Sitting in the corner of the coffee shop,

Laptop open, pages spread along the entire table.

Empty cups lined up like soldiers as you

Sip from the latest cup of bitter no sugar or cream black coffee.

How long have you been there?

Dumping the raging thoughts onto a page,

Into a document to be saved and possibly savored over

Later, later when your nerves have calmed.

People come and go, barely no...

The cold wind whispers in my ear,

Frosty and insistent, I wonder what it is saying

Pulling my scarf ever tighter, The icy wisps sneak down the back of my neck.

Am I supposed to know something here?

Frosty and insistent, I wonder what it is saying

This wintry breeze pushing ever in to speak to my soul

The icy wisps sneak down the back of my neck,

Making my body shiver and respond to the cal...

Ten o’clock in the evening,

Standing in my doorway.

The air is crisp but not yet wintry cold.

The stars twinkle, and the moon peep over the horizon.

A moment, just one moment

As you lift your hand to caress my cheek.

Your fingers infused with sultry, electric energy.

Your other hand touches the top of my shoulder,

Sliding behind, gently pulling me towards you.

Your lips, soft and wa...

Daffodils and funny hats,

Cawl and road signs with more consonants than vowels

How does one pronounce ‘hyfryd’?

Why does it not sound remotely like what it means?

Beautiful,

A word I would use to describe your country

And the Welsh people

Beautiful.

The sunsets over St Bride’s Bay,

The endless fields of golden rapeseed,

The gentle hills dotted with sheep,

Ancient hedgerows with centuries of lege...

Saplings pushing through the earth

Seeking the warm, life giving light

Young and supple

Soft and flexible

As the sapling ages into a young tree,

The bark becomes protective

Weathering the cuts and bruises of its youth

Rain and snow,

Sunshine and clouds,

Each bit of weather leaving its mark

Both on the exterior and

Deep inside, each ring has a story.

The leaves come and go,

Bright green in spri...

Click, click, click. The seat belt wasn’t closing for my seatmate and I’m beginning to feel stuck. The man next to me is fidgety and feels no compunction about manspreading into my legroom space.

He’s not been particularly friendly either and I’m trying to imagine that maybe he’s just a nervous flier. Patience. Just take a deep breath.

The flight attendant comes over to offer a pre-flight beve...

As the train pulled into the station,

I was not prepared for the sensation.

The sensation of fluttering waves,

Waves that lead me into dark caves.

You stepped down the stairs,

Totally unaware of all the stares.

The stares of inconsequential old ladies,

Whose thoughts would be too hot even in Hades.

Your hand clasped mine, warm and strong,

My heart danced and burst into song.

A song...

The alarm went off. My room was still dark. Five thirty in the morning. Get my feet on the floor and get into the shower.

Do I really need to go back to work this morning? It’s been six months since the accident, since I had a life.

How do I pick things back up? Fine, I still have my job which is miraculous. Most employers would have thrown me off the books so I should be grateful. I just ...

1. I refuse to accept that diagnosis.

The reality of your impending demise

This cannot be

You, so hale and vibrant

To be reduced to this

No, I will not accept it

This is not happening.

2. Surely there are treatments,

Research studies?

It can’t be as bad as all the doctors say.

I’ll tell you what, universe.

I promise to do everything in my power

To help others,

To be grateful, to be a b...

My dearest Emilia,

Today is the day!

We are going on an adventure, from New York to Chicago on an airplane, one of the new DC-3 aircraft. Actually, we’re leaving from New Jersey but that’s really just across the river.

My dear husband, Arthur, advised me to dress comfortably, to be prepared for both cold and hot conditions. I’m wearing my cream linen suit, with the brown piping and buttons. I...