an eight okra sky
through the skeletal birch
sparrows feed
© Rachel Green 2018
I will confess
after all these years
I stopped loving you
a year after our wedding
when you closed down my art
for the sake of a living wage
while I supported your painting
and your artist in residency
and your philandering
when all i wanted
was a peaceful life
© Rachel Green 2018
Monday 31 December 2018
Sunday 30 December 2018
30th December 2018
Friday 28 December 2018
28th December 2018
late morning
the terror of the night before
fades into grey
© Rachel Green 2018
ramping up the novel
Chloe faces more trauma
as a young boy in school
who doesn't fit in
picked on and victimised
becomes an outcast
with a fascination for drag queens
and period dress.
Names from my past haunt me
Empson, Davies, Dashey...
All my old bullies
return to taunt my memory
© Rachel Green 2018
the terror of the night before
fades into grey
© Rachel Green 2018
ramping up the novel
Chloe faces more trauma
as a young boy in school
who doesn't fit in
picked on and victimised
becomes an outcast
with a fascination for drag queens
and period dress.
Names from my past haunt me
Empson, Davies, Dashey...
All my old bullies
return to taunt my memory
© Rachel Green 2018
Thursday 27 December 2018
27th December 2018
Wednesday 26 December 2018
26th December 2018
Tuesday 25 December 2018
25th December 2018
overnight frost
segues into morning rain
silent sparrows
© Rachel Green 2018
Does anyone read these?
Happy Holidays, if so
I write for an audience
albeit a small one.
My final novel still on the planning board
despite my continued attempts to write it.
Maybe I'll write a thousand shorts
and collate them all.
I did that with Harold
to some acclaim at the time.
© Rachel Green 2018
segues into morning rain
silent sparrows
© Rachel Green 2018
Does anyone read these?
Happy Holidays, if so
I write for an audience
albeit a small one.
My final novel still on the planning board
despite my continued attempts to write it.
Maybe I'll write a thousand shorts
and collate them all.
I did that with Harold
to some acclaim at the time.
© Rachel Green 2018
Monday 24 December 2018
24th December 2018
light frost
bringing an end to Christmas tears
clear sky
© Rachel Green 2018
crackling wood
sets the spirits soaring
a Yule fire
and a gathering of friends
in the early dark
© Rachel Green 2018
bringing an end to Christmas tears
clear sky
© Rachel Green 2018
crackling wood
sets the spirits soaring
a Yule fire
and a gathering of friends
in the early dark
© Rachel Green 2018
Sunday 23 December 2018
23rd December 2018
dreary showers
against an off-white fence
winter jasmine
© Rachel Green 2018
four dogs
two of them long dead
happy dreams
© Rachel Green 2018
against an off-white fence
winter jasmine
© Rachel Green 2018
four dogs
two of them long dead
happy dreams
© Rachel Green 2018
Saturday 22 December 2018
22nd December 2018
*not my creation* |
reflected from low clouds
Christmas lights
© Rachel Green 2018
sometimes
there's nothing in my head
worth writing down
at least I slept well
not woken by my own coughing
despite the dream
of doing laundry all night
at my father's house
with DK peeved it was all creased.
Waking refreshed
but a coughing fit in the bathroom
leaves me with a headache
and a desire to finish my greatest novel
before I die
© Rachel Green 2018
Friday 21 December 2018
21st December 2018
Winter equinox
sheltering from rain
a solitary crow
© Rachel Green 2018
the last request
of an elderly relative
was a wooden grave marker.
I watched it decay
over the course of a decade;
home to woodlice and millipeded,
spiders and slugs.
Summer wasps scraping it for pulp
moss and lichen take hold
until at last it had gone
and all that was left of my aunt
was a fond memory
© Rachel Green 2018
sheltering from rain
a solitary crow
© Rachel Green 2018
the last request
of an elderly relative
was a wooden grave marker.
I watched it decay
over the course of a decade;
home to woodlice and millipeded,
spiders and slugs.
