Any Spare Change?

Hello! I just wanted to take a moment to remind anyone interested that I have two collections of short stories and one poetry collection available for purchase as ebooks.

A very reasonably priced purchase should you be tempted (and thank you to those who have already dug deep into their pockets!)

I have attached links for each title below. Thank you!

THE BEAUTIFUL SILENCE (SHORT STORIES)

Lulu

Kindle

THE CANDLE GAME (SHORT STORIES)

The Candle Game

FALLING SLEET (POETRY)

Falling Sleet

Stacked

Tags

art, Cards, creative, Gambling, Judgement, Money, poems, poetry, politics, Power, Privilege, Stacked, verse, writing

The dice were loaded from the start

Lauding profit over art,

And power came to those whose names

Resonated with the vain.

The cards were dealt but some kept back

For those perceived above the pack,

And we all watched their chips stack high

Left to sit and ponder why.

The judgement that was promised us

Despite the silence and the fuss,

Faded out like winter days

Left us shrouded in the haze.

And those who sought a better home

Crushed in corners all alone,

Seeing now the game was framed

By faces that belied no shame.

Hide and Seek

Tags

Communication, creative, Fear, Hjdecand Seek, loss, Love, Mask, poems, poetry, Self-preservation, verse, writing

Waiting for the day

Waiting for you

To reach out and touch me

And never to let go,

Waiting for the moment

The veil will fall

I’ll tear the curtain down

And show it all to you, 

Horizons fade away

The dying light

And cloaks drawn tight once more

To hide myself from you.

The Scars We Don’t See

I have just finished reading this quite remarkable book by the very talented Cassa Bassa and wanted to share my thoughts by way of a brief review.

I hope that you will indulge me and maybe even invest in a copy. You won’t be disappointed.

The Scars We Don’t See is a quite remarkable collection of short stories which will enthuse, inspire and fascinate any reader who enjoys quick, stimulating reads.

The writing is clear and concise with beautiful description which paints vivid scenes without ever being overly florid. Some of the stories are vignettes with characters who are sketched with precise detail but leave plenty of room for the reader to employ their own imagination. Many of the pieces are more observational in tone, yet are very relatable, and Cassa’s style of writing allows the reader to  immerse themselves fully in the situations that she creates.

Some of the stories are based on personal experiences and memories, and are, as such, quite introspective and personal, yet each one resonates effectively with the reader. The reality of Cassa’s work is both inspirational and thought-provoking, and her skillful and poetic use of language is a pleasure to read.

Personally I really like the way she employs language as a tool to stimulate the reader’s own imagination, knowing exactly what to include and precisely where to leave spaces.

The Scars We Don’t See is a collection that I will return to again and again. 

Highly recommended. 

Nosegay

Tags

Change, creative, Domination, Entitlement, poems, poetry, Power, verse, Wealth, writing

So here we are

And after all these years

What we have learned

Lies decaying like the leaves

We trod beneath our feet

On Autumn’s final days

And all the rise

And all the fall

Belied the change that never came

And nosegay scents still rise above.

Fire for You

Tags

music

‘Fire for You’ is a song by The Eden House which is currently stuck in my head.

The Eden House is a collaborative musical project, initiated by Stephen Carey and Tony Pettitt. This track is taken from their debut album Smoke & Mirrors. Vocals were provided by Monica Richards, Evi Vine, Amandine Ferrari and Julianne Regan.

The video has nothing to do with me, but it was the best that I could find!

Hope you enjoy it!

Absurd

Tags

Absurd, creative, poems, poetry, verse, writing

Absurd the way we shuffle

The cards that play our lives,

And draw a meaning in the clouds

Then slice it with our knives.

Careless how we let them slip

These things we prize the least,

Believing of the lies that fit

We give reins to the beast.

Absurd the race we covet

Steadfast we know no bend,

Absurd the hollow trophy yet

Relentless to the end.

Shifting Sands

You drowned when

The tide turned

Left me stranded

Floating

Silent

Wish I could have

Seen that way

Stranded

Silent

Isolation

Hoping for a foothold

Conversation

Drowning in

Stale air

Reals and Ghosts

Tags

Change, creative, Depression, Ghosts, hope, lyrics, poems, poetry, verse, writing

All the reals and all the ghosts

The loudest singing

Won the most,

Pictures hanging in the air

Still cover up each

Jagged tear.

You scream and cry

And watch it die,

And feel the sand

Drain through your hands,

And pray that there

Is one more day,

Just one more chance

To turn your dance,

You ask me why

The crows still fly,

As if their black

Was some way back,

To everything

We used to sing,

With eyes of hope

Before the joke,

All the reals and all the ghosts

The loudest singing

Won the most,

Pictures hanging in the air

Still cover up each

Jagged tear.

Footsteps

Tags

Communication, Control, creative, Fear, Footsteps, poems, poetry, verse, writing

My footsteps rang against the stone

As I walked past disdainful stare,

Your eyes upon me from your door

Mocking lips and murderous glare.

The sound that echoed down the halls

Served only as a footnote cold,

An image which you thought you saw

Words that once you had been told.

A fairy tale in all its pain

A warning for you not to stray,

But stay behind the safety rail

And keep the pleasure wolves at bay.

The distance that will keep you safe

Imagine treasures mine to lose,

As jealously you criticise

Still dream your feet within my shoes.