headlines

BY PAUL ROBERT MULLEN.

---

the news said 
across the river
                    the convoy had exploded 

the news said the dead included teens
                    not long enrolled

the news said the families had been
informed and were in 
                     ‘a bad place’

the news said nothing about us

i called friends
                    told them i should have done this and that
should have said i need you more
walked with you in the mornings
held you in the evenings
stopped myself when my
                    ​mouth started to run

---

Paul Robert Mullen is a poet, musician and sociable loner from Liverpool, U.K. He has three published poetry collections: curse this blue raincoat (2017), testimony (2018), and 35 (2018). He has been widely published in magazines worldwide. Paul also enjoys paperbacks with broken spines, and all things minimalist. You can keep up with him on Twitter @mushyprm35.