This being human is a circus trick.Day after day you perfect your act:a t i g h t r o p e w a l kbetween now and then,a flourish,and then back again,one foot in front of the other.It’s juggling swords,eating fiery words,putting your head in a lion’s mouthand inhaling its meaty breath.It’s the highsand […]
Star Watcher
After watching the stars all night, she was still out there, in the frozen outdoors, tracking a comet across the sky. It was slow-moving, not as bright as she expected, and then it changed course, heading towards her. The light stopped in mid-air, pulsing a shade of blue she’d never seen before. She thought, “I […]
Magpie Eye
Of all the ancient stares of birds,the one that leaves me lost for wordsis the magpie’s when it looks askancewhile pecking at the grass and plantsin our wild garden. I watch him pluckingworms from muddy soil and chattingin his raucous voice. I tell him not to speak,at least not with a brimming beak,but his shiny […]
Snow Globe Episode 1
It was a grey, drizzly day when Rosanna left William standing on the school’s wide stone steps. His new uniform hung stiffly on his slim frame, drowning him in navy blue. The matron had already taken his suitcase and sports bag to his dormitory, while they enjoyed tea and crumpets in the refectory. A smear […]
Caught in the Headlights
In the sizzling silent dead of night, pain grips with talons, like an owl in the headlights with eyes of blood red. Snowy wings soar high towards the glimmer of dawn with an aching sigh. Pain rotates like an owl’s head caught in the headlights, talons and beak glisten red, cutting like scissors. I lie […]
A Seasonal Relationship
this is the season of the wistful goodbyeto early morning’s frosty chill hellosnowdrop, crocus and daffodil a skyinstead of cloudy grey spills clear bluewhen the promise of sunshine thrills anewas winter turns its back on us againthe pang of regret will pass amen Kim M. Russell, 10th March 2021 My response to Poets and Storytellers […]
To the young poet of the future
Dear poet, I picture you gazing at a star, concerned that you are still so far from being the poet you wish to become. From my position of restrospection I promise that your journey is the best lesson: you will be buffeted by storms and squalls, fluctuations in the weather of the soul, soothed by […]
Aerial
we are aerial we are swifts asleep on the wing or rising sooty-brown to black against the sky wings like scythesand all summer long we fly until the long days pass African heat and grass call like drums and rattles and we fly Kim M. Russell, 8th March 2021 My response to dVerse Poets Pub […]
Next Door’s Ghosts the Final Episode
“Pleased to finally meet you, Kay,” her next door neighbour said. “I’m Sally. I’ve seen you coming and going, and I’ve made friends with your lovely cat.” “Which one?” asked Kay before she realised her mistake. “Do you have more? I’ve only ever seen the one and he’s very friendly. I hope you don’t mind […]
Newborn
Originally posted on writing in north norfolk:
The waiting was breath held underwater, the longing was a crushing ocean wave, and the scalpel cut was the sharpness of moonlight at the end of a stormy day. Now his smile carves deep into my ribcage, his fingers worm paths under my skin, and the smell of…
writing in north norfolk 