Summer wasps scraping it for pulp
moss and lichen take hold
until at last it had gone
and all that was left of my aunt
was a fond memory
© Rachel Green 2018
Thursday 20 December 2018
20th December 2018
crow's wings
glinting in the winter sun
a thousand colours
© Rachel Green 2018
day trip
to the Harry Potter studio
fascinating behind-the-scenes
original props, costumes, sets
so many actual props
and camera trickery
to delight and clarify
makes me want to watch the films again
or at least the later three.
© Rachel Green 2018
glinting in the winter sun
a thousand colours
© Rachel Green 2018
day trip
to the Harry Potter studio
fascinating behind-the-scenes
original props, costumes, sets
so many actual props
and camera trickery
to delight and clarify
makes me want to watch the films again
or at least the later three.
© Rachel Green 2018
Wednesday 19 December 2018
19th December 2018
Tuesday 18 December 2018
18th December 2018
cold children
clattering down a wind-swept street
empty Amazon boxes
© Rachel Green 2018
sulking
her default emotion
when she can't do what she wants.
She *needs* the television
so she can livestream Youtube
while playing a Sims on her laptop
Pokemon on the switch
and skyping her friend on her iphone
Woe betide anyone who wants to watch TV
or complains about the take-out boxes
or the unwashed plates
She'll go into a full rage
because nobody understands her
and now she needs ice-cream and alcohol
or there'll be trouble
© Rachel Green 2018
clattering down a wind-swept street
empty Amazon boxes
© Rachel Green 2018
sulking
her default emotion
when she can't do what she wants.
She *needs* the television
so she can livestream Youtube
while playing a Sims on her laptop
Pokemon on the switch
and skyping her friend on her iphone
Woe betide anyone who wants to watch TV
or complains about the take-out boxes
or the unwashed plates
She'll go into a full rage
because nobody understands her
and now she needs ice-cream and alcohol
or there'll be trouble
© Rachel Green 2018
Monday 17 December 2018
17th December 2017
clear sky
but too wet to prune the willow
Christmas parcels
© Rachel Green 2018
trying hard
to paint to commission
Two decorated glass demijohns
that I don't know will be enjoyed.
"Just do them in your style" he said
but dude, my style is dark and demonic
and you want these
for your baby.
© Rachel Green 2018
but too wet to prune the willow
Christmas parcels
© Rachel Green 2018
trying hard
to paint to commission
Two decorated glass demijohns
that I don't know will be enjoyed.
"Just do them in your style" he said
but dude, my style is dark and demonic
and you want these
for your baby.
© Rachel Green 2018
Sunday 16 December 2018
16th December 2018
Friday 14 December 2018
14th December 2018
heavy frost
silencing the bird song
the neighbour's cat
© Rachel Green 2018
aching legs
maybe I'll skip gym today
no classes scheduled
A long dog walk in the frosty fields
might be the next best thing.
Toast.
© Rachel Green 2018
silencing the bird song
the neighbour's cat
© Rachel Green 2018
aching legs
maybe I'll skip gym today
no classes scheduled
A long dog walk in the frosty fields
might be the next best thing.
Toast.
© Rachel Green 2018
Thursday 13 December 2018
13th December 2018
sunlight
breaking through the clouds
crow calls
© Rachel Green 2018
anxiety
in the form of lateness.
Crossing London
in time to catch an art show
where the Underground is packed
and the buses are in gridlock.
We'll never make it in time
thirty quid tickets
to see Modigliani's masterpieces
flushed in corporate drains
© Rachel Green 2018
breaking through the clouds
crow calls
© Rachel Green 2018
anxiety
in the form of lateness.
Crossing London
in time to catch an art show
where the Underground is packed
and the buses are in gridlock.
