My Articles

I write articles for Suite 101 - for anyone who's interested, here are links to a few of my favourites.

American Binge

It was Friday night
cherry and chopped walnuts
We had nothing to do
fluffy heap of whipped cream
I was hungry for fun
gobs of heavenly hot fudge sauce
so was he
melted marshmallow creme and butterscotch
we flew open the freezer
mini-marshmallows and chocolate chips
dove in with our spoons
animal crackers, Oreos, Hershey bars
didn't stop until midnight
coffee heath bar crunch ice cream
full to bursting
bananas bananas bananas
but we split
a diet Coke.

The Entertainer

Oh, the glamorous life
the entertainer luxury lives
so easy, so breezy, so rich
a smile and a bow all he gives.

Oh, the glamorous life
performing in each village hall
then back on the bus with a beer
no encore at the curtain call.

Oh, the glamorous life
the miles (or kilometres) build
a suitcase of dirty laundry
passionate art unfulfilled.

Oh, the glamorous life
each night a new crumbling hotel
exhausted he struggles to sleep
in sheets with a cigarette smell.

Oh, the glamorous life
the road and the show run for years
a career and a journey gone nowhere
as he smiles and bows through the tears.

Oh, the glamorous life
the entertainer luxury lives
so easy, so breezy, so rich
a smile and a bow all he gives.

A Day in the Life of Danny, Age 8

Platform one for the
eighteen twenty-eight
service to Burnt Hill,
calling at all stations
in Danny's imagination.

Number sixteen
organises his folder
singing for his soul.
Introit by Vaughan Williams
Te Deum by Traves.

Formula One stars in
Britain's Got Talent
The donkey plays Simon.
Entry one skipping rope
Sister hits the buzzer.

Harry Potter's off the shelf
to compete with Goosebumps
scary bed-time reading.
Guitars and violins await
the promise of tomorrow.

MGT

Choreography

The stage is a canvas
black and bare.
The palette of dancers
...prepare...

A splash of light
to shade the mood
Iridescent
...attitude...

Movement blends
to fill the stage.
Dancing colours
...engage...

MGT

Heart Strings

You, to me
are a symphony.
An endless score
of harmony.

Song and soul
Your smile composes
A sweet concerto
of wine and roses.

MGT

Laura's Laughter

Ah

peals
of joy

ringing

from her

heart like

windchimes

tinkling in the

summer breeze

choristers singing

evensong prayers

quiet sound of stars.

MGT

Pen or Pencil?

I choose my pen carefully
blue for poetry
black for prose

The one with Tigger on a spring
and an orange feather on top
to amuse me while writing cheques
for ballet lessons and school trips

Pencil only for Sudoku

A quick message by green crayon
dug from the depth of my bag
in search of a more adult instrument

Brown eyeliner works well
on a clean but crumpled tissue
Iridescent pink lipstick a last resort

In red marker pen
lunch box notes on napkins
with a smiley face and x for a kiss

The computer keyboard serves its purpose
but the printer is
out of ink.

MGT