25th August 2026

when I said 'moobs'

I meant I was depressed,

not man boobs

© Rachel Green August 2026

An Apology

Once again, I have fubar'd;

fucked up your ordered shelves

in the tiny freezer-for-four

because the shopping list

included oven chips and broccoli

and the vegetables drawer

was already full.

So the chips are in the meat drawer

with the chicken and burgers

(and sausages, though they don't count as meat)

and the broccoli

is with the sweet stuff

because everybody loves

to suck on frozen broccoli,

don't they?

© Rachel Green August 2026

24th August 2026

 

*Note to Self*

my next protagonist's name:

Vermillion Payne

© Rachel Green August 2026

Payne's Blue

She lives

in a time when the world is ending

or perhaps just beginning;

or perhaps it's her end, or beginning.

She changed her name

because 'Vermillion' was too cruel:

her mother forgot that kids make nicknames

and hers shortened to 'Vermin'

which shortened to 'Rat'

so when she went to college

she made a deed poll

and became 

(dammit I forgot)

© Rachel Green August 2026

23rd August 2026

 

sloppy dog poo

scraped into bags

hands wiped on grass

© Rachel Green August 2026

The church bells chime,

the services are said

but communal guilt has moved to the corporations

for they are the new city states,

to be smitten by God, or social media,

if they do not purge themselves of sin

of the mistimed facebook post of an employee.

Place now the ills of society

on the public at large,

for it is not the fault of companies

who produce the billion tons of plastic waste

but of the consumers who fail to recycle the bottles

because thousand-year plastic is cheaper

than collecting and washing a glass bottle.

There are fewer burnings now

but there are more P45s.

God’s will is being done,

just by someone else.

Maybe.

© Rachel Green August 2026

22nd August 2026

 

picture frames

from the second-hand shop.

cheaper than making

© Rachel Green August 2026

Home

is where the heart is;

but mine is split

between England and France

and right now I'm in England

and my loves are both distant

so my artistic nature is blocked

because I just miss them so.

© Rachel Green August 2026

21st August 2026

 

fur mom's fear

a flea is discovered

bath time!

© Rachel Green August 2026

Degas's paintings

were never finished;

for he was never satisfied with them.

Sometimes

they must be removed from the artist

and padlocked to the wall

to prevent them taking it back

and reworking.

Sometimes those three marks that were perfect them

seem ridiculous

in the light of experience.

© Rachel Green August 2026

20th August 2026

 

early lunch

before homeward flight

tear-laden food

© Rachel Green August 2026

desires for painting

outstrip my meagre abilities

imposter syndrome overtakes.

scraped canvas

indentured with browns and greys

the influence of anxiety

depicted in earth tones.

© Rachel Green August 2026

19th August 2026

 

out on my own

and trusted with the house keys

running back to the shop

© Rachel Green August 2026

subtext

first painting of size

in many years;

acrylics, pastel

pen, ink, enamel spray.

A study in green and blue.

Revelations

© Rachel Green August 2026