PDBY will only publish letters between 150 and

Maze

Poetry Corner

I will hold a great feast In honour of my esteemed guest It will be the biggest, the very best With little flowers, lemon zest To show my courtship, my family crest

Some, they might detest

I will come from the east I will go to the west I am a woman, with a heartbeat in my chest

To some, I will be a true test

I will construct my nest For my family, to leave, to rest No, this is no jest Just me in my burgundy vest.

I will not be thanked.

It is expected of me Just to be, this mother hen, thiis helpful thing.

What if I don’t want this?

Am I less of a woman, for feeling the burden? Ami I less of a woman, for wanting no abrasion? Am I less of a woman, for feeling this way? Am I less of a woman, because of the things I say? Am I less of a woman, for having fear?

Oh no, no my dear.

So am I less of a woman? No, will never be, You have no right to my body, no right to my soul, no right to me.

Alexa Midnight Recipe

Mexican pulled chicken & beans

Serves 6-8 Ingredients

8 bone-in chicken thighs , skin removed 3 tbsp chipotle paste 2 garlic cloves , crushed 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes 1 large onion , finely sliced 2 x 400g cans black beans , drained 400g cans kidney beans , drained handful parsley , coriander or mint, roughly chopped small iceberg lettuce , shredded ½ cucumber , diced drizzle of olive oil large bag of tortilla chips , to serve lime wedges, to serve

Method:

Step 1:

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Rub the chicken thighs with 2 tbsp of the chipotle paste. Put the rest in a medium bowl with the garlic, tomatoes, onion and some seasoning. Stir to combine, then tip into a large roasting tin. Sit the chicken thighs close together on top of the sauce. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hr.

Step 2:

Remove the roasting tin from the oven, add all the beans and stir into the tomato mixture around the chicken. Put back in the oven, uncovered, for 20 mins or until the chicken is tender and the beans are hot.

Step 3:

Meanwhile, mix the herbs, lettuce and cucumber with a drizzle of olive oil and set aside.

Step 4:

Shred the chicken using a knife and fork, and discard the bones. Mix the chicken through the sauce and beans. Serve with the salad, tortilla chips and lime wedges.