Forever Punk

Moments 08

I don’t like colouring inside the lines.
I don’t like forcing my voice into a tight number of syllables and verses
into enjambment and pentameter.
I rather write as it flows, the rhythm of life isn’t tidy either.

pencil sketch of a crow. Portrait style she cocks her head to look at you with one eye. I sketched this in 2023

“A blizzard descends upon a town”

This was our writing prompt from the first session with Cathy McSporran

He tumbles down the street, ice cold anger, burning hot rage; some of this becomes stuck in the small cobblestone alleys; where he rips off shop signs, and freezes window panes until they crack from the arctic chill. People tumble like leaves; hoods, and scarves held tightly with both hands, they fight against the rage, bend over–standing upright is impossible–yet they push forward. Shelter is so close. So close. A woman shouts above the howl; trying to tell her husband she found an open door. Yet all she sees are blurred shadows; snowflakes are slung at her face and eyes, so hard that the tears keep running. She cannot see her husband. He cannot hear her. With all her might she pulls the door open; it smashes close behind her. All of a sudden there is silence. And now her tears stream on their on volition.

Meanwhile, he keeps howling, raging, hauling microscopic ice shards at everything in his way. One goal. One goals only. That building up on the hill, the highest point, in this small town. Granit grey with coloured glass windows. He can see it; despite his rage blinding everyone who is caught up in the anger. There must be reckoning. He screams now as he heaves his full might at the building. They have angered the ancient ones.

Image of a snow covered mountain side I stood on the path while taking it so the path emerges from the foreground disappearing almost immediately behind a bend. The horizon is thick snowclouds but just above is a bit of blue sky and the winter sun has a huge halo around it. 

CC Nathalie Tasler

Dunnock

Moments 07

You flatter excitedly past my face.
And land on the fence watching me.

I lift the lid of the bird house feeder.
Showing you packs of seed and worm.

Just filling up.

I say.
You watch.

Suddenly you alight beside my feet.
Snatching dropped mealworms and seeds.

You are unbothered by the giant human.
We both work in acquiescence.

Taproot

or break generational trauma

Moments 06

Don’t sever your taproot.
Drive it deeper into the ground.
Move it past the rot.
Further into the shadows.
Deeper into time.
Along the double helix.
Let it find the light.

Sketchwords

Moments 6 
rough water colour sketch of a wren sitting on a branch a mistletoe with a red bow above and in the top left corner the sickled moon

The moon
The wren
The mistletoe

Pray
Protect
Defeat a foe

Aunty got it wrong

Moments 05

Advisory:
I don’t want a blankie.”
She pushes it off forcefully.
Blankies are for when you are sick.
I am not sick.

An hour later:
Why are you not sleeping, child?

Reproach:
Well, you never tugged me in with a blanket.
I cannot sleep without a blanket.”

So, blanket it is, for the four year old despot.

Learning Scottish

or A wee fanny

Moments 04

She is such a wee fanny!”

Ach that is uncanny!
Naw, not the swearing mate.
Sitting in a glass house; not taking the bait.

It’s just that these verbose verges,
Normally suppress the more violent urges.

She is proper scunnered!

31st of December

Moments 03

Parapabambam
I‘m beating my drum
January may come

A Bullfinch Tongue Breaker

Moments 02

A red rump blurred
Is cutting it tight.
My E-bike is fast.
The Bulfinch is faster.

Glorious landing
In bald branches.
Accusatory glances
Throwing shade.

My bike and I
Are steering clear.
His piping call
Brings up the rear.

Maple Dryads

Starting a new series called: Moments

Touch wood, knock wood.
Ask for permission.
Respect the guardians.

Old maple, new friend,
He doesn’t warn
Of my presence.
So I sit on exposed roots
When the squirrels show.

Red, and black,
And blended kittens.
Free-soloing lesson.
The smallest kit flounders,
Frozen to the trunk.

Dad to the rescue.
One leg is pushed,
Then a paw.
And slowly the youngest,
Conquers her stasis.

Maple radiates love.
He housed them,
In his heart—Save, warm, snug.