choreographed and synchronisedfeet placed firmly, picks held highabove ochre earth, stark and barea moment hangs in the stifling airwhile muscles tense and then releaseearth is shattered, so is peacerocks split and stones flymetal sings and souls crysweat glistens, teeth are clencheddust encrusted vests are drenchedthe man just stands hat on headhands in pockets nothing’s said […]
Tag: dverse Poets Pub
The Magic of Digging
The soil is dark and damp from rain,the spade lifts it easily, over again—it’s prestidigitation! Hey presto, a robin spots a worm,watches as it wriggles and squirmson the soil-encrusted blade and then swoops in to gobble it down—that’s prestidigitation! Kim M. Russell, 20th April 2026 It’s Monday and, at the dVerse Poets Pub, time for […]
Hares
In March or April, between the trees, ears like streamers in the breeze, striding with their long legs in enigmatic zig-zags, sparring and boxing as they go, ardent bucks and exhausted does. They’re creatures of air, spirits of spring, you say,shadowy bookends to the working day. But in in a late summer light circus, when […]
Following the Brush
I sweep the floor with an old broom, it still does the job, collects crumbs and dust, pushes the pile of detritus from one placeto another, and with it my thoughts a poem forminglike the pile of dust,sometimes caught up in the brush and then escaping.Our cat Luna pokes her head round the door; she’s […]
Where Does Love Go
Did it evaporatewith the last remaining traces of his scent or with the smoke from the cigarette,the last from the crushed packet he left behind? She couldn’t stomach breakfast,and there were hours to cross until the island of lunch, and a rainy afternoon to get through,the rest of the day with only a stormcock for […]
Her Last Poem
The poet sits at her desk, chewing the end of a pen, mulling over her latest collection. Over the years, she has had some success with pamphlets and anthologies, but time has not been kind to her, and her sight is rapidly failing. This does not mean that she is considering giving up writing altogether, […]
Persimmon
glossy orange fruitalongside apples and pearswould my mouth pucker? cold first and foremosttextural surprise: firmnessa juicy softness different and newsweetness stopped me in my trackshoney, brown sugar? little orange fruitmaple syrup adventurethat autumnal orb joy and possibilityalchemy, simplicity Kim M. Russell, 11th April 2026 On the 11th day of NaPoWriMo, our optional prompt is erasure […]
imperious advice
don’t go swimmingin moon-stained seasif you dowatch out for monsters skimmingwaves and divingdeep below your feetonly to emerge and eatthemhowever feel freeto find which shapeyou want to bebut don’t assumeyou can comparewith the stars and the moonstay grounded Kim M. Russell, 7th April 2026 This Tuesday at the dVerse Poets Pub, Dora is hosting Poetics […]
Just Wondering
A caged bird sharpened its beakon cuttlebone. Did it wonder about the cuttlefish,decomposed, washed onto a beach? Was it waiting for an artist to carve itinto something new and beautiful? Maybe a mould for a brooch or pendant —or a bird. Kim M. Russell, 6th April 2026 It’s Quadrille Monday at the dVerse Poets Pub; […]
Letter To Myself Looking Back
Six years ago, in the fertile belly of pandemicspring, you were inside looking out. The street was quiet, no traffic, bar a delivery van,the driver masked and gloved, as were the single walkers, with or without dogs.Not even an aeroplane in the sky. The sun shone, flowers bloomed, but you wiltedin the stifled isolation of […]
