I left the laptop, just for a minute or two, to let the cats out and make the first cup of tea of this morning. I looked out at the sunshine, perky daffodils and drooping snowdrops gathered at the end of the garden, smiled to myself, and then, from the laptop’s scrolling photo display, a […]
Category: Poems
What happened to the snow?
What happened to winter snow, hoary patterns on windows, frozen ponds to skate on, icicles hanging from the gutter? Sun worshippers may think it doesn’t matter and wonder why we mutter at unseasonal weather, unconcerned that snowdrops and daffodils bloom early, blackthorn roots are purply and willow tops froth with yellowy green. Is it the […]
The One Who Does Not Go Straight Home
I am the hare who does not go straight home. I relish the cool dew on my whiskers, the wind in ears and scut. Dawn steals past the farmer’s gate and I follow in its honeyed wake, zig-zagging fields, up and down hills, among the yellow daffodils, too full of giddiness to go straight home […]
Antibacterial
On a cold blue morning, she will sit on a crowded rattling train, antibacterial gel in her pocket, avoiding other people’s faces, sneezes, coughs and stares. She might fidget on her seat, watch the burgeoning greenery, the fresh flashes of fields and trees as she hurtles towards the city: crowds of strangers, with their mouths […]
Apple-ogia
They are our atonement for the half-eaten cores tossed from dusty, finger- smeared train windows, sprouted into hoards of apples, sparkling orbs, railway siding orchards. They’re a feast for birds, burnished rosy and russet, worm-holed and sweetly rotting to the fading drone of wasps drunk on the sadness of sugar. In spring, wind-fresh blossoms flutter […]
Returning
In thick dark clusters, swallows skim the lake, reflections on the water shimmer clear. It seems as if the day will never break; in thick dark clusters, swallows skim the lake. I am returning too, to past mistakes I left behind with sadness, guilt and fear. In thick dark clusters swallows skim the lake; reflections […]
Incision
The sharp blade splits smooth skin, spilling the ruby jewels within and staining fingers with fruity blood. Its sticky flesh holds heavenly food, the luscious seeds small surprises as they crush between white incisors, trickling juice upon the tongue, a crimson, fertile, sour song. Kim M. Russell, 27th February 2020 My response to Poets and […]
Delicious on my Tongue
you cooked me a meal so delicious I barely stopped between mouthfuls the richness of its flavour imprinted on my tongue oblivious to the knowledge that it wouldn’t last for long I wiped my lips on a napkin wishing for another taste ignoring the red wine in my glass in case the piquancy went to […]
Tribute to the Magpie’s Tail
Among the high branches of the silver birch struts a handsome magpie, jet black on creamy white, not still and quiet like the pigeon on the branch next door, but constantly chattering and fidgeting, see-sawing its tail to keep balance. It’s a fine, long tail, a stick of charcoal scribbling in the grey February sky. […]
Tulip Fields
I am a Middle Eastern beauty, a migrant of the sixteenth century, a gauzy turban of petalled secrets. Some prefer me dressed in scarlet, sprung from droplets of blood, a ruby flood of perfect love. My yellow flower’s glow is cheerful, the power of my white’s forgiveness, while my purple robe is royal. My orb-shaped […]
writing in north norfolk 