Breathless
Zoe ended her call. She shivered and gave the street another quick glance. Her eyes rested on something dark – a crow, she thought, that crept along the ridge of a cottage roof. Her breath hung in the cold air…
Pat Barnett
The Ballad of King Peredurus
By the banks of the Costa that rolls to the sea,Through Moorland that’s purpled with ling.The robes of a man lie on bedrocks of scree,A fool who was born to be King.His claim to the throne on his finger he…
The Fabled Origin of Pickering Town
(When the Folksinger David Swann asked us to write lyrics for a new song depicting the origins of Pickering’s name – the idea lingered. So later, when we began to dabble with writing Fairy Tales, this popped into my head.) …
Lupine
His ears prick up and rouse him from his sleep. She is singing. The last survivor of the clever ones surmises she is alone. The tip of his nose moves from side to side – sensing the air, collecting information as to how…
The Clinic
Laura tried not to succumb to the kneading of the masseuse’ deft fingers but it was increasingly difficult not to relax – to keep on guard – to prevent that sensual blissful lull that threatened to engulf her. Her mind’s…
Frozen in Time
Liz tried to shake off the weird feeling that was edging into her psyche. It made no sense. The reunion with Katie had been wonderful. In all these years, her old college mate was still fun, leaving Liz rejuvenated with…
Friday 13th
Reginald Titmouse had his life planned out. He was one of those men who needed to know where the next day would take him – what the next year or decade would have in store for him. He had even…
February 29th
Mum was always adamant that the date was meant to be. And William and myself have felt it was right and proper that we celebrate our birthdays every four years. We’ve had such fun. We’ve watched bemused faces when we…
Musings
Musings… I wonder if we humans belong to certain very ancient families, like whether all those with blood group O originated from one particular swamp: yet those elite types, say of the AB variety, evolved in an exotic lake set…
Fallen Angel
There – my work complete. I will be forgiven and the Master will take me back. See how the moon’s pale glow falls onto your wings? How wonderfully translucent is the indigo of the night sky, as it hangs between…