Francis buzzes the front door. The two of you wait outside for a while. He buzzes again. You lift the shopping bag that dangles from your wrist and switch hands. Letting it hang against your thigh, you can feel the condensation from the cold beers inside it. You’re about to pull out your phone Read More
Ascension Legend has it that the success of Led Zepplin’s Stairway To Heaven was an accident. It proved the perfect length of time to enjoy a cigarette, and DJs apparently took full advantage; the song became part of late night sacraments. Twists of life are perpetual; spinning us like blindfolded ballerinas into the next Read More
Red! Why red? It reminds me of danger, stop signs and post boxes. My biggest problem with red may have been the fact I was the only one in the school not in red. I moved around counties, towns and schools so often I suppose it made sense to have one uniform that ‘sort Read More
You say you loved me long before the draw. Not that it matters, but I’m sure you did – You fed your pleas to Hydra’s lantern jaw, and softly cried beneath this sleepless lid. Meanwhile my own resistance left the stage. My genuflected smile declared our peace – A stone-cold fear lurked on Read More
“We can’t just leave you on your own Mrs Harris,” the middle-aged policewoman said, pulling what she probably thought was her most genuine looking empathetic face, maintaining eye contact and smiling constantly, but being careful to make sure her smile was not too happy. Paula hated her. “We have a duty of care, you Read More
Monday 16 April Tonight was the first and last date with Geoff. 43 solid minutes I listened to him droning on at one point. I texted Jules at 7:01 telling her he’d just started talking about mushrooms and at 7:44 he was still going. Who knew there was so much to learn? Apparently, he recently Read More
We left the train station and turned right, towards the river Tilt. Close to the track we found a shop and a public toilet, for one last stop before heading up the valley. Mark bought an apple and a block of chocolate. I found an off-brand sports drink in the fridge and gulped it all. Read More
For long after dark and before first light a clamorous pair of oystercatchers courts in an echoing circumference of air and sky. Anxiously they whoop and wheel by day, by night. The repetitions mean that she’s in season and will concede his ancient cry that seed should not be lost. Makeshift, a nest will be Read More
Stung by winter’s salt and grit his cold paws barely grip the icy pavement still he won’t cross to the sunny side, hangs his head when I reach out to tug his collar, leans away from me, his body a counterweight keeping us both upright on the ice linked by my outstretched arm, my hold Read More
Find as far inland as Kintyre can allow, map back to an almost-anywhere dot. Out of seasight. Still, on clouded nights, watch Rathlin’s lit pattern censer past. A little industrial structure. One bog-footed cave built for burning. All rabbit shit, trotting-in lost sheep, broken curves open to host brackening rain. A dripped-on Alice, shrunk on Read More