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The following poem was inspired by Diane Wilbon Parks' artwork, Poetry X Hunger Logo, which appears on the Poetry X Hunger website--ART - Poetry X Hunger. Love in a Time of Ruin I fed my daughter oats in warmed milk cucumbers slivered from their skin carrots râpéed into haystacks I fed my girl carbs coated in slugs of extra virgin oil sprinkled with acid lemon zest I fed her pasta & cheese pasta & cheese pasta & cheese pasta neglected cheese pasta & neglect Fed up I fed her up then sat down to write a poem My girl went hungry in the morning I sat and wrote another she went hungry in the afternoon I sat and wrote another & another & another That evening we read them together hungry she went into the kitchen & discovered how to feed herself. The following poem was inspired by Dr. Jayne Shatz's artwork, The Hunger Trilogy, which appears on the Poetry X Hunger website--ART - Poetry X Hunger. The Cost of Living I suffered a panic attack today: my shopping bag felt light-headed, my milk turned my eggs shrank back from the sides of their cardboard nests and had a wobble I’ve tried to never watch the news, never keep abreast of what the government think-tanks think or whose stroke of genius is making headlines spin and yet I couldn’t help but notice the cost of living-breathing-eating-heating rise I couldn’t help but notice the pound slip between the stitched seam of my pocket A lady over the phone checks my state of consciousness, asks me if I’m having difficulty breathing? I’d hardly noticed lately I’ve been breathing less (more shallowly) living less (more shallowly) loving less (more shallowly) And yes I’m having difficulties yes it’s left me breathless The lady on the phone advises me: ‘Take deeper breaths’ but I can’t find my words to explain I can’t afford to take deeper breaths I can’t afford to phone a friend I can’t afford to use a lifeline can’t afford to survive so I breathe less & less & less & less & less This poem was originally published in Mslexia magazine, www.mslexia.co.uk, issue 98 (2023).  Katrina Moinet won Globe Soup Short Story and Flash Fiction prizes, has a Master's in creative writing, and runs Blue Sky Versify monthly open mic.
'Portrait of a Young Girl Falling' is Katrina's debut poetry pamphlet (Hedgehog Press, 2024) and a second, prizewinning collection is forthcoming in 2025. @KMoinetWrites | katrinamoinet.com
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