We'll never make it in time
thirty quid tickets
to see Modigliani's masterpieces
flushed in corporate drains
© Rachel Green 2018
Wednesday 12 December 2018
12th December 2018
brief periods
lighter cloud in the east
freezing rain
© Rachel Green 2018
Queer community
bands together
looking for a safe haven
The footprints of thousands
disappear without trace
© Rachel Green 2018
lighter cloud in the east
freezing rain
© Rachel Green 2018
Queer community
bands together
looking for a safe haven
The footprints of thousands
disappear without trace
© Rachel Green 2018
Tuesday 11 December 2018
11th December 2018
cirr
ocumulus
knitting together
farewell, sun
© Rachel Green 2018
my old house
left empty for a while
the neighbours encroach on the garden
taking advantage of my absence
to remove fences,
extend their boundaries
while my father's orchard dies
and I build pyres of fallen branches
© Rachel Green 2018
ocumulus
knitting together
farewell, sun
© Rachel Green 2018
my old house
left empty for a while
the neighbours encroach on the garden
taking advantage of my absence
to remove fences,
extend their boundaries
while my father's orchard dies
and I build pyres of fallen branches
© Rachel Green 2018
Monday 10 December 2018
10th December 2018
grey shades
edged out by hues of blue
frost-shattered peony
© Rachel Green 2018
remember livejournal?
so many writer friends
virtually gathered
how many are even left?
Am I still a writer?
Nothing published in years
though still selling in drips.
Best writing buddy
no longer replies to me
trans shunned?
In the scheme of things
it's just small talk.
© Rachel Green 2018
edged out by hues of blue
frost-shattered peony
© Rachel Green 2018
remember livejournal?
so many writer friends
virtually gathered
how many are even left?
Am I still a writer?
Nothing published in years
though still selling in drips.
Best writing buddy
no longer replies to me
trans shunned?
In the scheme of things
it's just small talk.
© Rachel Green 2018
Sunday 9 December 2018
9th December 2018
pink-edged clouds
over the garden
frost-edged leaves
© Rachel Green 2018
the cat looks old now
cries incessantly
unless she's asleep
stares at empty space,
can't hear me calling her
desperate to eat
but doesn't want food
and now she can't jump.
End of an era?
We've had her since we met
(almost)
© Rachel Green 2018
over the garden
frost-edged leaves
© Rachel Green 2018
the cat looks old now
cries incessantly
unless she's asleep
stares at empty space,
can't hear me calling her
desperate to eat
but doesn't want food
and now she can't jump.
End of an era?
We've had her since we met
(almost)
© Rachel Green 2018
Saturday 8 December 2018
8th December 2018
clouds stream past
limned by orange sunglow
leafless birch
© Rachel Green 2018
contact
from an old friend
trying to lose weight
I thought she was beautiful
just how she was
but her controlling boyfriend
disagrees.
I remember his negativity;
his passive-aggressive
"you're too gig for jiu-jitsu"
and feel glad I quit.
So much happier now,
though I miss the self defence
© Rachel Green 2018
limned by orange sunglow
leafless birch
© Rachel Green 2018
contact
from an old friend
trying to lose weight
I thought she was beautiful
just how she was
but her controlling boyfriend
disagrees.
I remember his negativity;
his passive-aggressive
"you're too gig for jiu-jitsu"
and feel glad I quit.
So much happier now,
though I miss the self defence
© Rachel Green 2018
Friday 7 December 2018
7th December 2018
Thursday 6 December 2018
6th December 2018
grey skies
but the rain has stopped
willow withies
© Rachel Green 2018
alarm fails again
time to find a new app
but I wake up singing.
Okay, it's 'Peanuts' by The Police
but it makes a change
from 'Hello, Goodbye' and 'Secret Life'
by Marc Almond and Soft Cell
Still thinking about Bear
and trying to find the 'last photo'
I saw on my screen yesterday
© Rachel Green 2018
but the rain has stopped
willow withies
© Rachel Green 2018
alarm fails again
time to find a new app
but I wake up singing.
