Punctuation is the breath of writing,I used to tell them.It signals the pause and inhale between your words,The lilt of the silent voice that will ring with your stories through their heads.Again and again I would try to explainThis here, not there -Without that, when would you come up for air?You’ll lose all meaningIt won’t [...]
I tried to write a poemAbout my unmakingBut I do not have wordsFor the pain of finally seeing myself - so much less than I thoughtOr the hope of realising what I could be - so much more than I am.May I never forgetOr shy away from this labour ofLove.Unravelling. Undoing. Unlearning. Unbecoming.
One day, we'll tell stories of this time. These days when the roads are empty and the skies quiet, except for the gentle trill of birdsong. We'll talk of the unexpected freedom that came from having so many obligations taken from our hands. The grief of our losses will sit heavy on our hearts but [...]
Suppose There’s a way To find meaning Even as the world ends Suppose We let the sun warm Our tired faces Even as our carefully constructed world Falls apart around us Look up The sky is clear No longer scarred by our comings and goings Suppose We can find a new way of living Despite [...]
There is a curse. The say: "May you live in interesting times."Interesting Times, Terry Pratchett The title may be a bit melodramatic but, lately, it really has felt like it might be true. It's not, of course. This is not the end of the world. A more accurate title may be 'Thoughts on the end [...]
What is this illusion of perfect beautyThat we cling to with such desperation?Why is it that what we areIs deemed less than the imaginings of what we'Should' be?The joy in my smile is not diminishedBy teeth which don't lie straight.Nor do the blemishes that scatter my skinLike fallen constellationsLessen the softness of its touch,Or its [...]
It's been quite a year. In fact, it's been quite a decade. I don't even really know where to start. 2019 has passed in a blur of ups and downs and life changing moments. And how do you begin putting all that into words? I could just...not, I suppose. I could just let the end [...]
SometimesThe world seems to spin off its axisCrazy, out of controlAnd I can't get a handle on it,I don't know how to dealWith the resulting riptideOr the rising tsunamiWhich threatens to overwhelmEverything. I feel so small. And I call out,I reach and cry for youPull you close like a shieldTight like a blanketAnd trustThat - [...]
I love this time of year. The end of summer as it trails into autumn. September has always felt like my New Year. A time for new beginnings. This year, my September looks completely different. I've become used to the bustle of a new academic year but now my time is not dictated by terms [...]
It’s time for my (slightly delayed) week 3 round up of the #writeupjuly challenge I’m taking part in a over on Instagram, hosted by the lovely Emily Morgan of Write Up. The challenge – #writeupjuly – gives writers the chance to introduce themselves and their current works in progress to the Instagram writing community (which, by the way, is just [...]
