I was happy when the furniture went, and the dusty, cracked ornaments. But I broke down when that guy bought mother’s false leg and teeth.
(Prompt from @CreativeReview)
death
I held the old man’s hand
I held the old man’s hand. I had never asked his stories and now, as his last breath left, the library inside him burned.
Zeta is leaving
Zeta is leaving
He calls once then… then… again
Life’s early winter
Your nails dig deep
Your nails dig deep into my hands
We are scared, but trusting, shiver
All is for the best and all will be well
Sirens call the people
The lights of the aurora fade in the sun
and then a sudden darkness
The stone is pushed with silent force
Dirt, torn fingers, scarring
The light again, the screams, the silence
Nobody breathes. No-one says the word.
Bus stop, Sunday morning
The bus shelter must have been hosed down afterwards. Frosted ferns spread across the clouded walls. Thinned-rust ice dribbles meaninglessly down to the gutter. People frown at the sooted lamppost then see the torn blue tape. A robin cocks its head, challenging our gaze.
Together, holding hands
Together, holding hands,
They went to sleep
And, in the morning,
Did not wake.
The printout on the publisher’s desk
The printout on the publisher’s desk was his autobiography. One day, she thought, it could be famous and she could be rich. But only if the writer somehow, mysteriously, died. She looked at the nervous, eager man.
Yes. Yes, I think we can, she said.
If our life together is a football match
If our life together is a football match,
I demand time added on to the added-on time
An instant replay – the ball’s not over the line!
A last-minute penalty save in the last-minute ward
A refusal to let you have an early bath, early doors
I’ll stand in the wall as the number 10 kicks
I’ll go in knee-high on all of illness’s tricks
I’ll stop it however, however I can
I won’t let you be part of someone else’s tactical plan.
But it’s not and it’s over, just as they thought
You flew down the wing but your heels have been caught
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I know it drives you to distraction
but the only way I can cope
is to think of you leaving me
as some terrible
terrible
three o’clock Saturday
relegation-battling
footballing action.
Line
All that is left of the old city wall is a brass strip in the road. People fought and fell for this line. I step on it each time I pass.
How he would
Yesterday
Peacefully
In bed
Surrounded by his lovers.
A party
In celebration
On the Festival’s last day.
Wear colourful
And smile.
