Poem ’23rd of October’ and short story ‘Death of Tadcu Preacher’ published in Cheval 13
Angels and demons slink into sleepy Welsh villages. Whispers of a witch in Cwmgrach. A startling set of wings push through a young girl’s shoulder blades. An ancient secret breathes in an Irish heirloom.
For twelve years the Terry Hetherington Young Writers Award has provided a platform for emerging young writers from and living in Wales. This year Cheval 13 brings together a variety of the best short stories and poetry from young Welsh writers for the 2020 Terry Hetherington Award, showcasing a startling array of promising new voices in literature.
On the twenty-third of October,
Taken from ’23rd of October’ by Nathan Munday, second prize in the 2020 Terry Hetherington Young Writers Award.
the orange leaves and breeze
were disturbed by a sobering fact:
That thirty-nine sleepers were found
in a truck.
‘Nathan Munday’s ’23rd of October’ was utterly breathtaking, it takes a very real and serious event and gives a voice to those who perished and for that, it was an honour to read.’ – Molly Holborn editor of Cheval 13.
His hair waved across his head.
Taken from ‘Death of Tadcu Preacher’ by Nathan Munday.
This wet ocean. This stinging salt.
This haunting depth was dark.
‘Family remains a strong theme this year, with second-place prize winner Nathan Munday’s poem ‘Death of Tadcu Preacher’ a heart-rending tribute to the man whose ‘hair waved across his head […].’ The emotional gravity with which Munday delivers his poem makes a standout contribution in his poem ’23rd of October’, telling of an incident where Essex police had discovered thirty-eight adults and a teenager who had passed away in a Bulgarian truck.’ – Natalie Ann Holborow editor of Cheval 13.
Read these poems in Cheval 13 available from Parthian Books.
Some of Nathan’s other short stories and poems have also been published in Cheval 10, Cheval 11, and Cheval 12.