Cosmic Jam

As a child, she’d capture in jarsladybirds, beetles and caterpillars,any interesting bugs – they always expired. She swooned at the full moon and swirls of stars,and tried to catch the cosmos in her empty jars.Now her cosmic jam’s most desired. Kim M. Russell, 5th August 2024 Free image found on Pixabay It’s the first Monday […]

Grief on my Shoulder

Grief perches on my shoulder,as I remember you perchingon the windowsill of life,not ready to spread your wings,still tethered by earthly things. Our goodbye was brutal, no words,just an unbidden memoryof swimming at the local pool,your strong hands buoying me. There are times, left alone with thoughtsand memories, when griefsneaks up, a vulgar thiefof quietude. […]

A Very British Summer

It arrives with the sparkle and sweetnessof lemonade, echoes of cricketon the green, and scents of mown grassand public swimming pool. Butbehind the summer shimmerthere’s a threatening glimmerof thunderstorms and torrential rainto send us back indoors again. Kim M. Russell, 22nd July 2024 Image by Urban Vintage on Unsplash This Monday, De is hosting the […]

Dogwood (a quadrille)

A summer blizzard cloudof feathers from a pillow fight,understated blossom clustersshimmering in sunlight hidehard timber once carved intothe cross on which Christ was crucified.Until its grey bark bursts into red,dogwood crouches in hedges,creeps around woodland edges. Kim M. Russell, 16th July 2024 Alma Thomas, Arboretum Presents White Dogwood, (1972), acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum […]

I Dreamed of You

I woke on the edge of dawn,roused by a blackbird’s songin the first pink flush.Shadow-lit and milky-greyin the cosy embrace of blanketsand the fug of morning breath, I remembered dreaming of youand was reminded of your death. I clung to the edge of dawn.A sparkling new day had arrived,the cold, refreshing scentof dew-soaked grass waftedthrough […]