Okay, it's 'Peanuts' by The Police
but it makes a change
from 'Hello, Goodbye' and 'Secret Life'
by Marc Almond and Soft Cell
Still thinking about Bear
and trying to find the 'last photo'
I saw on my screen yesterday
© Rachel Green 2018
Wednesday 5 December 2018
5th December 2018
grey and rainy
cycling to the gym
bundled up
© Rachel Green 2018
sudden tears
as an old image appears
in my screensaver
Mr. Bear's last day
when we had to take him to be euthenised
because of his pain
I miss that ball of fluff so much
it still hurts five years later
© Rachel Green 2018
cycling to the gym
bundled up
© Rachel Green 2018
sudden tears
as an old image appears
in my screensaver
Mr. Bear's last day
when we had to take him to be euthenised
because of his pain
I miss that ball of fluff so much
it still hurts five years later
© Rachel Green 2018
Tuesday 4 December 2018
4th December 2018
heavy frost
nasturtiums vanish overnight
patterned glass
© Rachel Green 2018
hate crime case closed
with the perpetrator denying all knowledge
of anything done wrong.
I suspect the police officer
was on his side
as he denied making the extortion claim
or harassment of me
© Rachel Green 2018
nasturtiums vanish overnight
patterned glass
© Rachel Green 2018
hate crime case closed
with the perpetrator denying all knowledge
of anything done wrong.
I suspect the police officer
was on his side
as he denied making the extortion claim
or harassment of me
© Rachel Green 2018
Monday 3 December 2018
3rd December 2018
morning rain
hanging from the Christmas lights
dripping water
© Rachel Green 2018
Seasonal cards
written out and enveloped
ready for posting
Fifty quid in postage
never mind the cost of making the cards
(and does my time count?)
Stands to reason I'm overdrawn
again
© Rachel Green 2018
hanging from the Christmas lights
dripping water
© Rachel Green 2018
Seasonal cards
written out and enveloped
ready for posting
Fifty quid in postage
never mind the cost of making the cards
(and does my time count?)
Stands to reason I'm overdrawn
again
© Rachel Green 2018
Sunday 2 December 2018
2nd December 2018
peony stems
withered and brown
old man, walking
© Rachel Green 2018
lazy morning
chatting in bed
after the postman woke us at seven
plans for the future
reminiscences from the past.
Outside the window
steam from next-door central heating
competes with the smoke of coal fires
some people won't change
so don't moan about my bonfire
nosy neighbour
© Rachel Green 2018
withered and brown
old man, walking
© Rachel Green 2018
lazy morning
chatting in bed
after the postman woke us at seven
plans for the future
reminiscences from the past.
Outside the window
steam from next-door central heating
competes with the smoke of coal fires
some people won't change
so don't moan about my bonfire
nosy neighbour
© Rachel Green 2018
Saturday 1 December 2018
1st December 2018
cold and damp
on the chinmeytops
pigeons snuggle
© Rachel Green 2018
Advent Calendar
full of Harry Potter Lego
collected over six months
maybe there's a full set,
maybe not
but it was sixty quid well spent
to make a geek happy
every day
© Rachel Green 2018
on the chinmeytops
pigeons snuggle
© Rachel Green 2018
Advent Calendar
full of Harry Potter Lego
collected over six months
maybe there's a full set,
maybe not
but it was sixty quid well spent
to make a geek happy
every day
© Rachel Green 2018
Friday 30 November 2018
30th November 2018
Thursday 29 November 2018
29th December 2018
blustery wind
with a level two gale warning
No deal Brexit?
© Rachel Green 2018
phone call from police
to pursue the minor hate crime
I received on Monday.
I thought I was okay
but a night of bad dreams
would suggest otherwise.
I need downtime
© Rachel Green 2018
with a level two gale warning
No deal Brexit?
© Rachel Green 2018
phone call from police
to pursue the minor hate crime
I received on Monday.
I thought I was okay
but a night of bad dreams
would suggest otherwise.
I need downtime
© Rachel Green 2018
Wednesday 28 November 2018
28th November 2018
Tuesday 27 November 2018
27th November 2018
Monday 26 November 2018
26th November 2018
low sun
brightening the day
birch-bark gutter boats
© Rachel Green 2018
minor chaos
the boxes of potential gifts
filling the study
The room is claustrophobic
I must be evolving
from my needy youth
just give me space
© Rachel Green 2018
brightening the day
birch-bark gutter boats
© Rachel Green 2018
minor chaos
the boxes of potential gifts
filling the study
The room is claustrophobic
I must be evolving
from my needy youth
just give me space
© Rachel Green 2018
Sunday 25 November 2018
25th November 2018
dreary day
even the trees weep
tears of yellow
© Rachel Green 2018
Wolverhampton dream
walking through the town
hearing banghra music
and flirting with WPCs
When I wake
I realise I miss the Indian community
since moving north.
