Submissions by Lozzamus
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
I compare poetry to painting, believing that I lack any drawing/painting skills but believing my imagination and training in writing has enabled me to transfer my love of visual art to the written word
Silent - Samantha
By the time I return to The Factory, the hall lights have come back on. I find Mel by the lift, fiddling with a fuse box, but there's no sign of Robert. I'm about to ask why Robert's upstairs on his own when Mel hears my footsteps, turns round and smiles. I nearly take a step back. The woman isn't Mel, just someone who resembles her, more in height than anything else. The girl, about my sister's age, maybe younger, has long dark brown hair and wears a blue top and pair of tight jeans. She has no shoes on. I would imagine she must be freezing.
'Hi there. You're new, aren't you?'...
'Hi there. You're new, aren't you?'...
#mystery
#risk
39 reads
5 Comments
Secrets - Vow Of Silence
They say the bike race was my idea, that you and the others would have preferred to stay indoors that August Bank Holiday Monday. In the shade where it was nice and cool. But your mum agreed with me. It's a lovely day, she said, why don't you go out and play in the park before school starts again?
Except I lied, according to the evidence. I suggested the local park; that's true. But once we got out, I came up with the idea of going in the opposite direction, to Whaley Hill. Our parents didn't like us going to Whaley Hill, especially the reservoir at the top. They thought the hill...
Except I lied, according to the evidence. I suggested the local park; that's true. But once we got out, I came up with the idea of going in the opposite direction, to Whaley Hill. Our parents didn't like us going to Whaley Hill, especially the reservoir at the top. They thought the hill...
#childhood
#memories
#mystery #risk
#mystery #risk
51 reads
0 Comments
Silent - The Dark
Bring back some chocolate anyway. Yes, and some red. If you're having a drink, so am I.'
'Sure.' I give Mel a mock salute and leave, taking the lift down to the ground floor. When I step into the entrance hall, the same creepy silence from earlier greets me, interrupted only by the steady tap of drizzle on the glass dome in the ceiling. I'm standing in darkness. All the lights have gone out. I try one of the switches on the wall. Nothing happens. Odd. For a second or two, I think I hear footsteps on one of the balconies. Light rapid ones.
'Hello?' I call up...
'Sure.' I give Mel a mock salute and leave, taking the lift down to the ground floor. When I step into the entrance hall, the same creepy silence from earlier greets me, interrupted only by the steady tap of drizzle on the glass dome in the ceiling. I'm standing in darkness. All the lights have gone out. I try one of the switches on the wall. Nothing happens. Odd. For a second or two, I think I hear footsteps on one of the balconies. Light rapid ones.
'Hello?' I call up...
#memories
#mystery
#risk
75 reads
2 Comments
Secrets - Longing
Okay,' I say, rummaging through the postbox. 'We'll take the lift.'
We step out of the lip, onto the top floor and head right, to my flat. I attempt to open my door. Locked. Strange. I try again. The door opens. I must have left it unlocked earlier. Very odd. I locked it before I drove off to see Gordon Day in Burrington – didn't I?
Or, maybe, I didn't. I was upset earlier, right? About the visit to your parents. I left in a hurry, to see Gordon. I must have forgotten. I won't do that again.
I prepare a shepherd's pie in my flat and cart it over to Mel's...
We step out of the lip, onto the top floor and head right, to my flat. I attempt to open my door. Locked. Strange. I try again. The door opens. I must have left it unlocked earlier. Very odd. I locked it before I drove off to see Gordon Day in Burrington – didn't I?
Or, maybe, I didn't. I was upset earlier, right? About the visit to your parents. I left in a hurry, to see Gordon. I must have forgotten. I won't do that again.
I prepare a shepherd's pie in my flat and cart it over to Mel's...
#family
#memories
#mystery #risk
#mystery #risk
43 reads
2 Comments
Secrets - The Drive Home
It's still early. We could go to see a film. What do you think?'
'I want to go home.'
'And you're sure about that?'
No answer.
'Okay, but say if you change your mind,' I say. I get into the car. 'We can go anywhere or do anything you like.' I reach over to help fasten his seatbelt, but he tenses, so I back off.
Poor kid. He must be hurting so much. Robert acts as if his mother never existed, refusing to talk about her at all. I don't blame him, really, although the extreme reaction concerns me. Like what do we do about...
'I want to go home.'
'And you're sure about that?'
No answer.
'Okay, but say if you change your mind,' I say. I get into the car. 'We can go anywhere or do anything you like.' I reach over to help fasten his seatbelt, but he tenses, so I back off.
Poor kid. He must be hurting so much. Robert acts as if his mother never existed, refusing to talk about her at all. I don't blame him, really, although the extreme reaction concerns me. Like what do we do about...
#family
#mystery
#relationships #risk
#relationships #risk
62 reads
2 Comments
Secrets - Robert, Aloof
Lunch with Mel. Read of the newspapers.
Quarter to three. I set off to collect Robert from school. The other kids have gone. Robert's standing by the whiteboard with his teacher Miss Lyons, who greets me with a warm smile.
'We had a good day, didn't we Robert?' she says.
The boy nods and clutches his bag.
Miss Lyons tosses back her light brown hair and gets ready to leave. She's in her mid-twenties, pretty, with an open face and green eyes. 'I'm very confident about Robert,' she says. 'He's made a very promising start. I'm convinced...
Quarter to three. I set off to collect Robert from school. The other kids have gone. Robert's standing by the whiteboard with his teacher Miss Lyons, who greets me with a warm smile.
'We had a good day, didn't we Robert?' she says.
