Words Matter

Reviews / By

Rotella

 

As David Cameron knows, a single word can have a big impact. I am of course referring to ‘swarm’ not  ‘pig’.

Cameron calling migrants a ‘swarm’ positioned himself as uncaring and out of touch with public compassion towards our fellow humans. Repetition of that single word replays our reaction in an instant.

I had a similar experience on the receiving end of a wrong word recently – although it is utterly trivial when compared with the suffering of migrants. It was all about golf: the mental game. …

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Short-Lived

Poems / By

Short livedThey stand erect and still,
a sea of uniformity,
some tower above.
Ranked in regiments and rows,
ruddy faced,
life like.
All those poppies.
All those people.

 

Modern Metamorphosis

Short Stories / Anecdotes / By
{Hi Magazine interviews ‘The Cockroach Kid’ }

Greg Small was just an ordinary 22 year old living with his parents and young sister. That is, until the day he awoke as an insect. Now he is known the world over as ‘The Cockroach Kid’. Hi Magazine went to interview him in his secret hideout.

Greg and his family are staying in a closely guarded location as the final details are put together for ‘Revelation Day’: his first live appearance. As part of the lead-up Greg agreed to tell his story. We started by asking him about the day that changed everything.

‘Well, to be honest, it was just like any other morning,’ Greg explains. ‘I woke up and lay there, dozing. I felt rough but thought that was down to the party I’d been to the night before. Thought I’d sleep it off. Looking back now my body did feel different – my skin all hard – but I was too busy coping with my hangover. It was only when I heard my sister Greta calling that I woke up proper and realised I was stuck on my back and couldn’t turn over. Then I saw I had all these legs. Jesus, I freaked!’

…

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Technology of Our Time

Short Stories / Anecdotes / By

Since the power cut every clock in the house was wrong. I know – I thought – I’ll phone the speaking clock. Or TIM as my mother used to call it, which was less incongruous when the voice was male. Nothing could be easier – simply dial 123.

But things had changed. The woman was almost singing at me.

‘You have reached the Time Enquiry Service sponsored by Zedog Digital Instruments. If you have a tone phone press the star button now.’

Done.

‘Welcome to the Time Enquiry Service. If you want information about the Zedog product range, please press 1.’

…

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Not Working

Poems / By

There are few jobs left for the boys,
nobody can relax,
even if some do find work,
we make them pay more tax.

Face the fierceness of cuts ahead,
girls crash glassy ceilings,
bosses say ‘I must let you go’,
no room at all for feelings.

…

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I.E.D.

Poems / By

You’re hiding down there in the dust and the dirt,
A parcel of Helmand, all primed to deliver,
In that split second you burst through the sand,
Searing and ripping your random selection,
Somebody’s future sucked up in your swirl,
So his family soon will be softly informed.

…

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Credit Crunch Villanelle

Poems / By

The cause of all our troubles is the global credit crunch,
We played FTSE with our fortunes, and now we mourn the mess,
We blame it on the bankers for they are a rotten bunch.

No longer can we linger over that cosy client lunch,
We have no choice, we have to change and learn to live on less –
The cause of all our troubles is the global credit crunch. …

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