Argentum

 

'I Love Lucy'

‘I Love Lucy’ was broadcast into space From 1951 for many series filmed at pace The creatures on Zaltonar, nearest planet to our own Learnt about our manners, about our needs, about our home

...On the Subject of Old Church Slavonic

I trust the world will not forget The Glagolitic alphabet And hieroglyphs or cuneiform And every new, ingenious form Of writing that did ever grace The history of the human race.

7 Sins

Ashen, limp-and-sour stiletto Young blade, get out on the moors, walk and sup lemon tea.

Abigail

'Abigail' the tree said, 'come further in and leave the world behind.' She stepped off the path and into the wooded grove, a shiver running up her...

Adrenaline

As we careen towards the grave Remember those you did not save A lost intention lacking action A hope, a dream that found no traction Friend or lover...

An Apology

If I, lumbering bearlike onto your decorated stage Discovered a beauty not needing to be saved Yet brittle like a bird within a cage I'm sorry, I did...

An Infringement upon Dreaming Spires

George rides his solitary bike, eyes alit for potholes. Mind awash with other obstacles cloying his attention: This morning's toast delivered with a...

Asterope

Sometimes the stars shine bright Come shine with me, my star, tonigh

Birthday Haiku

Tree grown tall and Sage Spring formed of a changing wind Breaks conventional form

Biscuit crisp

Among the green bejungled night A pride of parsley stopped to fight. Espying crude their image I Denounced my horse and made to fly. I set-off at...

Blood flow

There are no pipe-cleaners for the aortic valve But love is a sure way out And holding hands in the auditorium dark Is the preferred medical salve...

Blood-letting

On camera, a high security that reveals every detail Thirty-two separate incidents revealed Ongoing incidents in the supply and demand Of meat for...

Boiling Soup

When you're swimming in soup And you don't want to drown Kick, boy, kick Don't be alarmed Some soups are gloopy Some consommé Then there are those...

Bugger it

Promises unbroken From dreaming unwoken 'I love you's spoken More than just a token Awaiting the prognosis Sitting here in stasis Building-up to face...

Call to Arms

Her fear of change has caused a change More deeply felt than any fear. Gulf deep the range, the fractured calm Of pain, of rage, of tear. And so one...

Cassandra

The snakes of truth that licked her ears The sins of the Father on you, poor lamb Men were blind to all their tears She alone could see their fears...

Chance yer Luck

Twenty one, the sum of one die. Six to one, the chances of rolling any single side on a single die. Twenty one, the chances you have with a dice pair...

Chicory

The closer to the core The bitterer it tastes Leaves peeiling one-by-one Between sips of wine Sensations and salad in one Endive in French An enclave...

Christmas Term

The pantry looked different in the snowy reflections from outside. The car door slammed. Peregrine wolfed down the last handful of cake decorations...

CM Keir

...she squeezed her head closer to the pane, trying to tell if she could see her visitor. But nothing. Nothing and noone to be discerned in the raging black.

Come on Tae!

I wiz walking along the seafront doon Portybella wey, when ah thought 'ah could dae wi an ice-cream, gey Hot it wiz. So, ninety-niner in ma haun I...

Concupiscence

Concupiscence is the spontaneous movement of our sensual appetite toward what we imagine as pleasant and away from what we imagine as painful.

Condensed Blancmange

Lucea was grateful to take a bite, her free hand darting for the tiny pastry triangle flaking off with the cut of her perfect teeth to tumble...
Cherry

Fastis

January came and all was spent on beer, drugs and paying the rent, The coal, the gas the Amazon Prime was put on cards he'd pay next time. Neighbour...

Fun fair

There were others before her So there is no reason why There can't be others after her We last danced in June O, so many dances we'd had I keep them...

Glyphs

Though runes may be cool and iconic (And occasionally boustrephodonic) For a blessing or curse They're no better or worse Than Latin or Old Church Slavonic.

Homemade Preserve

Someone who cares enough to cry for your fears A matron, a friend, or friendly foe To wipe the jam from the jar and take all the smears A friend is a...

July

A man fell over, in the park, behind the bus station. A woman screamed and the sound set off a flock of pigeons that flew in ever decreasing circles...

Kohl

Bark black night sweep Gristle found between teeth Slept not night nor felt alive Bark black and toss and writhe Fall out and rip some Ask out and...

Lead Ball Heart

Lead ball heart, cold easily dented,. Rented once for cash, twice for lust Third time always comes Lead ball heart, ill heavy, in the chest Stomach...

Lovers' Lane

Shine a light down Lovers' Lane Where George and Barry meet again One night they met as strangers here Where strangers meet all times of year A...

Macaroni to the Masses

Removing the macaroni cheese advertisement, Laura reflected on her success.

Moosie Malcolm

Harry, unkempt, espies a mouse in his vest in his vest, that's: Harry's vest. He calls him Moosie Malcolm Moosie Malcolm's hair's unkempt Like Harry'...

My inspiration point

When I was fifteen my mum got me a tutor to help me through exams. He was amazing, he got me to appreciate what I was doing in a new light. He got me...

ochlocracy

Cut from the rock yet flowing like milk With eyes that could see the wind He stood in contrast to the mob The mob, before like fury, could not pass

Office Harassment

AN OFFICE. FRIDAY AM. BEA ENTERS. CAMERON SEATED BEHIND DESK Cameron: Good morning, Bea. Please, take a seat. BEA SITS. SHE LOOKS FLUSTERED Bea:...

Pens

Silver Pen, click perfect. Parker a favourite but bloody expensive, ain't it? What're the chances that a ten pound pen is worth more in literature...

Plum Academic

the kind when introspection overtakes a natural chat am I smiling in the right way? was that a joke to be laughed at? ...or the kind when it's not as...

Poor Joe

Drab Joe’s tumult began each day at four past six in the morning with a walk of Rocker to the beat of his heels and the pace of the bird-song.

Shoes Off!

Gigi threw her shoe out galloping one morn, Shane shied away 'cause it kicked him on the bum. Rearing up he neighed, 'do you mind, you filly there...

Sorry

All I keep saying is, 'sorry.' All I keep meaning is, 'why?' But this is the end to our story. This is the time for 'goodbye.'

Taking Umbrage With a Sentence

Mise en scène: Dafne, delighted at first scan, Sees the error after to print it's gone. George, helplessly in love yet not in candour, Calms her with...

Who Paid the Piper?

(Harry is on stage. Barry enters, his mobile starts ringing) Barry: Harry? Harry: Barry? Barry: (answering his ‘phone) Mum? Harry: Hello. Barry: Hello

Wibsey

Wibsey means "Wibba's island", from my Granpappy Wibba. An alternative derivation is that wib is a corruption of Old English wibwob, meaning witheys...

Words With Friends

PAUCE, for such a definition there's plenty of score LOVER, crossing TROW quite pleasingly COMELY, is almost flirtatious BASE, the feelings it hides...

This Writing Life

The challenge? Write 750 words a day EVERY DAY. That means no time off. Which is all good and well on papier but, when your work suddenly gets busy...