection Woman of the Hour is forthcoming from Vine Leaves Press in 2025. Learn more at www.clairepolders.com or sign up for her Substack newsletter Wander, Wonder, Write to follow her on her journeys.