Danger You will never be safe – from a tiger’s blood-hungry prowl, from the rage of machinery spitting sparks and tearing in anger at open throttles, from the poor aim of fate, lashing carelessly in a crowd. You can stay at home, behind a five-lever mortice lock and five-star rated anti-viral software, keeping your […]
Dipper – 100 words
Dipper Lake glitters today family SUVs disgorge, sunglasses hunted factor 40 but you know snow-melt currents surge beneath the ducks and under stand-up paddleboarders. Meet shingle, rock, slime. Ankles, shins, thighs astonished by biting surface outraged as you wade on, furious with rock, slime, weeds. Breathe. Kick. Pull. Acknowledge the persistence of life send bubbles […]
What to Think About When Starting a Family
Imposter – 100 words
Mindset – 100 words
Mindset I’m done with making peace: with seeing rainbows in the oily scum of dish water with the scented softness of tumble dryer fluff in the symmetry of a spreadsheet in the swooping freedom city canyon seagulls viewed from a fifth floor office Instead: I want the uneven paths and wind blasted […]
Mosaic me – 100 words
Caged by a metaphor – 100 words
Caged by a metaphor Hard-baked stone formed by an eruption of fire and fury and petrified by terror A moat of stinking slime patrolled by armoured reptiles with teeth like broken bar-brawl bottles Dense thorn-sharp tangles woven tight protecting soft, pale tenderness as it sleeps its life away A carapace of […]
Skins – 100 words
Skins I wore a wetsuit into the lake sun glinted, elbowing through youthful foliage, neoprene absorbed the blows of water’s rising assault I was braced, mustered: leaving fear on the shore with my dry robe and car keys where it watched me rising proud from wind-fractured water I sought that tidal inhalation, […]