Derbyshire is beautiful
but less than multicultural
© Rachel Green 2018
even the trees weep
tears of yellow
© Rachel Green 2018
Wolverhampton dream
walking through the town
hearing banghra music
and flirting with WPCs
When I wake
I realise I miss the Indian community
since moving north.
Derbyshire is beautiful
but less than multicultural
© Rachel Green 2018
Saturday 24 November 2018
24th November 2018
cemetery poplars
clothed only in sparrows
crow taking flight
© Rachel Green 2018
dreary day
even the BBC agrees
Brexit chaos
as Spain wants Gibraltar back
and Mrs May refuses to deal.
Even the pro-Brexit people
admitted they lied about the benefits of leaving
but "no second referendum" allowed.
Whatever happened
to the Trades Descriptions Acts?
© Rachel Green 2018
clothed only in sparrows
crow taking flight
© Rachel Green 2018
dreary day
even the BBC agrees
Brexit chaos
as Spain wants Gibraltar back
and Mrs May refuses to deal.
Even the pro-Brexit people
admitted they lied about the benefits of leaving
but "no second referendum" allowed.
Whatever happened
to the Trades Descriptions Acts?
© Rachel Green 2018
Friday 23 November 2018
23rd October 2018
yellowing birch
shedding its tiny hearts
lonely thrush
© Rachel Green 2018
dreary morning
another gym session missed.
Thanks, toothache
© Rachel Green 2018
shedding its tiny hearts
lonely thrush
© Rachel Green 2018
dreary morning
another gym session missed.
Thanks, toothache
© Rachel Green 2018
Thursday 22 November 2018
22nd November 2018
Wednesday 21 November 2018
21st November 2018
Tuesday 20 November 2018
20th November 2018
lashing rain
the green bin full of fallen leaves
late fireworks
© Rachel Green 2018
Too cold
My mouth still aches
infected gums
© Rachel Green 2018
the green bin full of fallen leaves
late fireworks
© Rachel Green 2018
Too cold
My mouth still aches
infected gums
© Rachel Green 2018
Monday 19 November 2018
19th November 2018
silver birch
a yellow lollipop
heart leaves
© Rachel Green 2018
the cat
ever hungry
declines to eat
© Rachel Green 2018
a yellow lollipop
heart leaves
© Rachel Green 2018
the cat
ever hungry
declines to eat
© Rachel Green 2018
Sunday 18 November 2018
18th November 2018
raking leaves
under an unshiny sky
rotting apples
© Rachel Green 2018
gaping hole
packed with cloves;
a natural antibiotic
theoretically it will ease the ache
of a 'dry socket'
just give me painkillers
and end my torment
© Rachel Green 2018
under an unshiny sky
rotting apples
© Rachel Green 2018
gaping hole
packed with cloves;
a natural antibiotic
theoretically it will ease the ache
of a 'dry socket'
just give me painkillers
and end my torment
© Rachel Green 2018
Saturday 17 November 2018
17th November 2018
morning damp
among the bare branches
magpies and crows argue
© Rachel Green 2018
dear dog
the toothache is excruciating.
Almost no sleep
then up at six
because doing shit takes my mind
off the pain for a while
Now I'm waiting
for 9AM
to phone the emergency dentist
and beg for some help
something is wrong, surely?
Even the cat is crying.
© Rachel Green 2018
among the bare branches
magpies and crows argue
© Rachel Green 2018
dear dog
the toothache is excruciating.
Almost no sleep
then up at six
because doing shit takes my mind
off the pain for a while
Now I'm waiting
for 9AM
to phone the emergency dentist
and beg for some help
something is wrong, surely?
Even the cat is crying.
© Rachel Green 2018
Friday 16 November 2018
16th November 2018
bloody Christmas lights
getting earlier every year.
festive cards in the post
© Rachel Green 2018
and we wonder
why there's no respect amymoew.
