The Grusome End of Mr Todd

Blackbirds

Strong, hansom, virile almost none of these words describe me now       Blackbirds By David Rae Of all songbirds, the finest is the Blackbird. Like opera singers, this is not a question of rational judgement according to set criteria, but of the depth of emotional response that the singing bird raises within you. Many have different favourites and will argue variously for the Nightingale singing at dusk, almost too high and sweet for the human ear, or for the tumbling sound of

UNDERGROUND

A chance encounter, an awkward moment, Things from the past that should have stayed there and left me to get on with my life.  Underground By David Rae  Gwen spotted us together in the subway. We were standing talking, and she walked up to us. She looked at me awkwardly fidgeting with her ring, while I stammered an apology. An apology for what; we just met by accident. Nothing happened, I promise. “You two sure look like a cute couple,” she said, her voice full of self-pity. Why

A Hard Blessing

A new beginning  or a final ending. A new start or the destruction of everything we know A Hard Blessing  By David Rae When the Iron Giant fell from the sky thousands of us died. Thousands of us crushed, frail flesh smeared; muscle, brain and bone pulped. Phosphorus flares turned us to char. We starved and burned and died. Toppling down from heaven, a hard blessing; we stood in its shadow and begged it to stop. But no ears heard us; they were shut tight to our prayers. The Giant gouged