Freedom Braids Alison Calder

Freedom Braids Alison CalderDay after day, Nemy is forced to sow seeds in the sugarcane plantation, until one night, she follows a woman called Big Mother to a hidden shack. There, she finds a group of women braiding each others hair. But these are no ordinary braids. Hidden in each elaborate pattern is a secret a message that signals their intent to flee and a map to guide them in their escape. Will the paths these courageous women weave guide Nemy to a new home where she can

Afua Hirsch

from Olympic mascots to the tails of planes

issues of ‘playability’ and tone

Here is an exhortation to remake

they brought me your torn clothes

Mahadai Das was born in Guyana in 1954

delivering effervescence with equal servings of panache and whiplash-quick wit

poems by Nuala Archer and Medbh McGuckian

Guest writer is Gibraltarian poet and translator Trino Cruz

we encounter the notes of Takeo

I notice that both the TV sets are on but no one is watching

They take us the long way home