They explored the bridges of Madison County and each other, body and soul, to a soundtrack of crickets, rustling wheat fields, tyres on dusty roads, and jazz. Days were filled with sunlight, longing and an evening of candlelight. Heaven’s persuasion in a bullying downpour drew her eyes to the truck, cross swinging from the rear-view […]
Tag: Imaginary Garden with Real Toads
Song of the Ornery Oak
I am an old oak bowed by years, knee-deep in my fractured limbs, leafless, bare of bark and splintered, destroyed by lightning in a storm. I am an old oak fraught with scars, and here you are with saw and axe already stained with another tree’s sap – I’ve anchored my roots to thwart your […]
Eggs and Other Things in Your Basket
From the steps at city hall, the market square resembles a tin of sweet wrappers, brightly striped in sunshine and glistening in rain. A walk between the stalls makes me sea-sick: I roll down the lurching incline, a sometime sailor, bantering with Norwich traders over fresh fruit, fish and flowers; exotic spices, eggs and cheese; […]
One Fine Day
There’s a sparkling space between orchestra and clear soprano voice, a tragic butterfly in a bell jar, bright wings shimmering before she’s pinned. Puccini’s signature violins swirl and an incidental flute curls, a ship’s smoke on the far horizon, as Cio-Cio-San’s dream spills: one fine day, she’ll see Pinkerton climbing up the hill. The voice, […]
Sharp
Sharp-eyed and sharp-bladed, she emerges from the depths of the forest, where sharp grasses tangle and slice, vibrant berries belie poison and piercing thorns, and creatures crawl and creep, curious to see such beauty shining through the shadows. Sharp-eyed and sharp of tooth, they emerge from the depths of the forest, hungry for forgotten beauty. […]
A Brewing Storm
Salt marshes fade away beneath September skies tinged with nevermore grey and a violet obsession. I insist I’m right as rain, and brave the nor’easter to follow the riverway, fired up by a raven wing and the promise of a stormy day. Kim M. Russell, 30th May 2019 My response to Imaginary Garden with Real […]
Thinking of Prague
A dense morning fog hides statues flanking the river on both sides and wraps the castle in a shroud, hiding its glory from the small crowd that leaves the medieval town to cross the Gothic bridge of stone. We dodge each oncoming tourist, each phantom emerging from the mist, make our way to a coffee […]
Waiting for the Wind
The sky above the fields is patched with clouds; the pale and wild blue yonder gapes through ragged holes, wrestling with purple mist to peep, making promises it may never keep. All the while, the green hill’s spine is stretched out on the far horizon, where it meets with heaven smiling at the steadfast grass […]
Fast News is Like Fast Food
I remember when news wasn’t quite so new – it was events from yesterday, the day or even weeks before. Reporters sent telegrams and pigeons from far away. We waited for news of births, deaths and wars, read a newspaper over a cup of tea or coffee, ate fish and chips from it, smothered it […]
Picnic under the Willow
The willow dome quivers at the touch of a breeze and the sun-blessed air hums a melody of bees. A full jug of lemonade, iced and freshly squeezed, balances by sliced bread and a bowl of strawberries. We sip and chew together, plates perched upon our knees; listening to the river, we drift into drowsiness […]
writing in north norfolk 