I am tired My eyelids heavy My lips are raw My fingers crack. I have gills Not lungs inside me Breath far stretched Held for sea salt. I feel my bones Under this cotton Layers weighted In baby pink. I had tall wings Now cut and taped down Itch paper skin Feathers... Continue Reading →
Exploring Highgate Cemetery
Highgate East cemetery is one of the biggest and oldest graveyards in London. It's split into two sides, East and West. Both sides are open to visit for a fee - but the West requires a tour, whilst the East lets you wander at will. The cemetery was one of a number built and run... Continue Reading →
A Visit to The Charles Dickens Museum, London
The Charles Dickens Museum in London is based in number 48 Doughty Street, where Dickens' lived from 1837 to 1839. It's where he wrote some of his most famous works including Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. It opened as a museum in 1925. The home is furnished with a lot of authentic pieces, many purchased from... Continue Reading →
Poetry – The Gate
There was a gate, that stood without walls, alone and patient, in the middle of the forest. It was not beautiful, with twisting filigree, and tingling gold, and cold, stone heads. It had been green, but now it's skin peeled, and rust in bloody patches, patterned each line and rod. If people ventured into the waving... Continue Reading →
Poetry – The Torch is not the Only Guide
If the darkness has found you, fear not. If it caresses your ears with cold, velvet words, you may listen without tremor. If it clasps and twists your body, you can move with it unbound. If it blackens your vision, close your eyes and make it blacker still. The darkness knows one path, so pull... Continue Reading →
An Open Fan Letter to Sir Terry Pratchett
I recently started reading Terry Pratchett's latest book 'Raising Steam', with a slightly heavy heart. Not because I didn't think I'd enjoy it, I knew I would, but because each new book brings us a bit closer to the time where there will be no more new books. He has a very rare form of... Continue Reading →
Poetry – Still
If I breathe everything will break. I capture the moment through half closed lashes. The grass, neat as plastic, trimmed by endless sheep. The azure ozone dusted with clouds topped by a golden globe. A flotilla of geese wafts across the sunglass tinted water. Green spires stretch higher and higher till my eyes go numb.... Continue Reading →
Books That Get Under Our Skin – Literary Tattoos
The classic horror aficionados amongst you will recognise the quote above from Bram Stoker's "Dracula". The tattoo and the arm it sits on belong to my friend Kasi. This is her favourite line from her favourite book, and it's now permanently embossed on her skin. Literary tattoos are hugely popular. There are plenty of websites... Continue Reading →
Prose – Mistress of the Sea – part 2
He stepped back. Niamh was left with her boat in the middle of a ring of ghostly faces. ‘Finally you are here.’ The voice was cold and bottomless, hissing and crashing from everywhere at once. 'Who are you?’ said Niamh. ‘I have too many names to count but I am the greatest of all forces... Continue Reading →
Prose – Mistress of the Sea – part 1
The last thing Niamh remembered was drowning, so it came as a surprise when she woke up. At first she thought she was dreaming. The air had that strange grey sense of a dream. Or being underwater. She held up her hand in front of her and moved it from side to side. Her skin... Continue Reading →
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