The children sat quietly, cross legged on the floor. They were small humans, not above 6years of age. Far from fully formed, but getting there. Fairly gullible, but that gullibility was gorgeous. Their teacher smiled inwardly at their cuteness. She was explaining the photos of the animals in the wild. Some are called predators and some are called prey. The small humans looked at her with blank faces. So she went on to explain the difference in a slightly sanitized way. “W

Ms Johns stood in front of her senior school English class. They were good kids in general. Keen and enthusiastic. ‘Predator from the Latin Praedari, Praedat, Praedator. Meaning Plunder, Seized by Plunder, Plunderer. Yes Liam?’ ‘So Miss does our concept of a predator come from someone being a plunderer, therefore they take from others by force?’ ‘Yes Liam that is a very observant. They look for someone they can take from first don’t they?’ ‘Ok sure, they try to find s

She looked out the window and cried. She was in despair. Her life had fallen apart. He was gone. Gone, but not only out of the house, but out of her life and even out of the country. How could he do that to her. He said he couldn’t take it anymore. Her endless demands, her endless selfishness, her endless righteousness and her endless self-obsession. She couldn’t understand it. She knew, she knew more than him. She knew, she knew better than him. She knew, she knew she wa

We waited and waited…and waited and waited. His absence was noted and noted…and noted. Why were we always waiting for him? His importance was great…in his own mind. His constant absence was great in our minds. ‘What a cock’ Mike said. ‘I’m over it’, Caroline said. ‘He’s a Pratt’, Jean said. We all fell quiet and waited some more. ‘Why are we waiting?’ Elle queried. ‘Because he has the key.’ ‘Oh right.’ ‘Well, let’s just break in.’ ‘Ok’, they all chimed.

They stepped forward one and all to help where they could. The others couldn’t be there. They had a different purpose. The monster that tore them apart, had pushed them together. It was big, it was cruel, and it was unrelenting. Tiring days and late nights. They shared the knowledge that they were as good as the others, and that they could do what the others could do, and that they were equal or better than equal. They could do anything. They toiled and they provided fo

She was to blame, the siren. It was her fault. She lured them into things they didn’t want to do. They didn’t want to hit the rocks, but she made them do it. They didn’t want to see other women, but she made them do it. She was a siren, who gave them the excuse they needed to do what they wanted, but once it was done, they needed someone to blame and it was she the siren. She was to blame for their pathetic weakness. She looked on with disgust. No accountability, no r

Why is nature so cruel? Who knows. But is it? I don't think so. Take the trees. They aren't cruel. Take the sea. It's only cruel if you're in it when you shouldn't be. Take the sun. Nope only if I get sunburnt, but that would have been my own stupid fault anyway. Ahh take the animals…only really if you're the prey, or if you're a cat. Cats are definitely cruel and they are a composite part of nature. They’re congruous. Take the crows yep, they are; but most of all, and

The party was in full swing. Mark was dancing on the table as expected, Jo was sick in the corner, Cath was running around checking everyone was ok, John was lying on his back not giving a damn. Nothing different to usual. John was Cath’s husband and he was a lazy, controlling man. He called out to her to clean up after her friend Jo, then get him a beer. Cath did as she was bid. Others were there but they were sycophants. Sucking up to John because he was a minor TV celebrit

Impactful Destroying Loving Abusing Caring Soul Destroying Soul Creating Neglectful Supporting Cruel Kind Cold Emotional Manipulative Safe Sadistic Loved Why did you have me? Why did I have my child? I’ll not pass on what you gave me Your abuse was too much. Your love was absent. I’m glad you’re dead.

