Friday 28 April 2017

Poetry Friday 43

Poetry Friday 43.  

Just two for you this week. Both are works in progress., so be gentle with me.

For audio click here.

The Seine
On the steps of the Seine
I waited for you.
The leaves scattered
and decomposing around me.
From the east came nothing but darkness,
and the river flowing to the west,
leaving me
in its wake.

The Aftermath
Behind swinging doors
they lurk.
The ghosts and ghouls,
witches and warlocks.
Waiting to dance,
to entertain,
to scare.
But you’ve gone,
they’ve all gone.
Now weeds grow,
the carts rust.
Echoes of laughter
haunt the haunters.


Hope you enjoyed those, I think they’ve got some potential. Maybe more next week.

Thursday 27 April 2017

The Genie of the Pub

For audio click here
It’s a kinda magic, sang out from the speakers as Willie walked into the pub.
“Pint of Stella, please,” he said to the barmaid.
“Certainly, good day?”
Willie grunted, picked up his pint and headed to the corner far away from any conversation.
You’re my aye aye aye aye aye, you’re my favourite waste of time.
Willie stared at the speakers.
“Queen, Owen fucking Paul? Have we gone back to the fucking eighties?” he mumbled and took a slurp of his pint.
“Snooker on the fucking television, a Tory landslide on the cards, shite music, the only thing that isn’t the eighties about this place are the bloody prices.”
“You, my friend, need to cheer up.”
Willie looked up and saw a small man sitting at the table with him. “Who the hell are you?” Willie said.
“Oh, just a friend,” said the man.
Willie didn’t like the bloke’s voice, he sounded like he’d just inhaled some helium. “I came in here to get some peace and quiet,” Willie said.
“Well, how about I grant you three wishes, one of those could be peace and quiet forever.”
“Ha,” Willie gave the little man one of his stares. “Who do you think you are? A genie? I don’t remember rubbing any magic lamps.”
“We don’t all live in lamps, you know.”
“Look sunshine, my name’s not Aladdin, I don’t believe in Genies and I don’t believe in three magic wishes. I just want to enjoy my own company.” Willie thumped the table and beer escaped from his glass. He picked it up and took a swig, dripping beer onto his trousers.
“You know you shouldn’t be so narrow-minded,” the little man said. “What harm can making a little wish do?”
Willie looked around for the hidden cameras.
“I wish you’d fuck the fuck right off,” Willie said.
With that the little man disappeared right before Willie’s eyes, leaving just a small cloud of smoke where he’d been sitting.
“Oi, no vaping in here,” the barmaid cried.
Willie realised his first wish had come true. But the genie was nowhere to be seen, so there was no way to cash in the other two. 

Wednesday 26 April 2017

Magic

For audio click here
This is part two of yesterday's story but also works as a stand-alone story. 
I sat in the cafe watching the door, looking at my watch and pretending to read something on my phone. I'd arrived five minutes early and had been sitting here stirring my coffee for ten minutes. What was I doing here? Was I mad?
The family next to me were so perfectly Scandinavian they looked like they were just about to become gruesome victims in a Jo Nesbo novel. I put my phone away; it was time to go.
“Hi,” I looked up and there was Ffion standing there smiling. How did she get there? “I’m so glad you agreed to meet me, again,” she said.
“Can I get you a coffee?” I asked.
“Americano.”
I went to the counter and ordered, there was still chance to escape.  I wished she wasn't so beautiful, then it would be easy to walk away, but it looked like I was staying. She was staring at me as I carried the coffee to the table, could she see my soul?  She seemed to be mumbling something under her breath as she stared, I felt someone walk over my grave.
“One Americano,” I said.
“Thank you. Were you waiting long?”
“No, no, just a few minutes,” I said.
She spooned three sugars into her coffee. “I wasn't sure you'd turn up.”
“Nor was I,” I said. “I don't think I could deal with being a frog again.”
She put her hand on my arm, I felt the warmth of her fingers. “I’m so sorry, Johnny knows he shouldn’t use his um, powers, for no good reason, but he’s just a boy, you know how mischievous they can be.”  She stirred her coffee. “You should have seen your face though,” she laughed. “You were quite cute as a frog.”
“Charming,” I said.
“You're even cuter now though.” She squeezed her hand, and another person walked over my grave.
At that moment, a Nesbo super-murderer could have come in and slain the fair family of four next to me and I would not have noticed.
“Let’s go back to mine,” Ffion said. I nodded my agreement, I was under her spell.


I was lying in bed panting, Ffion was purring next to me. “Well, my friend,” she said, “I see you have a few magic tricks of your own.”  

Tuesday 25 April 2017

The Frog

For audio click here 
“So, then right,” Johnny said, “I waved my magic wand and Luke turned into a frog.”
“Did you?” I said, trying to muster any enthusiasm I could find.
“Yes, but Mrs Jacobs told me to turn him back, so I had to. But he deserved it.”
“You didn't really .though, did you?”
“I did,” Johnny said. I rolled my eyes. “If you don't believe me, I'll turn you into a frog.”
“Look kid,” I said. You're not Harry Potter and you don't go to Hogwarts. You're just a valley's kid and I hate to tell you magic doesn't happen in the Rhondda.”
“It does too” Johnny looked like he was going to cry. “I'll show you.” He waved his Harry Potter wand that had cost his mother a near fortune.  “Allacadabra.” “Shouldn't it be abracadabra?” I said laughing. I coughed and spluttered. “See,” I squeaked, “nothing happened. No magic,” I squawked. Johnny was smiling at me.
My skin was getting tighter, my knees started to ache. Something was happening.
“What’s going on?” I croaked. “Johnny!”
I could hear Johnny laughing.
“Rebit,” I said. “Rebit, rebit rebit.”
Johnny ran up the stairs, leaving me hopping mad.
What was I going to tell Ffion? So much for trying to impress her with my parenting skills. She’d only been gone five minutes and I was already a frog.  
“Rebit,” I yelled at Johnny, but he ignored me.

I heard the key in the lock.
“Rebit,” I said. 

Ffion looked at me. “Johnny, get down here at once,” she said. She put her shopping down and threw out her left hand, fingers spread. “Tenfactodepaceo,” she yelled.
“Rebit,” I said. My skin stretched, my knees felt freer.  I could flex my arms, my legs.
“I'm really sorry,” Ffion said. “It usually means he likes you,” But I wasn't there to hear her. I was running down the path as fast as my legs could carry me.