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On the fieldin front of Traitor’s Gatethey hacked my head off. They probably stuck it on a poleso the horror of it allwould live on in people’s memory. I couldn’t care less for any of thatanymore: my head’s off, somewhere down therewhile I’m up here, observing... Shall we say detachedly?Or would that be distasteful?You can’t... Continue Reading →
‘He had hands like yours,’ my Grandma tells my husband-to-be one Sunday afternoon. We’ve just popped in to say hello. She’s in a reminiscent mood (when is she ever not?) talking about my Grandad, of course. My Grandad who I’d never met. Of three husbands, he’d been the only one she’d truly loved. She hands... Continue Reading →
I walked the midnight path aloneThough moonlight lit my wayA cloud crept o’erThe moon was goneI heardA solitary sigh As in a trance, I heard that soundAs in a trance my feet moved onThe ground gave wayThe path was goneI fellDepthlessly down and down Until my fall was broke by leavesSoft autumn leavesPiled high, which... Continue Reading →
‘And my blanket of leaves won’t warm her cold breast’Said the tree to the sparrow:Just as we might sayto the refugeewho washes up on our shores, freezing,blanketless, whilewe close our doors, our heartsand look the other way. When Merril gave us the word 'blanket' to incorporate into tonight's dVerse Quadrille, I immediately thought of Simon... Continue Reading →
I have just learned from tonight's dVerse prompt that both the harvest moon and a blue moon await us this October. Well, that shows how much I know about the moon, or the harvest for that matter. I thought I'd already seen the harvest moon this year. I cannot claim to be over moon-aware, but... 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 →
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 →
It’s easy to climb:Just don’t look down.It’s easy to leave:Just don’t everCast a glanceOver your shoulder.But easiest of all isTo stay:As easy as sliding down a greased poleInto not-so-quiet desperation. It’s easy to stay but it’s alsoThe hardest of all:Tortured hoursAnd the slow death of the soul. I am posting this, a little late, for dVerse... Continue Reading →
Experiments in Fiction 