Encounter
She met a cobra praying carefully. She met a cobra wearing black.
English Resources
Requiem
Under his foot crouched uncle’s finger. Under his foot hid Jane’s promise.
gap year
Paddington Bear thought the Incas too parochial.
John Keats's Last Letter: For Cath!
Rome. 30 November 1820. My dear Brown, ‘Tis the most difficult thing in the world to me to write a letter. My stomach continues so bad, that I feel it… Read More »John Keats's Last Letter: For Cath!
Large print
Mrs Taylor found herself in the village library four weeks and two days after her husband dropped dead sitting on a beach with a woman who was not his wife.… Read More »Large print
Pecten
Demeter liked his new smile. Cinnamon for reconciliation perhaps. She touched the amber ring around her throat and it felt soft. Honeyed pulp a voice told her. Dark orange fingers of… Read More »Pecten
Minny Temple and Henry James: 'You must tell me something that you are sure is true.'
A few summer’s ago I was visting my brother in the States and was the only member of the family still sat out in the blistering heat of North Carolina.… Read More »Minny Temple and Henry James: 'You must tell me something that you are sure is true.'
Tina Turner: River Deep Mountain High!
When I was a little girlI had a rag dollOnly doll I’ve ever ownedNow I love you just the way I loved that rag dollBut only now my love has… Read More »Tina Turner: River Deep Mountain High!
A Woman of no Importance: Wilde
‘All thought is immoral. Its very essence is destruction. If you think of anything, you kill it. Nothing survives being thought of.’ ( Lord Illingworth) ‘My dear young lady, there… Read More »A Woman of no Importance: Wilde
Wurstigkeit: Helen Simpson at her most Wicked!
Imagine a shop exclusive enough to have a secret password…a shop daring enough to deny Madonna access..This story explores the nearly orgasmic pleasure of dressing up …and down … ‘Try… Read More »Wurstigkeit: Helen Simpson at her most Wicked!
Helen Simpson: The Door ( Constitutional)
The door was glossy with its second white coat, immaculate. It had two silver bolts, which he demonstrated would slide easily and slickly into the plates he’d fitted in the… Read More »Helen Simpson: The Door ( Constitutional)
A Beginning
‘Where I lived – winter and hard earth.’ Demeter was considering the past tense. She had been sat reading her friend’s hand for at least an hour in the small… Read More »A Beginning
Queen : I want to break free
(I want to break free) (I want to break free) I want to break free from your lies You’re so self satisfied I don’t need you I’ve want to break… Read More »Queen : I want to break free
Ted Hughes: Full Moon and Little Frieda
Full Moon and Little Frieda A cool small evening shrunk to a dog bark and the clank of a bucket – And you listening. A spider’s web, tense for the… Read More »Ted Hughes: Full Moon and Little Frieda
Blondie: Heart of Glass
“Heart Of Glass” Once I had a love and it was a gasSoon turned out had a heart of glassSeemed like the real thing, only to findMucho mistrust, love’s gone… Read More »Blondie: Heart of Glass
Doorway
‘Tell me something I don’t know’ she said. So I did.
Carol Ann Duffy: The Light Gatherer
When you were small, your cupped palms each held a candleworth under the skin, enough light to begin, and as you grew, light gathered in you, two clear raindrops… Read More »Carol Ann Duffy: The Light Gatherer
Pablo Neruda: I do not love you
I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,in… Read More »Pablo Neruda: I do not love you
Brief Encounter by jack
“I like a good custard” he said. “And so do I!” she said. Their hands touched, across the table, over the custard. “Shall we eat it, or throw it?” he… Read More »Brief Encounter by jack
Body Art
I think you’ve left your finger prints where they can’t be seen.
Lydia Davis
AWAY FROM HOME It has been so long since she last used a metaphor! This has become a homage to Lydia Davis day! And why not – she has a… Read More »Lydia Davis
Lydia Davis: Samuel Johnson is Indignant
SAMUEL JOHNSON IS INDIGNANT: that Scotland has so few trees. How perfectly delivered is this? Each time I read it it makes me laugh out loud! How audaciously brief! We… Read More »Lydia Davis: Samuel Johnson is Indignant
Crusade
– Imagine you are coated with silver paint the wise woman said. And fold your arms. So I folded my arms and now an armoured knight , took a tape-measure to his lies… Read More »Crusade
Lydia Davis: Love
‘A woman fell in love with a man who had been dead a number of years. it was not enough for her to brush his coats, wipe his inkwell, finger… Read More »Lydia Davis: Love
My favourite Elton John
I’m Still StandingElton JohnYou could never know what it’s likeYour blood like winter freezes just like iceAnd there’s a cold lonely light that shines from youYou’ll wind up like the… Read More »My favourite Elton John
Sacrifice: Elton's Greatest Song?
It’s a human sign When things go wrong When the scent of her lingers And temptation’s strong Into the boundary Of each married man Sweet deceit comes calling And negativity… Read More »Sacrifice: Elton's Greatest Song?
Reflection by Iruka
Lying among the ashes from the explosion I considered life; it didn’t flash before me just rolled. Ensnared among simmering bits of wood entangled with barbwire and flesh, smoke corroded… Read More »Reflection by Iruka
Robert Frost
The Road Not Taken TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one… Read More »Robert Frost
Waking
Last night I dreamed of the gazelle – Wet Night tarmac with the world smudged at its edges. She even inclined her head towards me for a moment. Strange. She’s still here this… Read More »Waking
Flowers by Sophie
Over there was her favourite place. She lived, breathed and worked in that same place every day. Nothing had filled her heart with more joy than the thought of an… Read More »Flowers by Sophie