Tamiko read Latin and French at New College, Oxford. She won the BBC Radio 3 carol competition 2021. Her debut and second pamphlets are released in 2023 with Broken Sleep Books and Cephalo Press.

Tabi (Journey)

You travelled
12 hours by plane
6 hours by bus and taxi
Endured jet lag and security queues
Hung around the waiting room
Screams from the two year old left behind
Ring in your ears

When you approach her bed
Clutching a tin of biscuits and station flowers
She asks why are you here
And stares out the window unsmiling

What she means is

I am so moved by your coming to see me
I have no words

If I look at you I will start crying
And never stop