I pick up litter from the garden
dropped by an endless parade of kids
going to and from school.
I'd have never done that as a kid.
Catholic upbringing.
I still carry the scars.
© Rachel Green 2018
getting earlier every year.
festive cards in the post
© Rachel Green 2018
and we wonder
why there's no respect amymoew.
I pick up litter from the garden
dropped by an endless parade of kids
going to and from school.
I'd have never done that as a kid.
Catholic upbringing.
I still carry the scars.
© Rachel Green 2018
Thursday 15 November 2018
15th November 2018
Wednesday 14 November 2018
14th Novembwe 2018
early sun
fades to wind and rain
bicycle journey
© Rachel Green 2018
random slideshow
shows images of the past fifteen years
people I don't recognise;
dogs I still miss,
places I pine for.
And all those selfies
one a day as I age
falling into obscurity
© Rachel Green 2018
fades to wind and rain
bicycle journey
© Rachel Green 2018
random slideshow
shows images of the past fifteen years
people I don't recognise;
dogs I still miss,
places I pine for.
And all those selfies
one a day as I age
falling into obscurity
© Rachel Green 2018
Tuesday 13 November 2018
13th November 2018
late schoolboy
pretends he's an astronaut
propelled by wind
© Rachel Green 2018
mending an air bed
proves to be several hours
of fruitless work
I find the hole
but the patch doesn't work
the whole process is
deflating
© Rachel Green 2018
pretends he's an astronaut
propelled by wind
© Rachel Green 2018
mending an air bed
proves to be several hours
of fruitless work
I find the hole
but the patch doesn't work
the whole process is
deflating
© Rachel Green 2018
Monday 12 November 2018
12th November 2018
solitary sparrow
on the overhead telephone wires
a pair of sneakers
© Rachel Green 2018
Thanks, Flickr,
that was my weekend destroyed
by cataloguing and downloading photos
Eighteen thousand
now transferred to Google
because you want more money
than advertising gets you.
So feel free to delete my content
I've stopped telling my friends
bow much I like you.
© Rachel Green 2018
on the overhead telephone wires
a pair of sneakers
© Rachel Green 2018
Thanks, Flickr,
that was my weekend destroyed
by cataloguing and downloading photos
Eighteen thousand
now transferred to Google
because you want more money
than advertising gets you.
So feel free to delete my content
I've stopped telling my friends
bow much I like you.
© Rachel Green 2018
Sunday 11 November 2018
11th November 2018
rain drips
from the yellowing leaves
crow calls
© Rachel Green 2018
Saturday night
reduced lighting at the gym
no staff in evidence
One of the toilets is blocked
and some bloke is misusing the weights
Most people just get on with their exercise
while I walk, walk
getting in my five K a day
in an effort to rid myself of the stomach
then ruin the whole idea
by eating bread for dinner.
© Rachel Green 2018
from the yellowing leaves
crow calls
© Rachel Green 2018
Saturday night
reduced lighting at the gym
no staff in evidence
One of the toilets is blocked
and some bloke is misusing the weights
Most people just get on with their exercise
while I walk, walk
getting in my five K a day
in an effort to rid myself of the stomach
then ruin the whole idea
by eating bread for dinner.
© Rachel Green 2018
Saturday 10 November 2018
10th November 2018
freezing rain
battling the window panes
flowering rosemary
© Rachel Green 2018
weird dreams
old friends I haven't seen in forty years
acting like idiots
Edwin is older than me
(if he's still alive)
and behaving like a twenty year old
while an old girlfriend
has become a pro domme
(and a real turn-off)
Am I about to die?
What are these people turning up
when I don't even recall their names?
© Rachel Green 2018
battling the window panes
flowering rosemary
© Rachel Green 2018
weird dreams
old friends I haven't seen in forty years
acting like idiots
Edwin is older than me
(if he's still alive)
and behaving like a twenty year old
while an old girlfriend
has become a pro domme
(and a real turn-off)
Am I about to die?
What are these people turning up
when I don't even recall their names?
© Rachel Green 2018
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)