Scribbled Thoughts

23:5

Lap up the rage

with every smooth stroke.

Or perhaps you hit and splash

to target passer-bys

so they can seep in

the irritation

while yours drains away.

Perhaps you’re that

type of person.

23:4

‘I’ll bring it right back,’

said the embarrassed smile,

even then knowing

we both knew

the lie it was giving.

23:3

Plan a day together

while you fall asleep,

too tired

from entertaining others

that your attention

for me is gone.

An unimportant afterthought

you don’t need to

conserve energy for.

23:2

Strip the room to ordinary

once more

but now it feels empty,

barren, too big,

too bare,

too exposing.

What is left when the

shimmer disappears?

Who are you in

dismal winter?

23:1

New year, new me.

Less of me?

Long to be different,

thinner, wiser, better,

something I’m currently not

until I change into

someone else,

someone who will

also long to be

less of herself.

22:110

I saw Mama kissing Santa Claus

and I don’t know how to feel.

I love my daddy,

but Santa Claus, wow!

I’ll get all the presents I want!

Would we live at the North Pole,

could I play with the elves?

But how would I see Daddy again?

And won’t he be angry that Mummy

loves someone else?

Won’t he be sad?

Won’t he be alone?

If I stayed with Daddy instead

would I only get coal

from now on?

I saw Mama kissing Santa Claus

and it made me cry a lot.

22:109

Dear William/employee number 626,

            As always we were delighted to receive your application to be considered for promotion. We’d like to remind you that your current role as an elf is an important and noble position and we value all our employees who make our business possible.

            However the responsibilities as a santa

(unfinished)

22:108

Santa and his hippos

are a strange and worrying sight,

their jiggly flight in the sky

would cause anyone a fright!

They land on the rooftops

and wake all inside

(unfinished)

22:106

The sink used to

expect them in pairs,

their visits together

included light-hearted

banter and playful shoves

to squeeze into the space

meant for them.

Now one visits alone,

earlier than before

while the other

hides in natural shadow,

their paths rarely crossing,

and the sink misses

the smiles they shared

and life they lived.