Number Twenty-Five crouches over, knobbly spine swaying with the rhythm of the slight breeze. In his hand he holds a pair of scissors; not the kind you’d normally see in the hands of a gardener, mind you.
Shame
He said // This is your fault.It was twenty-three years ago.When I tried to speak dirt choked mythroatso I lay on the forest floora summer storm cooling the earthand I was quietas he destroyed me.I could smell the rain that night.I can smell the dirt of the forest flooreach time it has rained since. * … Continue reading Shame
Good mothers with bad thoughts: A review of ‘The Push’ by Ashley Audrain
Are you a good mother? It’s a question that I’ve asked myself many times over the last 15 years, and the answer has changed more times than I’d like to admit. It was just past seven on the morning of April 24th when the warm, wriggling body of my daughter was placed on my chest. … Continue reading Good mothers with bad thoughts: A review of ‘The Push’ by Ashley Audrain
dessert
Smooth milk-bottle skin salted caramel sauce eyes butterscotch snaps me to attention sweet candy heart in my throat Sucked on teeth skin oh, I shouldn't s t u c k to the roof of my mouth soft black curls like liquorice ribbons threaded through my fingers your lips sticky jubes raspberry tongue peach just one … Continue reading dessert
I want you to panic
‘When you’re asleep, you lose your sense of smell,’ the firefighter explained. ‘That’s why smoke alarms are important; without them, you won’t smell the smoke. If you don’t smell the smoke, you’ll feel the fire. Girls and boys, if that fire creeps up on you, you’ll be dead. Too late, game over. When you hear … Continue reading I want you to panic
