Beware Puddles
‘Beware puddles’, she mumbled, as I walked out in front, rolling my eyes to the weather.
‘Beware snakes’ she called as my feet strayed onto the grassy verge.
She couldn’t see the clench of my teeth, so tight that I thought they would shatter. I ran, fast and straight.
‘Beware cars’, she shouted as I picked up the pace.
‘You beware cars’, I shouted over my shoulder.
‘No’ she screamed as I heard the shriek of tyres.
‘No.’ I froze and sat on jagged stones.
The final tears stinging my eyes.
‘Beware yourself’ I called back to the road as my heart broke.
A Calculated Wish
The angle and distance between my lips and the flame were just right. I had practiced to ensure they would be. The time required to extinguish the flame had been measured, which allowed maximum concentration on what was really required.
I hovered, watched him from the corner of my eye, as he again leaned in to blow out my birthday candles. And in three quick motions; I blew, I retracted my face from the vicinity and I hooked the back of his head with my right arm, using his own kinetic energy to propel his face down into the buttercream icing.
Scales
The battle between the ocean and the land would never end. Each push and pull defiant. Over and under, again and again. Deep down and persistent.
Daring to brave the field of white, a boundary line drawn and diluted. The universal symbol of child; a seed that can ride the breaks, above and below, is queen. An invisible crown of curled roots, worshipped by the bowing of trees and the surge washing away the stench of earth. They pull and push and both beg her to stay.
She understands, unable to choose, but eventually, she knows one of them will win.
Arctic Bloom
He sneezed. The sound echoed around the world. An ungainly tissue held against his bloated nose. His eyes streamed as he twisted the pill packet over again, unhelpfully empty.
He dreamed of igloos, of expanses of ice, of windless plains and pollenless living. He closed his eyes tightly, consuming the blank and vivid moment, until, at last, he felt some relief.
His daughter squeezed his hand, willing him to return with a jolt of laughter, as she pulled him down to drape her first daisy chain over his head.
His sweetness, his light.
His melting ice caps, his polar bear bite.