September Flash A Day: Day 11....THE TOUCH

©David Vale

THE TOUCH

Cool silent rippling trickle

fingers meander and sway

dangle overboard with eyes

closed dreaming of

distant days of echoing memories

arches cast shadow from

the golden orb that

warm a dream language

defined by cupids

letters I memorized

beneath the bridge I

wished away at the touch

of your hand in mine

©Mills Laine

September Flash A Day: Day 10...FOR THE ATTENTION OF...

© Cassie Tillett

FAO.

13 September 2013

Miss Johnson

I know putting you on the window display rota in only your second week of working for Kimonos-R-Us, may have seemed a little ambitious. This decision was based on your extensive references in this department from some of the top named retail outlets from around the world.  It has come to my attention that on the morning of September 10th not only had you placed yourself within the display but also you were completely naked. Your supervisor June has indicated to me that you had applied to go on the television show ‘How to Look Good Naked’. I myself have not seen the show but my wife assures me it is a brave thing for you to have done, for this I congratulate you.

However, following this morning’s visit from the local constabulary and being issued with a large fine for indecent exposure.  I am afraid you’re fired!!

Yours

Mr Jones

(Owner & Manager) 

©Mills Laine

September Flash A Day: Day 9: EDIBLE MEMORY

© Cassie Tillett

EDIBLE MEMORY

Cupcakes on an open stand      

creamy frosting

sponge a crumbling 

creative decorations

they’re resting on my special plate

lips smacking

flavour longing

lasting memories

now sitting in my fulfilled belly

gone but not forgotten

©Mills Laine

September Flash A Day: Day 8: IDENTITY CRISIS

© Cassie Tillett

IDENTITY CRISIS

A saxophone sounded

is brass

not brass

the metal I'm made

of played with

a reed

a woodwind

didgeridoo bellows

is wood really

brass in season

when lips force

a rasp unseen

on the bandstand

©Mills Laine

September Flash A Day: Day 7: INVISIBLE

© David Vale

INVISIBLE

They do not see me
blurred figures
in my eye standing drowning
in the rain
still they do not see me
huddled together in
the face of the night
chilled multi-colour fill
the scene with golden warmth
but still they do not see me
souvenirs placed in
lonely companionship
the hard stone razar my
bottomless soles
and still they do not see me
silent screams leave swirling
blended within the
evenings bell-song
a caring comrade rings
the turning of life
yet still they do not see me
rested on cobbles old
rain droplets dilute
crimson ripples dance
in my eye lying dying
only now do they see me

©Mills Laine

September Flash A Day: Day 6: THE TREE

© David Vale

THE TREE

She waits for me warmed
caressed by the sun
in mockled shadows
soft skin rests on
moistened pillows
of velvet moss
closed eyes awaken
long lost memories dancing
with fragrant breaths
of flowers in her hair
time becomes a distant friend familiar
she waits for me there

©Mills Laine

September Flash A Day: Day 5: PAINT

© David Vale

PAINT

Sid arrived earlier for work than normal, the place was silent.  The years of doing the repetitive job had taken its toll. The cracks on the tiled floor mimicked the ones on his face. The paint on the ceiling looked like his sun-weathered arms. Night after night he came to the arcade and set up his tools of the trade. He was a young man when he started here; fresh faced, clean and youthful. These days he felt the years. Walking down the gallery he gazed at the evening stars through the arches. He would miss this place, the peace. He looked at the walls and sighed, it was only yesterday he had made them good as new.  It had been an endless fight to keep the paint fresh. Each time he came, someone else came later. Each time he painted, someone else painted over it. It had been the council who decided the arcade would be closed off to stop the graffiti. Sid would be out of a job, but for tonight  it was safe. He reached down, chose his colour and  in large liquid like motions sprayed 'Sid was here'.

©Mills Laine

September Flash A Day: Day 4... FRIENDSHIP

© Cassie Tillett

FRIENDSHIP

He only wanted a door of his own

In the corner way out of sight

He'd pop in and out at his own free will

In the morning n last thing at night

His tapping was only a very small sound

Not one that could be heard from afar

Usually the little old lady from flat one

Would leave the door slightly ajar

He’d squatter beneath the stairwell

She’d leave nibbles for him on the ground

He’d coo in response to her speaking

She’d smile at the friend she had found

But today the door remains fastened

And her curtains still remain closed

He coos n taps as loud as he could

For his friend that no one else knows

When the door opens they pass him

No one but her really cared

About the birdie that sat in the corner

Of the doorstep that all of them shared

©Mills Laine

September Flash A Day. Day 3: CASTING PROTECTION

©DavidVale

CASTING PROTECTION

Anthony thought I was mad the day I came home with the umbrella, a large colourful striped one that sat neatly in a hole in my cart. For years I had worked this spot. Shadowed under the tall apartment buildings on either side where the sun rarely reaches the ground. The wind gusts down Long Lane and flicks up the papers on sale, I use a peg to secure them. On Monday the chatter of women echoes above my head followed by the un-oiled squeaks from the pulleys. Lifting the tines of the umbrella to its full height it casts a shield over my wares. Anthony looked puzzled at me.

‘It’s to finally protect the paper’ I said

‘Protect it from what’ asked Anthony

Drip, drip, drip

‘Washing day’ I sighed

September Flash A Day. Day 2: TRADITION

© Cassie Tillitt

TRADITION

It had become a repeated ritual

the Saturday 10am start

 four old friends shared

and laughed at the memories

of this continuing  thirty years part

They chose to meet on the corner

buy papers  from  'ye olde tuck shop'

a quick skip and

a swing passed the bakers

for  a sausage n brown sauce filled cob

They parked themselves down

by the harbour

 on the bench that sat at the head

these days it seemed a bit smaller

the curse of the middle age spread

They smiled n chat while

they waited

for the sight they had come down to see

the water lay still like a mirror

conditions the best they could be

Sitting forward, Bob shouted

‘they’re coming

I  see the ripple that’s made by the oar

highlight of my week is this passing

by the women’s cox-less four’

©Mills Laine

September flash a day....Day 1: RETIREMENT

©DavidVale

RETIREMENT

John picked up the ride token before it escaped through the gap in the pier floor.

‘I’ll save that’ he thought, as he popped it into his pocket.

He loved looking through the slats to the undulating waves beneath, lit by the multi-coloured lights that adorned the pleasure park. This was his favourite time, closing time. The smell of burgers and candy-floss still hung in the air. The latest songs echoed around the empty rides. Chip papers floated on the cool sea breeze. For forty years he had walked the pier, the gate keys hanging idly from a chain on his belt. Tonight was to be his last, unsure of what the future held for him away from here. He slipped the large clanking chain through the gates and fixed the lock, shaking it, just to make sure!  Reaching up he twisted the bulb in the light that illuminates the entrance sign till it flickered on. Standing back he read the newly pasted poster.

CLOSED

KEEP OUT

DUE FOR DEMOLITION

©Mills Laine