In Steve Martin's L.A Story, he remarks 'Why is it that we don't always recognize the moment when love begins but we always know when it ends?' In a similar vein, while we can probably identify the start of a story of abuse, how do we determine when it ends? There is a great human need … Continue reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara review – where does suffering end?
2020 – thanks for the lessons
So, what then to make of this year that just passed? Surely, the most bizarre of years in just about everyone’s life. Or at least for most of us. We faced unprecedented bad news, with no end in sight, were tested to the maximum by….being forced to stay indoors, not frequent our favourite shops and … Continue reading 2020 – thanks for the lessons
Slowing down time – 2
Here is another slowing down time experiment: Original line: I was hit hard on the back of the head and fell to the ground. Expansion: I looked up to see what movies were playing when I felt a resounding thwack to the back of my head. My vision blurred, my ears began to ring and … Continue reading Slowing down time – 2
Slowing down time
Remember those scenes in movies where a car hits a guy, or a bullet shoots through a window - and the film-maker goes for this attention-grabbing slow motion technique that is gimmicky and utterly compelling to watch? Well, recently I was tasked with trying this out on the page. Here are the results. Comments welcome. … Continue reading Slowing down time
Shudder
She turned on the radio on her phone and propped it near the washing machine. She started pulling the clothes out of the hamper one by one. She went through her son’s pants and surely enough, found a half-eaten candy bar and some change. In Sunil’s pants she found his folded kerchief, the monogram with … Continue reading Shudder
Dissolution
He was standing close, leaning in to her. Some part of him was aware that he was threatening her, that she was too weak to defend herself and that he ought to step back. But he ignored that voice. He smelled of the cigarettes that he thought she didn't know about. 'Why did you say … Continue reading Dissolution
Deadline
Normally it’s finite time That heightens my senses The hurtling deadlines awaken me Working hard to meet someone else’s goal. But now, the ticking is more sinister unyielding Time passing, and indubitably Life itself. Who knows what tomorrow brings? If not the hope of many many tomorrows. The world in a grain of sand, That … Continue reading Deadline
Persuasion
I still remember that Saturday night. Or maybe it was a Friday night. Rajesh and I had spent most of the evening together, as we had been doing with more and more frequency over the previous months. After work, I had headed home, showered and changed and took a cab to Savera. It was our … Continue reading Persuasion
Dotage
Dwindling His days grow longer, life shorter. Long, deep rest a rarity sleep snack sized over day, over night. Memories, fears, worries, all the things yet undone, all the people still to protect Things to haunt him. New pants raise the question Cost against remaining time. On the good days, there is no truck with … Continue reading Dotage
Tears and Surprise 