Thursday, December 22, 2022
Christmas Wonderland
Christmas Wonderland
151 words
Like a blanket, it covers the whole ground.
With the town transforming into a Christmas wonderland,
I hear everybody singing and dancing - oh what a wonderful sound!
I turn my head and what do I see?
A small crowd skating around the town’s grand Christmas tree.
Such a wonderful sight, one can hardly fail to disagree,
How wonderful it is to see the world happy, joyous and carefree!
I walk through the town, the snow still falling from the sky,
And think of those who aren’t as fortunate as I.
I wish for a world where we can all enjoy Christmas,
Putting our differences aside, believing in peace, joy and forgiveness.
As the sun starts to set and the moon begins to rise,
I hope that the spirit of Christmas never dies.
For the spirit of Christmas brings us all together,
Now, always and forever.
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
323 words
I watch
from my place at the kitchen table as the snow falls softly onto the window ledge,
I think
back fondly to my childhood, building snowmen and racing down the street on my
sledge.
I remember
wrapping up warm in my hat, scarf and gloves, hearing the crunching sound of snow
beneath my feet,
I recall lacing
up my ice-skates and skating down the winding roads pretending I was a Winter
Olympic athlete.
I smile toward
my reflection in the window as I take a moment to reflect on Christmases gone
by,
Then stand
up to grab a glass and plate for Santa’s sherry and mince pie.
I place the
treats down beside the glowing and roaring fireplace,
Deciding it
is time to turn myself into bed, climbing up the stairs into my bedroom and
laying my head down onto the cool pillowcase.
Before
long, I am fast asleep, snoring loudly, in a deep, deep sleep,
Unaware
that Saint Nick has arrived with gifts, tiptoeing quietly downstairs so as not
to make a peep!
He decorates
the fireplace with books, toys, clothes, shoes, galore!
The living
room now identical to the most magical Christmas toy store!
Before he
leaves through the chimney and onto the next house,
He takes a
sip of his sherry and bite of mince pie, then climbs back up the chimney, as
quiet as a mouse.
As dawn
approaches, the excitement begins,
As I hear
screaming and shouting that during the night Santa had been.
We all
gather downstairs to marvel at the sight before us, presents stacked almost as
high as the ceiling,
Each taking
it in turn in unwrapping a gift, the house filled with happiness, cheer and a feelgood
festive feeling.
I watch on
as my family continue to exchange gifts big and small,
I smile at them all in awe as I think to myself that this is the greatest Christmas of them all.
Monday, October 31, 2022
Trick or Treat?
Trick or Treat?
387 words
A season of golden leaves and cooler evenings,
The birds sat perched on the trees now leaving;
The low Autumn sun sits on the horizon gleaming,
Today’s temperature is rapidly decreasing.
As we enter the month of Halloween,
The streets are decorated with pumpkins, ghosts, and everything in between;
And the smells hitting my nostrils fuelled with cinnamon and caffeine,
Shop display windows setting the all-familiar spooky, autumnal scene.
A gust of wind hits my face and I suddenly freeze,
I forgot how much I dislike that chilly autumn breeze;
As the sun begins to set, I feel it’s getting colder by a couple of degrees,
I zip up my jacket and look ahead at the golden arched trees.
As I continue to walk along the street,
Who is it that I am destined to meet?
I stop dead in my tracks, as though the ground is glued to my feet,
And hear the menacing voice ask “Trick or Treat?”
Try as I might, my body does not allow me to run,
I shout for help but, around me there is no-one;
The ghoulish stranger begins to laugh, he knows he has won,
Looking into my fearful eyes he says “The game has only just begun”.
With all of my strength, I push him aside,
And run as fast as I can back home, locking the door once inside;
I jump into bed, cocooning myself into my duvet as an attempt to hide,
But, it was too late, as he had already arrived.
Outside of my house, I could hear the clawing and crashing,
The creature’s fingernails dragging and scratching;
Along the brickwork, the windows, the doors - he was laughing,
I wondered what was so funny until I heard the sound of the door handle snapping.
I knew he was inside when I could hear his slow and heavy breathing,
The beating of my heart swiftly increasing;
I pinched myself hoping I was only dreaming,
Yet my hopes were diminished when I looked above the covers and didn’t see him retreating.
The creature reached for my hand as he pulled back the sheets,
His ominous smile and sinister features even worse as he speaks;
The same, spine-chilling question he asked earlier he repeats:
I watch the room fade to black as he asks “Trick or Treat?
Sunday, October 2, 2022
ILLUSION
ILLUSION
Have you ever wondered why life works out the way it does?
Why are we drawn to certain people and places?
Why do we think what we think and know what we know?
What if we aren’t in control when we believe we are?
What if, perhaps…
Somebody was writing our story for us?
