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Poem: All The Things I Couldn’t Do
My neighbour’s security light shines in my kitchen. It’s saving me electric, but cooking is fraught: With the light going off at inopportune moments My food never tastes quite as good as it ought. I reach for the mixed herbs and, plunged into darkness, I put a good handful in my bolognese I give it…
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Poem: My Neighbour’s Security Light
My neighbour’s security light shines in my kitchen. It’s saving me electric, but cooking is fraught: With the light going off at inopportune moments My food never tastes quite as good as it ought. I reach for the mixed herbs and, plunged into darkness, I put a good handful in my bolognese I give it…
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Short Fiction: Dedication Is Key
Dedication, that’s what it took. Personal achievement, relationships, success – dedication was the key to all of them. As he drummed into his children, you had to work for what you wanted. Year-round he trained, measuring, timing, perfecting his technique, straining to get the best out of his muscles and sinews, heart and lungs. He…
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Poem: Jumping Frog
Jumping Frog woke up one sunny morn, Stretched upon his lily pad and gave a little yawn. He said to himself, ‘It’s such a lovely day, I’ll hop off into town and so I must be on my way.’ He hugged his toy dog Spot goodbye And set off on his travels underneath a clear…
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Poem: What’s Within
I iron creases from a shirt and think about my skin: You see it creped and wrinkled; you don’t see what’s within. You see my shoulders rounded; you see my face is red; But you’ve got no idea what’s going on inside my head… I don’t want to do the ironing, wash the curtains or…
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Poem: The Fancy-Dress Party
We’ve just had a fancy dress party – our family and some of our friends – It was really quite funny to see the grown-ups getting dressed up and playing “pretends”. My grandmother came as a teabag, and grandfather came as a bat, And Daddy turned out as King Arthur, while Mummy dressed up as…
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Poem: Building A Wardrobe
My uncles came to stay with me when I got my new pad; They came to do some DIY for which I was quite glad. They put me up some pantry shelves and stood back with great pride; I watched as jars and bottles slowly slid down to one side. I bought a rotary washing…
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Poem: My Home Gym
I built myself a home gym so I could exercise, Replace my fat with muscle and tone my flabby thighs. My bingo wings I’d banish, my posture would improve, My body would be sculpted – how gracefully I’d move! I’d be so fit and agile, a marathon I’d run And maybe then I’d do a…
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Short Fiction: Antonia’s Thank-You Letter
Dearest Sylvie, Thank you so much for a splendid evening at your birthday party on Saturday. I can’t remember the last time I went to such a shindig. The birthday cake in the shape of Balmoral Castle was a triumph of the confectioners’ art, and it was such a shame that Steven’s mistimed swing of…