“Let’s play!” she says to me, tugging at my hand. I shake my head, planting my feet firmly and yanking my arm free from her slim fingers. Alice frowns at me, before shrugging and running towards the large playground. Alice always asks me to play with her, but I never go; instead, I go sit next to the large brick wall with my book. I don’t read though, just pretend to. Instead, I watch the other kids start up a game of pir...

I can't let myself think about him. The sun is shining down on my pale back for the first time in days. A black butterfly with white spots is dancing around in the light breeze delighting in the day and inviting me to join in. But he comes to me unbidden. His face. His walk. His presence. His. Him. Breath in. Breath out. He is my past. Any chance of a future with him is gone.Chloe Brown loved gardens. Her earliest memory...

The smiling, long legged brunette in the photo leaned against the door of a familiar car. One hand held a set of keys against her freckled cheek while the other seemed to toy with the unfastened snapof impossibly skimpy white shorts. In between, an unbuttoned olive-drab, US Army fatigue shirt was spread just wide enough to give a teasing peek at the swell of her firm young breasts.The soldier holding the photo smiled. He’...

“You’re asking me how it’s going?” I said incredulously. “How can you ask me that? I’m paralyzed and I’m dying, for god’s sake!” “Well you don’t have to be sarcastic!” came the response. “And besides, you’re not dead…..yet. By the way, my name is Waldo. Nice to meet you.” Waldo flew over my head singing ‘Getting to know you…..getting to know all about you…..’ I learned later that he often did things like that; he had been...

Ride Across the River I heard her start to cry as soon as the door closed behind me. It didn’t make me feel any better. Maybe I didn’t know what all this was doing to her? What I did know was that whilst I was waiting in the middle of Tiger Bay for Eddie, Mary-Anne was crying behind the closed door. Nevertheless, she had to understand that this was the only way for me, I knew nothing else now. And so here I was, still wai...

There is no one I can talk toAbout the pain I’ve buried deep inside,No one who would understand. So I have summoned all my courageTo sustain me as I bare my soul to you today. I did everything I was taught to do. I never spoke to strangers,I stayed indoors when it got dark. I never rode the train alone, Nor ventured into the park at night.  But no one warned me about you. They never said be wary Of the man you see each da...

Hello, I'm new here. I am better than you. I'm smarter and kindlier — Cleverer too! You're stupid - you're snooty - You're unworthy of my precious time. As for me, it's plain to see: I'm magnificent and sublime! While I am Secretariat,Or perhaps Seattle Slew,The rest of you, a sorry lot,Are destined to become glue.This may seem rather blunt,But that's just how I am.If my directness hurts you,Well, I don't give a damn. Ple...

Music-lovers stand jam-packed in the arenaSurrounded by my musical family of all creeds, races, and ages Differences discarded like last season’s fashions Jubilation spills forth in grins matched like handbagsto shimmering eyesAirborne snippets of snatched conversation propagate like viruses‘Did you hear?’‘First time in years…’‘Oh My God!’‘Thought they split up…’Grows into a buzzing kaleidoscope of noiseExcitement tinges...

She did this every year, so the call came as no surprise. In fact, I had been expecting it for the last few days. The only surprise was that it took so long. I was sitting with my wife having our coffee after dinner when the phone rang. As I got up to answer, my wife gave me a knowing glance but did not say a word. It was as if we both knew instinctively. “Hello.” I started into the phone, “Oh, hi Mom. Yeah, I’d been expe...

I always have this feeling that I’m chasing something. Something that makes me happy, maybe even makes me complete. Something beautiful like a butterfly that sits on a daisy when I walk through a deserted corner of the park on a sunny afternoon in spring. The butterfly sits peacefully surrounded by the white petals. I stand still and look at it. It looks so beautiful that it makes me smile and I wonder if I could catch it...

If I do fail my exams I could get a job in a nursery looking after little kids, I'd like that and it's one of the few things I'm good at. My neighborhood child minding services are in demand, and now I'm receiving requests from mothers I haven't even met. You can't beat word of mouth as a recommendation and it's by far the best form of advertising.Mind you, it's definitely toddlers I prefer to care for, the nine year olds...

  The noon-time silence is complete, As sleepy felines laze replete On antique terracotta tiles And in doorways of many styles. Warmly the polished granites glow, Gone is the human ebb and flow, Only the shadows, dark and deep, Across the city slowly creep. Breezes languish, the leaves are still; Here is imposed a mighty will That lulls the empty streets to sleep, There in the dusty heat to keep, Until the sun’s oppressiv...

I guess I really can’t blame them.How could they be expected to know the truth,When all they see is some well-rehearsed smile,That I have been putting on in the morning,Like a clean shirt.I think I have it down to a science,I’ve been doing it for so long.I’ve polished my act to where I almost fool myself sometimes,Yet at times the sadness slips through to the world.My mother asked me the other day if I was doing drugs aga...

You hit me again todayIt was over an unwashed plateIt stung and my face throbbed My teeth hurt where they had chattered hard together I said nothing and went to my room to cryYou grabbed me by my hair today And pulled me around the room Because you had a bad day Vicious in your malice You took your anger out on meYou whipped me with your belt today Slashing and thrashing until I was screaming Begging you to stop ‘You dese...

The click of the light switch focussed his attention and he bobbed back to the surface of consciousness. Soft, retreating footfalls. A whispered kiss. The baby opened his eyes. A gentle glow illuminated the room to his left and his gaze, seeking comfort, was naturally drawn there. He was warm, full, content, sleepy, and yet still expected something more. The familiar beaming face appeared, garlanded by blonde curls, light...