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COVID: Lockdown Stories (2020-2021)

A Jog in the Park

for Alov Odoglu, by Jack Pascoe “It’s always hopeless to talk about painting – one never does anything but talk around it.” ~ Francis Bacon Alov is looking at his laptop on the little dark brown wooden school desk he found on the street. Drops of many colour shades are spattered around the edges of… continue reading »

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Invisible London (2017-2019)

The Garden, by Nacima Khan

I sat upon the green softness My tired legs welcomed the relief of rest You were nestled inside Sleeping and still Here we took a moment Here in the garden We connected And here, I hope we will meet again.   Three weeks earlier. November 2018, London Three years after becoming a mother to my… continue reading »

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Stories Against Loneliness (2016)

The Best of Both Worlds, for Gowhar Shaikh

From the life of Gowhar Shaikh By Jack Pascoe — Sam and I reached Richard House Hospice at around ten o’clock in the morning. I hadn’t slept particularly well due to noisy neighbours. Also the noise of the planes taking off from London city airport that morning didn’t help matters. We signed our names on the… continue reading »

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EastLife (2014-2015)

Before Getting Out, by Martin Clarke

They took to the bed, bred, three weeks: never bled. It doesn’t look good on you the stepfathers said. They wanted me dead. After the birth the medical notes read:         Promote good mothering                 Promote good mothering              … continue reading »

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