-
Illusion is a short story focusing on the alternate perspectives of both the reader and writer. As we delve deeper into the story, we discover life isn’t all what it seems…
Thursday, September 15, 2022
A Journey into Wonderland
A Journey into Wonderland
170 words
I gazed upon the flowerbeds, a sea stretching far and wide;
Beyond the river a white rabbit, with a waistcoat and a watch.
I saw him scurry along, running and jumping as if trying to hide;
Hopping, skipping, leaping and bouncing, like a game of hopscotch.
As I caught sight of his shadow along the horizon, I saw him drop down the rabbit hole;
Curiouser and curiouser I followed him, into a world of colour and chaos and all things bizarre!
As I dropped down to the floor after a never ending fall, I saw the golden doorknob and keyhole;
I turned to my right and saw a round table, an ‘eat me’ sign and glass jar.
The white rabbit, almost out of sight, ran straight through the door;
But as I was much too tall to fit, I asked the door for help.
He said ‘eat a biscuit from the jar and you too can explore’;
‘A world of laughter, adventure, character and wonder, a world you will adore.’
Saturday, September 10, 2022
My head is a jungle
My head is a jungle
140 words
My head is a jungle, vines intertwined,
Never ending thoughts and feelings crossing my mind.
My head is a jungle, tall trees towering above,
The canopy filled with darkness and dread and not an ounce of love.
My head is a jungle, uncertainty hung in the humid air,
I gasp for breath as I take in my surroundings, look around and stare.
My head is a jungle, the rushing creaks and waterfalls crashing into the water below,
I wipe away my tears as the cracks begin to show.
My head is a jungle, I push away the branches but they start to crack,
I tell myself to hold back the negative thoughts and tears before they attack.
My head is a jungle, and I am the explorer,
I must look out for myself, for I am a creator and restorer.
Sunday, September 4, 2022
The World Is Your Oyster
The World Is Your Oyster
69 words
It may take time but you’ll find your way,
Just take a breathe, don’t hide away.
The world is your oyster, you’ll get there some day,
No need to panic, things won’t go astray.
We each have our own story to tell,
Life works differently for us all, no need to dwell.
Take time out for yourself, you know you’ll do well,
You’re sensational, spectacular, and you will excel.
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Life is Tough but so are You
Life is Tough but so are You
92 words
Life is tough but so are you,
It’s hard not knowing which path to choose;
Torn between choices that decide your fate,
No time to stop and think and wait.
You’re worried you’ll never find your way,
Jump out of your comfort zone or choose to stay?
‘Time is of the essence’ you've always been told;
Time to make a decision before you grow old.
Many opportunities lie ahead,
Though your head and heart are filled with dread;
It’s hard not knowing what to do,
Life is tough but so are you.
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Scenes From a Coffee Shop Window
Scenes From a Coffee Shop Window
1,565 words
The bell chimed faintly as I entered. I brushed my shoes off on the fancy ‘Welcome’ doormat as I looked around the quaint little coffee shop; every other table occupied whilst the kitchen staff were busy attending to orders. The strong smell of coffee and cake hitting my nostrils. It felt so calm and welcoming.
The café was modest in size; not too cramped but, cosy. I gingerly walked over toward the front counter. A beautiful display of cakes, cupcakes, pastries and pies to choose from. The older lady behind the counter greeted me and handed over a menu, explaining I could sit anywhere I liked as it wasn’t too busy.
I took a seat facing out at the busy high street, watching as the world went by. The small round table was covered in a red and white gingham tablecloth with a small vase of red and white carnation flowers in the centre. It was quite charming really. I pulled out a chair, placed my coat along the backrest and took a seat.
Once I had decided on my order, I turned my head to look outside the front window. I had always found it fascinating to watch people as they walked by, imagining their name and what they did for a living. It was a little game I played in my head, something to pass the time, I guess.
Businessmen and women were walking promptly to work, with a takeout coffee cup in one hand, and a briefcase in the other. Occasionally, one would stop, look down at their (presumably) expensive watch on their wrist to check the time and immediately begin to walk off frantically. The pristine pinstripe suits some could be seen wearing were immaculate; not even bunching at the sides due to the fast-paced movement of their arms and legs.
Mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, grandmothers and grandfathers, all on their way to work and school – the usual morning routine.
I glanced up at the early morning sky. It was beautiful. Early enough for the sun to still rise, beautiful hues of orange and pink adorning the sky. I watched intently as the clouds slowly passed by, one after the other. I felt at peace watching them drift by in their different shapes and sizes almost as though they were dancing as they gracefully floated.
Footsteps approaching my table and a squeaky voice diverted my attention. It was the lady from the counter. She smelt of chocolate chips and cinnamon. I assumed she had been baking early this morning before opening the café. She asked if I was ready to order.
