Stories without Borders
The land looks different lit in silver. That's most-of-all what I remember, the night of almost being stranded on a mountainside. True story: I was a romantic-minded, foolish teenager, determined to see the sunset from the summit of the mountain. Absolutely crazy. My dad couldn't persuade me to go back. Textbook idiocy. Of course, the... Continue Reading →
Oh black cat, little bandit sweet,who crosses my path every night, please do not run away from me,listen, I tell you, do not flee. I only wish to stroke your sleekdark fur, your silky neck. For I have also, so I'm tolda hand that's made to stroke, to hold. But no-one in the world knows... Continue Reading →
Not one, not two, but 3 poems for the price of one today, from Don Matthews of The Flippant, Comic, and Serious. Don writes his madcap poetry from his homeland Down Under, with his mate Skip on security detail. Don't mess with Skip. As you can see from the image above, he's no pushover... I... Continue Reading →
Today my Halloween poem, 'Jack-o-Lantern' is published at Spillwords Press. You may have already read it on this site, but I am very grateful to Spillwords for bringing my Halloween message to a larger audience: This Halloweenthe sky may well appearthe colour of the carved-out pumpkin’s eye;perhaps not time to celebratebut high time that we... Continue Reading →
Mwah-ha-ha-ha! I am bringing you this EIF Poetry Challenge early in order to be in time for Halloween. 'Tis the season to be spooky, so for this challenge, I simply want you to write a poem on the theme of Halloween. It can take any form or shape you wish, as long as it is... Continue Reading →
I had forgotten how much I loved travelling, until I had the privilege of a trip to Lake Garda last weekend. With winter looming and lockdowns likely, we headed first to Gardaland for some socially-distanced family fun. This was a real treat, and so well-decorated for Halloween; the kids absolutely loved it. But we also... Continue Reading →
Like a salvo of predawn gunfire‘snap, crackle, pop’ – that’s what I think, and‘who could think of cereal at such a time?’Then my mind flips frantically through filesgrubbing to grasp an empirical explanationfor the snap, and the shot, and the rasp:A guerrilla band going gung-ho into battle, firing into empty space?No, can’t be…a fighter jet... Continue Reading →
I haven't written about PMDD for a while, because I've been trying out a new approach for dealing with my symptoms. I wanted to make sure this was working before reporting back and sharing my experience with fellow sufferers. It is important to note that this is not medical advice, I am most certainly not... Continue Reading →
This week's EIF Poetry Challenge was to write a ballad, on any subject: a lyrical poem which tells a story. I was impressed, moved and amused by turns by the responses received, which were all of a high standard. As usual with this challenge, I will now hand over to the winner of the previous... Continue Reading →
With a kind of dim accuracy, dull estimation of anuncomfortable situation to the victim’s eyes, jealousy is not a green-ey’d monsterbut a super-subtle friend The victim continues with a smileof painted mirth;the mind gives birth to wild imaginingswhich may/may not be trueit hardly matters now:The matrix has you. Crossing canyons subsumed by solitudes, wish for spiritual songs to heal... Continue Reading →