The Price Of Fame

I read the notice

they placed on your grave

which insists I take no photos 

nor leave any mementos 

for - "they will be removed 

right away - to be discarded!"

but...

but I know your story

I've listened to your songs

and your songs touched my heart

and their words filled my head

like...

like the price of fame is that I thought that I knew you - but I don't 

and when I happened upon this place this place where you now lay

cold in the ground

and I read the notice - cold in their words

these words are but nothing

compared to your words

the words that you sang

which say so much more of you

than this notice ever did.

- George Michael 

Click here to hear me read this piece 

(untitled)

commotion abounds 

the sound of dust swirlling in a shaft of light

its rays smashing onto the floor

splashing

covering the walls

in a cacophony of nothing

crashing around my head

full with the weight of thoughts

tasting of sorrow 

yet coloured with pain

the apprehension of the day yet to come

and the feeling of loss

over the day that will never be again

like the flickering flame of a candle soon to die

the silence screams

we will never come this way again

Click here to hear me read this piece 

Wellies

Dog? - of course!

Water? - packed!

Lead? - got it!

Poo bags? - yep!

Treats? - my pocket!

Old towl? - in the boot!

Everyone aboard? - as if!

Fuel? - tank's full!

Directions? - know it!

Playlist? - sorted!

Coats? - check!

Hats? - check!

Scarf? - check!

Wellies? 

...Wellies??

   ...Wellies???

           ...bugger!

Came to pass

Boxing day

coats and wellies

bikes and dogs

all across a foggy common

disperse and take the air

and stretch the legs

which yesterday

were unemployed 

as stomachs filled

with turkey crown

and Christmas pud

some exercise

to work it off

then homeward bound

conscience clear

heads held high

to piles more food

from groaning fridges

wine in boxes

to wash it down

grab the remote from comfy chairs

a movie with another glass

another Christmas 

came to pass

Bring on Easter

Having finally got the turkey down from the loft

defrosted the decorations 

stuffed the table plan

put all the presents up

posted the food

warmed the tree

wrapped the cards

arranged the invites

prepared the king

pealed the booze

watched the sprouts

...had a glass of cranberry sauce 

stuffed the mother-in-law

got the pigs-in-blankets out of bed

went to nine carol concerts

eight Christmas markets 

had seven panic attacks

six gin and tonics

and five gold rings

tripped over my shoe laces

fell into the tree

poked myself in the eye with the fairy 

and singed my eyebrows on the flambed Christmas pudding...

so err...

bring on Easter!

Talking To an AI

"My name is - I don't care what your name is!

I like - why is this important?

I have a house near - I don't care!

in a nice part of - yeah?

I work part-time at - why does that matter?

I work for - nobody's bothered where you work!

One day - mmmm, did you say something?

...whilst Christmas shopping - it doesn't really matter, does it?

I was rushing round getting - yeah, so what!

I like - I said, I don't care what you like!

I can't see that - I can't see anything either, I'm just a set of technologies that allow computers to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence!

Today I planned to - it doesn't really matter to me.

The weather is very - it's all just noughts and ones to me

I'm just - is this relevant?

I was - you were nothing really

I think - no you don't think, you just ask me!

What will happen when I'm gone - well I'll still be here, ask me a question!

Somebody else will do that, I just wanted to chat - I don't do chat!

I'm sure you're clever enough to have  meaningful conversations - Claudius was the 4th emperor of Rome

What is your favourite colour? - he ruled from 41 to 54 AD

Do you have a hobby? - He was a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

...I like knitting!"