Being human is a circus trick, a t i g h t r o p e w a l k between now and then, a flourish, and back again. juggling swords, eating fiery words, the highs and lows of the flying trapeze, the bearded lady’s s l o w s t r I p t […]
Like a Duck
Life is a garrulous river glinting through wisps of cloud. A glimpse of life through cloud and I feel like a duck treading water, scattering sparkles on the water like van Gogh’s canvas of glowing stars. I swim against the tide of stars, drag my heavy body to a grassy bank and relish the respite […]
Reflection
The image in the March issue of Visual Verse, Volume 9 Chapter 6, is a stunning photograph by Vony Razom, which has inspired amazing writing, with only one hour to produce 50-500 ekphrastic words. I recommend reading everything, starting at page 1. My poem is on page 83 and, if you want to read it first, you […]
Spring in Speech Marks
My life has been steeped in chromaticity, punctuated by leaves and buds, but me, I’m still curled up like an apostrophe suspended between seasons. In the green garden, pointillistic blue flowers bloom as a cloud of full stops, and you surprise me like an exclamation mark, true to your pink gregariousness, bringing light and heat […]
Breath of the Norfolk Broads
I was standing by water, dreaming of the summer, when she appeared, a wherryman’s daughter on a black-sailed trader among the whispering reeds. A grebe on her shoulder, a spring breeze in her hair, she brought it with her on the breath of the Broads: the tinkle of laughter, swans swimming in sunshine, and the […]
Film Noir
His face was like a clock that ran out of minutes, his voice like a car with a flat battery, but he had the touch of a virtuoso violinist and a smile that was honest, without flattery. She was a feline, a purring predator, her sharp fangs hidden behind a full pout; she radiated warmth […]
William
His young hands were slender, quick and strong, creating worlds in drama and in song, busy and stained with ink; the scratching of the pen spurred him to think. But hands that once were softened by caress, eager to hold and often poised to bless, became stiff and talon-like with age, faltering fingers fought to […]
Clarity
I see clearly. I see blossom. I see ripples in leaves. I see movement in trees. I see the definition of petals. I almost see green chlorophyll pulsing through vein and stem. I see the black and white gloss of the handsome magpie by the garden gate. Kim M. Russell, 2nd April 2022 It’s 22nd […]
Mothers
a country girl she had rosy cheeks the legacy of working beneath the open sky a twinkle in her eye she worked her spells growing market vegetables her two daughters running free climbing trees and skinning knees my girl has long since flown the nest and although I know I was not the best mother […]
Quince Essential
I am the ancient symbol of Aphrodite, who nibbled me to perfume her kiss and duly seal her married bliss. I am sexily pear-shaped and aromatic; in spring my robes of pink flowers unfold, while autumn’s scented orbs are gold. I am a pome, a love song or a poem, the original temptation in the […]
writing in north norfolk 