She was small in height, with short grey hair and a big smile. Her uniform was slightly dishevelled with patches of flour and chocolate smeared on the front of her frilly, floral apron. She began chatting away with me and took my order. As she left, I turned my attention back to the bustling high street. I watched on at the array of people walking past.
The waitress approached my table again after a couple of minutes with my coffee. I thanked her as she wished me a pleasant day. I took a sip of my warm beverage before looking back out once more.
I was too busy daydreaming to notice the café was now almost empty, besides myself and an older lady sat in the back corner reading a newspaper.
It was quiet. So quiet in fact that I began to hear the faint sound of raindrops hitting the window panes. It began as a light drizzle, reminding me of the sprinkling sound of a watering can. Then, as I took another sip of my coffee, came the downpour; a shower, a stream, a flurry.
I watched as the crowds outside, almost in unison, reached into their bags to fish out an umbrella. A sea of red, purple, blue and green parasols filled the street. The rain was falling much harder now. What once was a magnificent early morning sky was now a gloomy, ominous atmosphere.
I could tell it had changed the mood and ambience of the high street. Men and women alike were bumping into one another, blinded by the downpour of torrential rain, shouting obscenities or pushing the other out of their way so as not to get completely drenched before they arrive at work. I could hear the splashing of puddles as they carelessly walked through the streams of water running alongside the curb. The squelching sound of soaked feet grew louder as the rain continued to pour.
The bell of the coffee shop door chimed as several people entered, trying to escape the rain. Their coats dripping with water, creating little pools around the front door. In unison, their feet were dragging along the doormat to dry, creating an irritable scratching sound. I diverted my attention back outside to distract myself from the aggravating noise.
Between the rows upon rows of parasols, I noticed a figure. They were stood opposite the coffee shop under a narrow archway, presumably to protect themselves from the rain. They were dressed in a long, dark trench coat, with a hat upon their head and glasses disguising their face. There was something sinister about them that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I turned back to my table to take a sip of my coffee and when I turned back again in their direction, they had gone.
Before long the rain had started to pass. The canopy of umbrellas slowly fell down as the crowds continued on to work. A bright white glow began to emerge from the dark clouds, seeping through the cracks. The sun was rising from behind the dreary black clouds. I felt at ease almost.
I took one last sip of my coffee and reached for my bag to grab my purse. I took out some loose change I had and left it on the table. I stood up, the wooden chair screeching against the hard wood floor as I did so. I turned my head toward the counter and waved towards the older woman who served me to thank her once more. She gently nodded her head in response.
As I grabbed my coat from my seat, I looked out of the window and onto the street. Men and women, boys and girls, all walking in each and every direction to get to where they needed to be. I quickly scoured the crowd and then looked up toward the sky in an attempt to decipher whether or not the rain would return as I exited the café and catch me off guard but, as I studied the scenes before me, there they were again. The sinister character. Only this time, they were closer.
The mysterious personality was now stood in the centre of the street, blocking the path for passers-by, forcing them to move around their tall and slender figure. They slowly cocked their head to the side as they continued to face forward toward me. I felt as though they were studying me, taking in my petite frame. Of course, I couldn’t quite tell if they were looking at me as their eyes were disguised by the dark shades concealing them. I watched on intently.
The figure reached into their right coat pocket with gloved hands and pulled out what appeared to be a scrunched up, torn and very, very worn piece of paper. Slowly unravelling the paper, they took two steps towards the coffee shop.
I quickly put on my coat and picked up my bag, adjusting it to sit on my left shoulder in a rather panicked state. As I looked up and out of the window, the sinister figure was looking me dead in the eye. Their nose pressed up against the glass, sunglasses now out of sight so that I could see their face for the first time. Dark blue orbs with a hint of green and brown were boring into my own. I felt as though we were playing one of those staring contests.
I was too startled by their sudden appearance that I didn’t notice the slip of paper pressed against the glass.
It took me a moment to adjust to the bizarre and rather malefic situation before my eyes wandered down toward the note:
“RUN”.
I glanced back up toward the figure to notice they had yet again vanished, the note now floating effortlessly toward the ground. I took a deep breath and blamed the unusual encounter on my imagination. Turning to face the coffeeshop entrance I stepped forward to reach for the door handle when the bell chimed suddenly. As the door opened, I took in the scene before me.
There in the doorway was the sinister figure, bare hands dripping in blood, a cruel, callous look on their face.
As my breath quickened and I could feel my heart wanting to burst out of my chest, I heard them say: “I thought I told you to run”.
Panic set in and the room began spinning.
All I heard before my vision slowly faded and my legs lost all sensation was the faint chime of the coffee shop bell.
Image credit: @theinterstellarbutterfly on Instagram
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