I had spent the morning making scent in jam jars with Lynn Butroid/Stephanie Stamp who had three rose bushes in her backyard. We had been disappointed that no matter what colour the roses were, the water turned brown. Then we had quarrelled because the perfume had no smell and no-one would buy it, except John …
Growing Up in Colour We argued was grey really light black or dark white? It didn’t matter, either way you wanted red, the colour of a dress you had seen on the back of The Bunty when you were ten, cut out with precision and a blunt scissors. The uniform chaos of your …
I am the man who hides behind a cloak of well-chosen words, chattering nonsense to himself to avoid the silence being broken outside in the streets. Where death wears a welcoming romantic smile and the stink of musket smoke chokes, unites, divides, the brave patriot from the coward who hides in the safety of the …
Gabriel rapped on the door of 15 Usher’s Island for some time before he heard the sound of footsteps on the staircase. He half expected Lily to fling open the door and greet him with “Good morning, Mr. Conroy,” but she had run off some years before with her “fella,” a young man who worked …
Too long a sacrifice makes a stone of the heart. Yes, and too straight a road tricks the mind To cripple the body. Too old a house bleeds the pocket and the heart; And obligation, duty, family ties bind us In knots of our own tying; Loose as air, they sink us sure as lead. …
Where l live in the city, is manicured. We cross our T’s and dot our I’s. Grimy apartments, poorly pruned shrubs, weedy flower beds seen beyond our borders, are not allowed creep into the picture. We have conservatories in our homes, to allow the outside beauty in. I have an easel in mine, and …
And what of those that fell for ideals resting now in freedom’s ground, dead citizenry of Republic that purchased this sovereignty, do their bones toss and turn – restless like those who walk to vibrations of patronaged bells, where once their flesh sang and their blood transformed ascending – to symbolic notes of the psaltery. …
A Terrible Beauty’s Birth Walking up and down the cobblestone way with no sign of change in their expression I know now, what their lives are worth with death has come a terrible beauty’s birth. I just couldn’t see what the others held dear the teacher and his friends knew their destiny though I share …