Frame

Vincent painted views overand over again of the asylum gardenbeyond his window frame, so in love with autumn’s colours,unable to refrain, admitting to his brother Theoit would be the same every day, until autumn came tumblingfrom the trees. He would never grow weary of garden,sky and leaves. Kim M. Russell, 1st October 2025 I have […]

Geometry

Earth tone structures throwa geometry of shadows,some angled, some ragged,in the punishing sun.Windows reflect light until it grabs the cityand shakes it by the scruff,plays pick-up sticks with chimney stacksand hide-and-seek with sky-lights.There is no shade, just brick and concrete,from skyscraper roof to urban street.Inside, cool air hiccups from air-conditioning;outside, exhaust belches from traffic,suffocating the […]

Over

My birthday bouquet, overa week old and wiltingin a shapely vaseof glass half-filledwith scummy water glintingin the sun.Flowers raise their headsin a last hurrahof purple and pale yellow,their brown-tinged leaves hangingover the lip of the vase–over like the birthday. Kim M. Russell, 11th June 2025 Over at What’s Going On? Susan is hosting with a […]

It is the music of a people

(a golden shovel) Can you hear itfilling the air today? The melody isa memory of what we once were and thebeating of wings and rushing of air is musicwe feel in our hearts and souls. Words ofdespair are replaced with agrowing defiance: power to the people. Kim M. Russell, 28th May 2025 Wednesday’s come around […]

I, Poet

I need to ease the itch of wordsthat wake me up at night,to sing in a different languagewith imagery and bite. I love to linger in poems whereno other poet has been yet,to feel a smile inside myself  when other people get it. The poetichor of a poemcan drive me to distraction,like spring blossom dancingor […]

Just Sounds

I stepped outside last night,hoping to see a skyfull of stars.One of the cats slinked out behindme.  She didn’t mindthat it was dark. To meit was ominous and black. A breezeplayed tunes in the chimeshanging from the willow tree,but not a star was there to be seen.An owl hooted from the silverbirch, but there was […]

In my Deepest January

In my deepest January,frequently the sky is pink,trees hunched over, shy and nude,creeping round churned up fields. In my deepest January,carrion crows, grey as fading ink,pick at drowned worms, rudeand raucous as they wield sharp, curved beaks then sinkthem into mud, cackling a lewdcaw. Breaks in the treeline revealthe village church, a chink of grey […]

Knitting

Casting on with new yarn is not a chore,it’s satisfying to start a new ball once more. Colour, ply and texture always play their part,involving deep thought and searching the heart. The style is important, I must like it toofor my hands to make the perfect gift for you. My fingers are not as nimble […]

My Heart Remembers

“The heart remembers everything it loved and gave away,everything it lost and found again, and everyoneit loved, the heart cannot forget.” from ‘What the Heart Cannot Forget’ by Joyce Sutphen Memories of your gentle faceare sketchedon my heart,like paths across the landscape. The shape of your lipsis etchedinto my genealogy. The frost of that morning […]