The mouse sat out in the open Shivering without a care Numb to the world around her Lost in a well of despair Indifferent to the dangers Oblivious to the delights Spark tamped down To a muted brown Darkness infusing the light For days and nights she stayed there Waiting only for the end to … Continue reading The Mouse and the Puppy
Penis doodles: what’s that all about?
My ten year old son came home from school yesterday talking animatedly and knowledgably about penises and vagina's. I don't think I've seen him this excited about learning in school since the day they had a visit from an African drumming crew, he was enthralled! It was charming and hilarious at the same time (yes, … Continue reading Penis doodles: what’s that all about?
The Art of Compassionate Arguing
The Art of Compassionate Arguing I recently returned from a week’s holiday with eighteen relatives and friends to celebrate a family birthday. The trip was filled with love and laughter, but there were also some lively discussions (arguments, if you want to get technical) between me and another family member who we’ll call ‘Stevie.’ I … Continue reading The Art of Compassionate Arguing
The Grasshopper
The grasshopper clung to the curtainGripping tight to the gossamer threadOne thing she knew for certain If she went back out there she was deadThe wide world posed a problemFor a creature of gentle ilkThe Birds, bees and bats, The shrews and the rats Hungered for her as moths drawn to silk She was stalked … Continue reading The Grasshopper
Silence
My latest short story published by Gobblers/Masticadores is inspired by my recent experience of ten days noble silence at the Dhamma Dipa Meditation Centre, though I should add the events are entirely fictional!
by Rae Cod
Millie followed the path around the trees as she had done every morning for the last six days. Six days surrounded by people but totally alone. She’d expected the silence to be heaven, but her own mind seemed determined to create torment. Six days down, four to go.
First, she convinced herself she’d left the iron on at home. By the time she got to day five she was pretty certain the whole of the outside world had been annihilated by a zombie apocalypse, but she couldn’t know for certain because she didn’t have her phone, though her hand kept going to her pocket anyway, she could almost feel it, like a phantom limb.
Why had she signed up for this course? The flyer said it would connect you with your true self.
If that’s what I’m experiencing, then my true self is more neurotic than a…
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Spoken Word
Words from off the pagevoiced into the airclothed in different texture once they’re free to float out thereHitting harder with inflectiona pause that’s pregnant with suspensea phrase that flutters gentlya verse that’s heavy, hard and dense Written lines that never were Meant to stay inside the headPower lives upon the tongue Speak the words aloud … Continue reading Spoken Word
The Rules of Play
The boy sat down to play his game And then called out his favourite name Mum, oh Mum oh Mother dear I’m rather thirsty over here If you could bring me a cold drink I promise not to make a stink But if you dawdle or refuse I promise you, you’ll sing the blues I’ll … Continue reading The Rules of Play
Out of the Way
No ideas from the ether It’s like someone closed the door Chewed up spat out words Find their place upon the floor The puzzle pieces jar All edges and no fit The riverbed sits cracked and dry The bulb’s no longer lit But from the space within the small hours No expectation and no strain … Continue reading Out of the Way
Ten days of silence: My Vipassana Meditation Experience
The first question most people ask is, why? Why would you want to spend ten days meditating in complete silence: no phone, no books, no distractions? I still don’t have a good answer, I only know that I did, and that’s a good enough reason for me these days. I had a few last-minute nerves … Continue reading Ten days of silence: My Vipassana Meditation Experience
The Ladybird
The ladybird emerged from her pupa She’d awaited this day for so long The day she would finally take her place In the family to which she belonged Four stages of transformation Had paved the way for this day Egg into larva larva to pupa Now her spots were on their way She came from … Continue reading The Ladybird
Rae Cod’s Writing 