New Recruits

Welcome to our new recruits

Come in and rest by the fire

We’re so glad you could join us

Our numbers get higher and higher

Don’t be put off by the decor

Here red is the new black

We find it’s very in-keeping

With tradition and all that

Work days are pretty erratic

You’ll soon get used to that

The work is hot and back-breaking

But the rewards far outweigh that

The perks of the job are amazing

Extreme weight loss guaranteed

As good as an ‘on the job’ sauna

You won’t so much sweat as bleed

Free accommodation provided

All of it open plan of course

Cold draughts are non-existent

With brimstone as your floor

Now I know the noise is horrendous

But you’ll find it won’t take long

Until the intense screaming

Becomes your favourite song

You’ll see were always busy

Never an idle day here

It won’t be long until you feel

That you’ve been here for years

Early retirement is encouraged

So you can rest your weary soul

An eternal spa is provided

Just don’t expect to return

Come now let’s get started

You’ll soon learn all the ropes

In your new job as a devil’s aide

Where leaving is beyond all hope

Too Late (Written to commemorate the centenary of the Titanic!)

Cold and darkness surrounds me
Thick blankets of fog cloud my way
Dangers unknown spread before me
Piercing the vast watery depths

My masters do not realise the danger
Finding out too late what should be known
Now little can be done to avoid it
So I stare at my fate head on

Suddenly white cold ice emerges
The alarm is sounded too late
Last minute manoeuvres are worthless
The inevitable collision occurs

Cold sharp ice pierces my skin
Stabbing my body again and again
Depths of the ocean rushes in
Filling me with its deadly poison

As I tear and bleed, I wonder
What will happen to those poor souls
The innocents I carry within my grasp
Who I can no longer safely hold

Panic breaks out all around me
All desperately trying to scramble free
But the boats only carry so many
The rest are left to stay with me

I wish I could do something to help them
But the water is filling me fast
Helpless to do anything but watch
As the sea claims life after life

I become one of its many victims
As I sink to the depths below
Carrying a cargo of bodies
Not many left alive above

The screaming will stop soon I know
My watery grave will then be quiet
They’ll become my lifelong companions
In death at the bottom of the sea

My first attempt at crime flash fiction!

This was my first attempt at flash fiction, having only written poetry before it was good to try something new.  It was also a crime piece which was fun to write.  When writing it I didn't have a clue where it was going, who it involved or the outcome, it just came out.  Which was another first, as I had never written anything in this way before.  Hope you like it!

Standing In Line

The blood spewed forth as the bodies fell one by one, not knowing what was coming until it was too late.  There was nothing that could be done, except stand there waiting for my turn, wondering if it would hurt or if I would feel nothing but oblivion as death overtakes me. I look at the killers wondering how they have come to this, to feel nothing but overwhelming anger that leads them to mass murder.  They look stonily back, smiling slightly as they know it won’t be long until I become another statistic of war.  Suddenly my head is yanked backward as the dagger touches my throat.  The cold steel feels cool on my skin and then it pierces.  The stinging is like fire as the blade cuts true and swift.  Relief comes as the darkness takes me and my decapitated body falls to the ground.

This Easter Weekend was a weekend of 'firsts'

Firstly,  I have written my first short story,   

Secondly, it was a piece of flash fiction (under 150 words),

Thirdly it's subject was crime, and 

Fourthly, I submitted it to a competition (which kind of defined the above in it's criteria)

Having only written poetry so far, it was challenging to write not only fiction, but flash fiction under a 150 words & then it was a crime piece (which is a subject I have never tackled before)

But I thought what the heh!  There's no harm in trying, not expecting to win anything, but was good for the experience.

The criteria of the competition, compelled me to write something I have never attempted before, so this can only be a good thing.

I kind of enjoyed doing something different, might try this again!

Remembrance Day Poem published on 'International War Veterans' Poetry Archive'

I was very pleased that the poem 'Lest We Forget', that I wrote on Remembrance Day 2011, was published on the 'International War Veterans' Poetry Archives', in February 2012. 

Trying to give the Voiceless a Voice!

Am currently working on some hard-hitting poetry, covering some very dark & disturbing issues.  Trying in my own small way to give the 'voiceless a voice'!

Nana May (Who passed away a year ago today)

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year

Since you departed these shores

Bravely facing the final journey

Unafraid and standing tall

No-one ever likes to say goodbye

To a loving wife, mother and nan

You touched the lives of so many

Truly an inspiration to us all

Through difficult and testing times

You were always strong and resilient

Raising a family wasn’t always easy

Yet you did it with grace and style

Always there for family and friends

For support, a talk or just a laugh

Never afraid to share your thoughts

To tell us what we needed to hear

We hope that you are happy

Reunited with Grandad and Bill

And know that you are watching us

As you always have and always will

You may be no longer with us

But your star shines brightly on

In the memory of all who loved you

You are sorely missed by all you knew