Lies honestly told If I work hard, I’ll earn love It’s just this once It’s no trouble I’m right I’m wrong I promise I’ll fit into it next year It’s just a kiss It’ll go to waste if I don’t They’ll never find out If I wait patiently, my time will come If they […]
After the storms – 100 words
After the storms Flashes rupture blanket gloom, rumble sets my snaredrum soul to rattle again. I strain for a door-kick direction, a boot drop, curse call clue. I sense waves of acid fury rippling towards me and I clench for the inevitable explosion and the weary fall-out of cleaning and meaningless apology. Flashes […]
Beach body
Beach body Sand dune hillocks undulate then redistribute as the storms pass Scratchy grasses poke unruly in the valleys, on the crests. Looked down on, from that cliff, golden sands luxuriate, languid, between frothy blue and the carpark. Closer it’s dog poo bin and vacant life preserver stand; pebbles and fag ends; spiteful pebbles […]
Prickly Hedge – 100 words
Prickly hedge Don’t touch Don’t get too close Don’t look at me so I feel dirty Don’t presume Don’t tell me who I am Don’t be late Don’t make my decisions Don’t stand me up Don’t tell me what to think Don’t use me for your jokes Don’t turn your back Don’t tell […]
Snail Trails – 100 words
Snail trails I do not see it slither yet it draws a dotted line on my doorstep, a pirate chart – X marks the spot. This galleon is not sailing. It goes, they say, by squeeze and stretch of a muscle so glistening and fringed, it’s rude to stare. But I do stare – this […]
A mother’s roll – 100 words
A mother’s roll Mum to be New mum Gina Ford mum Breastfeeding mum Mastitis mum Formula mum Working mum Sign language mum Baby-led weaning mum Playgroup rota mum Guilty mum Swimming lessons mum Neurodiversity assessment mum Fight their corner mum Single mum Shouty mum Sleepover mum Leave the office on the dot mum Scout […]
Funeral tea – 100 words
Funeral tea Over the sandwiches nobody wanted: A lovely service… So sad… More tea? Did you know…? Do you remember…? I wish… So do I… We shut our eyes and wished harder than we’d ever wished before and there you were shimmering over teacups. Made from dust and misery and pieces of our hearts, […]
Change – 100 words
Change Wood eventually dries, crumbles, splits and releases the nail. Sellotape, exhausted, curls up and falls off the paper. Silt shifts and rocks roll down the river, night gloom is slashed by dawn and flees. Rain dries. Midnight hungry babies will eventually be teenagers that won’t get out of bed. Skin will sag. People […]