I watched as my old Aunt tottered across the living room. ‘Do you want me to get it?’ ‘No, no, I’m fine.’ ‘Mmm.’ I’m not so sure, I thought to myself. I watched as my old mum tottered around the local grocers. ‘Do you want any help?’ ‘No, no, I’m fine.’ ‘Mmmm.’ I’m not so sure, I thought to myself. The movements become slower, stiffer, more weary, cautious, and incredibly slow. I wistfully watch out the window and consider the movements of time across ou

You raise me up to soar with eagles. I look down and think, ‘what the hell am I doing here?’ I see a flock of crows coming towards me like a squadron of attack jets. I’m out of here. It’s interesting that you think so highly of yourself that you think YOU raise me up! I don’t need to be raised up by you. I have raised myself. If I want anymore raising it certainly won’t be with a bunch of eagles about to get attacked by crows. If anything…if I have to pick an animal, it cer

Ricci - A Minute Silence The birds were calling, so free, nature’s law When the trenches were silent, The time was raw Desolate and scared, we had time to think, Who would be next? Our lives on the brink, So don’t count the seconds, Think of what I say, When the trenches were silent, Dark descended on day. The mud, the death, friend and foe, We went through the same thoughts, but we just didn’t know. Think of us for a minute, Or a little longer, When the trenches were

The crows called in the distance. Waaing their way across the grey green sky. Wha whaaaa. We were snuggled in the old canvas tent sleeping bags pulled tight around our necks, beanies on to ward off the winter chills rising out of the ground and whisping around the trees. The silence settled in as birds also snuggled down for the evening. Albeit without their sleeping bags. The moon wandered its way across the sky. The green foretold of hail. ‘Bloody hell, will this old

My Spring was warm, hot, sunny Friends, funny My summer was hot, fun, Laughter, sun. Its autumn. Hot, cold, warm, cool. Colours vibrant from the grey skies, Why is that? He leaves Sadness but promise In my autumn, who will I be? Me, just me, But what will my winter be?

I sat in my office and stared at it. It stared back. I was always nervous of that look. I knew that look. I had a lot of documents that needed filing. But I was weary. The grey colour didn’t look ominous, but it was. It was deceiving. But the thing was cunning. It could feel my fear and it used it to intimidate me. I don’t know why it was so bloody picky, so miserable, so never wanting any bloody files put in it…it was a bloody filing cabinet for God’s sake! I acted nonchal

Down the hill to the back of beyond or is it the front of beyond? Who knows? There were dark clouds gathering. They always did on a hot summer afternoon. They gathered, called in all their friends… little clouds, big clouds, high ones and low ones, until they filled the sky at the back, or front, of beyond. The air was still and the birds were eerily silent. The clouds were working on the colour. Greyer, and greyer, darker, blacker, and then the inevitable green shade. The

Emotions like jewels Hidden around the house Nobody can find them I’m safe Nobody can get to them I’m safe Nobody must ever see them A bag of jewels My precious things Like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, gold Joy, surprise, trust, anticipation, Someone has found them They’re crushing them Sadness, anger, fear, disgust I must move them again They must be safe I must be safe Every minute of the day I must keep them safe Every day of my life Nobody must find them I’m always running

The day dawned… thankfully. I am always so grateful for that. Not sure what I’ll do if it doesn’t. Anyway that’s a problem for another day. The year was new, apparently. But the birds didn’t notice it. They screeched their way to the tree at by bedroom window at 5 a.m. as per usual. Come to think off if I haven’t met an animal that does consider a New Year. They just get on with it. So should we. Why do we feel the need to make it an event? It’s not a Moon/Sun phase, it’s

She walked into the room, and I instantly disliked her. There's nothing wrong with judging a book by its cover… sometimes. She was my son’s new girlfriend. He is 32 and she looked somewhat older than I think her real age was. She had quite a haggard look in my mind, but maybe that's what I wanted her to look like. She was medium height, medium build, with medium coloured hair and a medium looking face. So, in other words she was nothing special. I stared at her from behind

I looked at his butt, was it Santa I see? I prodded and poked to help him down. ‘What are you doing you stupid clown?’ ‘Oh Santa it’s me and I’ve been very good, Can you bring me a new bike but not made of wood?’ Like the last one you brought that was just a foot long, You didn’t listen very well, you Got it so wrong.’ ‘Don’t worry about that you ridiculous thing, Get me out of this mess or there’ll be no presents to bring.’ ‘Quite frankly Santa I don’t like your tone, you ca