Ian Stuart

Photo of my father 1974

I found this photo between the leaves of a book. You can still feel sadness- even after all these years

Four muted trumpet notes, the sound of darkness. Out of shadows come the booted feet, the banners and the drum driving them to the graveʼs edge. Black clad choirboys give a voice to pain. Torchlight can touch a cheek, trace fear and pity in a public face, but echoes fade to silence, and the nightContinue reading “Funeral Music”

Lakeside

Crows,still,silent shadows

Six

Six Haiku Thick books satisfy – a fat sandwich packed with madmen, lovers. Phone call A call from my son. I hear him smile down the phone. The house seems warmer. frozen puddles snap like toffee; ice cream cones melt to fir trees; lawns to lace. The road shines with frost. I walk stiff leggedContinue reading “Six”

The Ageing Dancer

The ageing dancer I used to dance a lot when I was small I swirled and leapt for my old Gran, whirled and leapt for her but now she’s dead, and I no longer choose the dance, control my limbs, the way I move. That’s all gone. I have to keep dancing until I die.Continue reading “The Ageing Dancer”

On the other side

Where have you been ? I’ve tried everything – email, Face Book, notes pushed through the door. I tried a medium, a Ouija board. nothing since that scrap of chip paper blown against the railings “All well. Arrived safe” scrawled on one corner. That’s no good to me. What’s Heaven like ? Are the angelsContinue reading “On the other side”

Bookshop

A ghost of dust as the door opens. Battalions of books in line abreast, spines straight as ramrods, tight and bright as a drummer’s cordings. they gleam with polished leather and gold leaf all noble , each one touts their title. “Foreword “ they call to your eager ears and you will follow. Wait. TheirContinue reading “Bookshop”

5 Haiku

My phone spies on me – rings random strangers, just for fun, sniggers in my ear. There’s no business… Life? No rehearsal – improvise, work for the laugh – smile as the curtain falls. Book shop Shoulder to shoulder, wait to be bought, browsed, read, returned to the shop. The cafe has closed down –Continue reading “5 Haiku”

Parliament of cats

A piece of empty, barren ground overgrown and patched with nettles, broken bricks and sunflowers. This is where they come. Stepping deftly from the shadows they nudge the grass aside and find a place – Manxies, Marmalades, and haughty Siamese, rag eared warriors and plump eunuchs, queens and catlings hissing, spitting, rowling till peace isContinue reading “Parliament of cats”

Great Jarb

You Gotta!