Long Starchy Poems

guileless in my green days i climbed to the tip of my toes
to hear a tree and the wind
clap a rat-a-tat code outside my casement window

i was a follower then of minuscule choirs
small voices not...

Read More

Henrietta Tweedy

1886 – 1907

I was always taught that good news puts fat on the bones.
And I was taught by my strict Christian father
That before honor comes true humility.
I remember picking the Valencia’s one summer afternoon
And...

Read More

Tips slide on smeared plastic
A decision is mulled 
With a mantra of “Ah”
A muscle curls on lips

A ritual is completed
A summoning has been made
A Wizard scribes a spell
And stabs a wand into parchment

An alchemist perspires...

Read More

Everything Must be Filled
                               ...

Read More

Torrid sunshine blisters reign on pavement,
that colour coded coffee stain slipway,
bearer of insole-laden footwear,
open source channel for glib hot air calculus  from starchy social climber, stock market drivel flies off tongue,
strolling human morph blasé...

Read More

She whispered in my ear of neon lights, 
my mother,celebrated actress,
waning star in sick bay,
zany bird nest hairstyle on display,
lock and tress erect,
skin-fold ripple eggshell pallor,
mothball end play flutter from the wings.
I, devoted sibling, reluctant...

Read More

The mill house filled with oats, kept the mice in feeding heaven,
the cat was gaining weight, his daily mouse intake was seven,

the farmer’s daughter fed the horses oats and fresh picked barley,
while the son was...

Read More

The record plays -
            sounds of love; words that touch the heart.
I reach for you with all my being 
and, finding I still cannot...

Read More

Scraped, friendly freckled face falls to benchtop
Starchy spud plays poker, blank slate envelope 
Lost costume spotted cape, super elixir escapade
Layers on shiny raised scars, recovery escalates 


Sticking plaster, milky soak soothes, heat tempered
Compost bound bandaid...

Read More

You tell me all the time
That you are fat and ugly. 
That you aren't good at anything. 
That you are the biggest jerk. 

You tell me that your hair looks bad,
That your jackets is too...

Read More

Sunday was patent leather shoes, white anklets with lace
Starchy petticoats, flouncy lavender dresses with huge bows in the back.
Sunday was Sunday School, where everyone in the church knew us.
Singing so loudly in the pew during...

Read More

The couch
I lay here on the couch
Springs pierce my spine
My neck bent
An unnatural angle

My cold feet try to find warmth
In the crevices 
There are only crumbs and coins
Coins and crumbs
Starchy fabric rubs the skin
It creaks...

Read More

I see it in cubes cast
And chiefly featuring in breakfast;
In Bread and cake harboured
And in plantains and cereals honoured…

Also in my tea that would gullets pass through,
Its presence in oats holding true.

I see it in...

Read More

Smooth,
yet flawed.
Tiny tears upon a mesmerizing palette;
like miniature beads
sewn together by an experienced hand
caressing its surface
the perfection unreal.

Yet time goes on
aging perfection.
Pushing the breaking point
guiding the cracks 
between inseparable friends.
Heeding.
Until

only disaster awaits.
Colours fade from green...

Read More

I  REMEMBER  GRANDMA



I was sent to grandma’s place for a week
And she greeted me and kissed my cheek
I helped her to cook   and the mess was no problem to her.
Grey wisps...

Read More