hair clips hair brushes toothbrushes toothpicks lipstick bleach a tray of bottles of nail polish bottles of correction fluid plastic … Continue reading Behind the counter

the absence of time the absence of self the absence of feeling I know what to say I know how … Continue reading flat

One of the depressingly large number of items on my book management ‘to do’ list is to create a new … Continue reading Old friend, reformatted

Born-again bachelor, quite the surprise; his new boots and waistcoat a labelled disguise. He gives his account of a decade … Continue reading Born-again bachelor

The door bursts open and a new guy appears, ushers me into the workshop and hands me a sweat-coated phone, … Continue reading Eggshell

I saw a girl get shot. I knew her for maybe six, seven years. She was in my class in … Continue reading I saw a girl get shot

I’m ok with people laughing at my fondness for straight lines and right-angled corners set in concrete designs. I acknowledge … Continue reading concrete

it will make not a bit of difference but one day you too will see this the boy staring at … Continue reading chasm

Continuing my look back over ten years of blogging (and on a day when snow is falling over large parts … Continue reading Snow Day

Another poem from my 2011 poetry collection, “Old friend, learn to look behind you in the coffee queue.” Thanks to … Continue reading Why I should always sleep on stuff

In my look back over ten years of blogging, I thought I’d publish a few of my favourites from the … Continue reading Old friend, learn to look behind you in the coffee queue

A trudge across the dirt yard in the lit night, our warm breath billowing like wood smoke. I know there … Continue reading the exchange

Here, in the vacuum she smiles brightly, she attends to his needs, she busies herself with his wellbeing: odd jobs … Continue reading squat

I’ve had a number of poems accepted by SL publications over the last few months, with ‘City Boy‘ the latest … Continue reading Poetry issues

bring back the seventies bring back smoke filled pubs and non-PC levities bring back sixty watt light bulbs and zinc … Continue reading bring back the seventies

We drove to the used car dealer, parked up just outside of a thirty second radius in the shared forecourt … Continue reading Extra time

The things that make you cry don’t make me cry. The things that make you cry don’t make me cry. … Continue reading The things that make you cry don’t make me cry

The most profound revelation is something you feared all along: that any promise of connection is at best only temporarily … Continue reading So turn towards the sun

she crouches he barks she sprints he chases she leaps he skids she hides he follows her scent she tears … Continue reading cat and dog

she wobbles at the edge of the drop crouched, reaching she takes a fistful of dirt from the box kisses … Continue reading lily

Didn’t you die yet? Didn’t you die yet? You said your goodbyes, we had tears in our eyes; everyone’s moved … Continue reading Didn’t you die yet?

You have hours left to live. You will never go home. Your intestine is ruptured. Say your goodbyes. Say your … Continue reading Slow subtraction

Happy 16th birthday, son. I’m sorry I can’t be there. This card is just to let you know I will … Continue reading Birthday preparations

Farewell, my beautiful Sounds of Poems co-host. Big event. Lots of other poets. This poet enters. This poet chuckles. Other … Continue reading Stosh

A fine, sunny day. The leaves look good on the trees. I’ve waited through the winter to see just that. … Continue reading Liquidator

Hope is a four letter word that we learned as children meant our dreams could be heard. That the world … Continue reading Hope is a four letter word

1. Make some people redundant. Because you still have to meet your statutory responsibilities and now have less people to … Continue reading Why cutting costs costs

When you can’t cry, squeeze your eyes tight and cover them; wail; beat the table blindly. If it helps, think … Continue reading Forced tears

Water falls. Trees grow. The day is full of names. Cut.  Illuminated.  Read aloud. And touched with fingers and foreheads. … Continue reading 9/11/11

Billy sits on the floor to my right whilst I eat, looking up at me, longingly, putting his chin on … Continue reading Billy

City boy with his hardworking wife with his hands in his pockets never worked in his life watching others toil … Continue reading City Boy

“I loved our relationship,” she says, like it was a neat little package; a book with a title and a … Continue reading Ex