the thinner spectre of the two, pale and serene and half in shadow, from the creases of the curtain, floats a plaintive lullaby - her song for sleepless children. "this plastic fort for a painted cowboy, this tepee for a brave. this mountain range of books to read 'The Kid took the reins and … Continue reading her song for sleepless children
'In a shed out the back of seventy one she hammered bird shapes from metal for business and fun. Sparked feathers became an impossible swan; trumpeter black from raincloud of iron.' I recalled these lines from an earlier scene... and thought, I'd play him now almost the same. The same, but slightly differently - in … Continue reading an impossible swan.
Letter to The Times Sir - I cannot abide the slender new volume, The Selected Gush (1880-1910). But, who among us, in all honesty, could say they've never once been smitten by her louche, languid lines of lust (described in this very journal as 'fin de siècle erotica')? No! Neither I! I've annotated her verse … Continue reading The Selected Gush (1880-1910)
we came at last to an adobe square sun-bleached and honeyed with busy voices. barking market traders hawked their wares - halite, tin and nugget-silver mined from those blue and hazy mountains, caged birds, of many colours, uttered (though we could not speak their language). spices sillaged the noon dry air and monkeys, leashed, and feral … Continue reading a balance act
The sunlight on the café counter. Clatter, scrape and second cuppa. Stainless, Sheffield. Bowl of sugar. Elbow, knuckle ink, fingered butter. Gingham vinyl tablecloth. Spoon song, ketchup, salt and pepper. Bubble. Double egg and chips. Love Me Tender, tiny speaker. The market barker's comedy - Same routine since ninety three. "arfur cue f'fifty pee." His … Continue reading Tender.
Considered reckless by some, he could, to these eyes, should the occasion arise, be relied on to act out open heart surgery upon chilled packets of vacuum sealed beetroots and the like. "A pair of old hairdressing scissors, a loose grip on the lingo and a souchon of common. Modus operandi." The running commentary, I … Continue reading the ear of the dim-sighted diner.
