After the claustrophobia of curtains closed before dusk, she feels like a smudged shadow tucked in her bowl of cardboard cornflakes. Stepping into the smoky light of a milky autumn morning, she pegs out her washing, a stronger penumbra, inhaling deep into her marrow the aroma of damp meadow flowers and grass crushed underfoot and […]
Category: Poems
Strokes and Shadows
Economy of line and shade conveys so little and evokes so much. With brush strokes and touch the artist captures: a curved line – the rim of a hat; a charcoal shadow – a gloved hand; a vermillion smear – a pair of lips whisper of blush. © Kim M. Russell, 2016 Rene Gruau […]
Kyrkogrim
The petal silk of her skin, Pronounced against a gloam of hair, Rescinds the black glitter of her eyes, Void of warmth And deep as space. Keeping safe Her staggered spirit Wrapped in the density of tweed, Shibboleth of widow’s weeds In hues of night and shadow, Some may think she is unhinged, The ringer […]
Falsely Yours
naïve and pretty young girl in a floral dress shrinks from your caress bright squares of sunlight making patterns on the floor but no open door a caged bird of prey falsely yours until she flies into a clear sky held by silver chains the trappings of wealth and fame it’s only […]
In the Darkness of the City
In the darkness of the city a weapon clatters to the pavement. Nobody listens. The traffic clamours. Always. She was once moon-eyed and young, trying Her wings. Now, in a dark alley, a middle-aged woman lifts up her tear-stained Face and is dragged behind the rubbish bins, Into the shadows. She lies amongst the rotting […]
Dancing at Sunset
Sun setting on the olive field as we dance together reflects in your eyes as flames igniting your soul smouldering my head on your chest hearts beating together dancing in the olive field forever entwined. © Kim M. Russell, 2016 My response to Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie B&P’s Shadorma and Beyond: Zeki Majed – September […]
Lingering Presence
Tired of childish fears And torrents of tears That reflect your lingering presence Although you’re gone You won’t leave me alone I’m surrounded by your essence My pain is real My wounds won’t heal I crave your evanescence Bound by the life you left behind Your light resonates in my mind A lingering luminescence Haunted […]
The Wreck of Heaven
Shards of a shattered sky Scattered on sea spray, Tossed on the back of a stallion storm – The frowning face of the firmament has been torn, Scarred by lightning, Bruised with purple clouds. Cowed by Thor’s thunder, Heaven is going under. Heaven is going under, Cowed by Thor’s thunder. Bruised with purple clouds, […]
Storm Navigator
Vigilant on the moody moor, the beacon drew its fire from the brewing storm, leeching potency from the clouds, filling the giant’s chalice, not with small beer (not by any stretch of the imagination) but with Thor’s thunderous percussion and the hammering of rain, ale fit for a leviathan. © Kim M. Russell, 2016 My […]
Pain is an Owl
In the silver silent dead Of a lethargic night, Pain is an owl caught in a dazzling headlight, Whose glaring eyes of red Steer gliding flight on white wing Towards the cold metallic glimmer of morning. Pain twists like an owl’s head, Grips with talons of crushing power, Tears with the sharpness of […]
writing in north norfolk 