Stories without Borders
Can we stem this Fascist tide?Weathered faces dimmed with pridestand as oneunited in hatred:‘We shall overcome,’words we once saidwhen we believed that we could make a difference. Can we swim this Fascist tide?It's crashed into the US and Brazil tsunami-like, All-but submerged the once-United Kingdom,And now bursts its banks all over Central Europe.Can we swim... Continue Reading →
There’s a girl who sleepsunder the EarthWho has never yet dared to draw breathShe imagines the skyfull of creatures that flyAnd the grass decked with flowersand ferns. In the bosom of Earth she is safe:Grounded, firm-fixedand sereneAnd she doesn’t dare wakefrom the wisdom of sleepWhere she’s curtained and shieldedfrom pain But in that strange sleep... Continue Reading →
The day the sky fell inBegan like any other,Then birds hid in the treesThe cat ran inThe cattle sought the shade for shelter;Only we homo-sapiens didn’t see it coming:Dancing beneath the choking smokeAt the edge of Armageddon. Written for dVerse Quadrille #112 - where we are asked to write a poem of exactly 44 words... Continue Reading →
I am revisiting my poem 'No Homelike Place' for tonight's dVerse Open Link Night, which is also an Open Mic Night. In response, I have added included a video of my reading the poem at the end of this post. No Homelike Place There is no homelike placeOnly an empty spaceWhere once the toys were... Continue Reading →
I always check in on my children through the night. I did it constantly, pathologically even, the first time around. I’d been terrified by tales of ‘cot death’ and thought that if I didn’t check in on my newborn every five minutes he might die as a result of my neglect. Once I had my... Continue Reading →
Peter Frankis of Australia is the host at dVerse 'Meeting the Bar' this time around, and he has given us the following exercise, advising us to 'Write like a dog, edit like a cat...' Pick a poem you’ve already written — a favourite, one that needs a second look, one that never reached its full potential... Continue Reading →
Falling from the eavesDropping downLike rain-bursts, fire-cracked beamsFall to the barn floor asI eavesdrop from a distance:Fire devouring everythingWe worked all of our lives forAnd they say it was a cigaretteNot climate changeThat started it. Written for dVerse Quadrille #111, hosted by Kim who has given us the prompt 'eavesdropping.' I used the prompt to... Continue Reading →
I’ll wear my swishing, stunning skirt todaybecause todayI’m going to the land of ex-girlfriends: they wear their skin tan;their hair pinned to perfection;their nails manicured impeccably; I’m morelike a manmy appearance doesn’t own meI trythen I loose interest; miss a beatand they’ll be outthose ex-girlfriends from every corner of the street they'll comewanting my husband’s salaryand all the things I didn’t... Continue Reading →
Linguistics is a sexy subjectAnyone who would disagree Should listen to this:LabialDentalPalatalFricativeLabio-velar GIt’s the science of how we speakSo it must have a little to doWith the things that make us tick:It’s easy you seeIt’s all doneWith a flickOf the tongue.I’m British so I’m afraid That’s about as sexy as it’s going to get:Now I’m off to... Continue Reading →
I was afraid to start the walk. It was rated: 'very difficult marked trail.' I'd only done 'easy marked trail' up to now. From the valley floor, the sheer rock face above looked inaccessible to the humble hiker. I've never been a climber as I'm much too afraid of heights. But this was something I... Continue Reading →