Tymes Goe By Turnes: Stories and Poems for Solstice Shorts 2020
A Corona virus influenced anthology; stories and poems in response to the poem TYMES GOE BY TURNES by sixteenth century poet, Robert Southwell. Frustrated by working under lockdown and worried that the 2020 festival might not happen, Arachne Press decided to continue as though everything would be alright, and asked writers to submit work that responded or reacted to or was inspired by a sixteenth century poem that editor Cherry Potts has always found comforting in a crisis: Robert Southwell’s Tymes Goe by Turnes; or that responded or reacted to or was inspired by some concept in it. The poem observes the ebb and flow of fortune, nothing stays bad for ever, nor anything good – so get on with it while you can. This isn’t exactly a response to Covid-19, but there’s an echo there – in Katie Margaret Hall’s epic train journey, New Orleans To Vancouver, and Jackie Taylor’s Rewilding; but there is also concern for the environment, and relationships and lives in need of nourishment that is hard to find. As with Southwell’s poem there is a fine balance between dread and hope.