The boy nods and clutches his bag.
Miss Lyons tosses back her light brown hair and gets ready to leave. She's in her mid-twenties, pretty, with an open face and green eyes. 'I'm very confident about Robert,' she says. 'He's made a very promising start. I'm convinced...
#family
#mystery
#relationships
72 reads
5 Comments
Secrets - Meeting With Gordon
I recognise him straightaway. Gordon Day, even though he looks nothing like the Gordon Day you and I knew once. Back then, Gordon was a small boy, ruddy faced, with a mop of reddish-brown hair – lovable, in a way, but impish, I suppose. The guy in the gym looks like a tough nut capable of taking someone round the side and laying into them. He's wearing a blue gym vest with the gym logo on, the sort of vest that shows off serious muscle, and his cropped hair and the grin make him appear more youthful than a person in their mid-thirties.
He stops talking to the henna hair...
He stops talking to the henna hair...
#childhood
#conflict
#friendship
#memories
#mystery
57 reads
0 Comments
Secrets - Gordon Day
Burrington is full of coffee houses and arts and craft shops. Shoppers and tourists amble across the cobbled walkway, towards the market square, some with walking boots and maps, one gentleman with a beard and glasses smoking a long pipe while studying a map.
I still haven't got used to the slow pace of life and doubt I ever will; in London, everyone rushes everywhere. I spot a war memorial in the centre of town and a natural health centre tucked away in a mews with dried herbs hanging in the window. The surrounding hill countryside is steeped in folklore and a history of locals...
I still haven't got used to the slow pace of life and doubt I ever will; in London, everyone rushes everywhere. I spot a war memorial in the centre of town and a natural health centre tucked away in a mews with dried herbs hanging in the window. The surrounding hill countryside is steeped in folklore and a history of locals...
#friendship
#memories
#mystery
60 reads
2 Comments
Secrets - Doubts
He weren't there, lad,' your dad says, as if guessing my thoughts. 'Our Scott's looked into it. Vince Macarthur never went into the woods that afternoon. He only popped out to go to the corner shop and that took no longer than five minutes and then he fell fast asleep in front of tele. He were woken up later when the police came.'
'How does Scott know that?' I say, hoping my question doesn't come across as rude.
'Never mind how he knows. Are you going to tell us what really happened?'
'I already have.'
Your dad stands up. 'Okay, lad, that's it....
'How does Scott know that?' I say, hoping my question doesn't come across as rude.
'Never mind how he knows. Are you going to tell us what really happened?'
'I already have.'
Your dad stands up. 'Okay, lad, that's it....
#childhood
#memories
#mystery #risk
#mystery #risk
65 reads
2 Comments
Secrets - The Conversation
I wonder whether coming here was such a good idea after all. Maybe I should have written a letter instead. I ring the bell and wait. Movement inside, footsteps. An elderly woman answers the door and stares flatly at me.
'Mrs Winters?' I whisper.
No way. I'm so sorry, Craig. What have I done? Why did I make this visit today? And should I even be telling you this? Your mum's long ash blonde hair has gone, along with the perpetual smile that you and your brother inherited. She used to blow kisses at us when we were children and buy us fruit from...
'Mrs Winters?' I whisper.
No way. I'm so sorry, Craig. What have I done? Why did I make this visit today? And should I even be telling you this? Your mum's long ash blonde hair has gone, along with the perpetual smile that you and your brother inherited. She used to blow kisses at us when we were children and buy us fruit from...
#anger
#grief
#mystery #risk
#mystery #risk
86 reads
5 Comments
Secrets - The Visit To Craig's Family
First weekend.
Sunday. Pack sandwiches and a flask of coffee. Walk along an old railway trail with overgrown vegetation both sides. Cross a suspension bridge. Take photographs. Have lunch in a family friendly country pub. Stop off for refreshments before setting off for home.
Robert isn't used to the north; he's an Islington boy with an American mother and a mixture of accents, but I want him to get a taste of his roots.
Tonight, after supper, we'll create photo collages and upload them to the server, and we'll choose a special name for the...
Sunday. Pack sandwiches and a flask of coffee. Walk along an old railway trail with overgrown vegetation both sides. Cross a suspension bridge. Take photographs. Have lunch in a family friendly country pub. Stop off for refreshments before setting off for home.
Robert isn't used to the north; he's an Islington boy with an American mother and a mixture of accents, but I want him to get a taste of his roots.
Tonight, after supper, we'll create photo collages and upload them to the server, and we'll choose a special name for the...
#family
#grief
#memories
#mystery
#risk
97 reads
4 Comments
Secrets - Robert And Gordon
Later, I check on Robert. He's sleeping in his room. 'Night, buddy,' I whisper, adjusting the brown teddy bear so it won't fall.
It is quiet, far too quiet for me. The static stillness of the country gives the impression of time slowing down, stopping altogether. I find a beer in the fridge, sit on the sofa bed and drink. So much for good intentions. Fitness, diet. I don't want to go to sleep. Sleep frightens me, has done ever since Vince Macarthur brought his crowbar down on my head, screaming his innocence again and again. My recovery from the attack took several years....
It is quiet, far too quiet for me. The static stillness of the country gives the impression of time slowing down, stopping altogether. I find a beer in the fridge, sit on the sofa bed and drink. So much for good intentions. Fitness, diet. I don't want to go to sleep. Sleep frightens me, has done ever since Vince Macarthur brought his crowbar down on my head, screaming his innocence again and again. My recovery from the attack took several years....
#childhood
#family
#memories
#mystery
#risk
94 reads
3 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by Lozzamus