Inspired by the work of Anne Stokes, 'Solstice Gathering'Ariane stood atop the castle battlements and looked out across the heavily wooded landscape that stretched far into the distance as far as she could see. It was the twenty-first day of December in the year of our Lord fourteen hundred and twenty-three. All along the castle walls, torches flared, casting an eerie flickering light but still she stood, watching, waitin...

High in the sky, the stars shine so bright. Which one did they follow on that wonderful night? The three wise men who, from the orient came, To find a child, though they knew not his name. Whether we believe in the saviour or not There is no doubt that the world changed a lot. And through wars and conflicts that are so reviled There can also be peace because of this child. In nineteen fourteen, in 'the war to end wars' On...

Munchen.Pasing. April 9th, 1939.     Maria Kaufmann awoke in the light-filled room. She looked at the clock on her bedside table.   Half past twelve. Five and a half hours since she climbed wearily into bed after getting home after a long night's work at the Ludwig-Maximilians University Hospital.   She had finished her shift at six and taken the bus and tram home. It was reasonably quiet at that time on a Sunday morning....

Berlin. April 9th, 1939     Katarina yawned and stretched out her arms. Although today was Sunday, she had to work at the hospital. She checked the clock beside her bed. Five O' Clock.   Her shift began at seven so she threw back the covers and sat up, turned to the side and grabbed her robe from the end of the bed before standing and slipping her arms into the sleeves and fastening the cord around her waist.   Walking to...

Munchen-Pasing. April 9th, 1933: A New Beginning     In the quiet Munich suburb of Pasing, a new day was dawning. As was usual, Maria Kaufmann was rising along with the sun.   She went to the window and, in the half-light, drew back the curtains and took a deep breath.   The light was slowly increasing, but the clear sky was still a deep blue.   She smiled as she surveyed the view from her window. It was going to be a bea...

My father once played football. He played for a local side. He wasn’t very good at it, But it kept him occupied. He played right up there, at the front, Striker, I think he said. He soon scored his first great goal, Right in off his head! Sadly it was an own goal, The Captain he was mad He sent him back to play midfield Which wasn’t all that bad. But my dad couldn’t see too well And his hearing wasn’t good. When they kick...

I see you there, alone and still and I know it's you I'm going to kill. You look at me and see me near, I shout at you but you don't hear. It's not my wish, to make you die, It's up to you, and you know why! You've made your choice, so die you must and I will kill you, without a fuss. To save yourself, you still have time, don't make me kill, just change your mind. Turn around, just walk away, before I reach you, live tod...

This is the first chapter of a book I have been working on. If you like it, please let me know in the comments box below. If not, then please say what you don't like in the same place. Thank you.     Berlin. April 9th, 1933: A New Day In the heart of the city, Katarina Langsdorf was waking to the start of a new day, a special day, for today was her fifteenth birthday.   It was a beautiful spring morning. The sun was risin...

I am worth very much, and you cannot buy me. Yet I am yours, if you like, completely free. I am here for you, when you are sad and I do not judge even, when you do things that are bad I lift you up high, when you're feeling so low, supporting you, protecting you from foes. I soothe your fears and ease your pain, I listen to your worries, again and again. I am there when you need me and not when you don't, I know when you...

I stand upon the cliff edge, looking out, alone.Above the sky is laden, grey and dark, forlorn.Just one step that's all I need, just one to end it all,One small step to end my life, one step for me to fall.But is this what I really want, to cut my life so short.Have I nothing left at all, nothing, zero, nought?Who will miss me when I’m gone, those I leave behind?Will they care that I'm not here, will they really mind?And...

Dramatic skies, dark grey on blue, Beams of light where the sun shines through. Tarmac black and shining wet, Engines quiet, not turning yet. Climb the steps and find a seat, Stewardesses, prim and neat. Seat belt on, engines whine, Spooling up, it's nearly time. Slowly back, out from the gate, Moving now, no time to wait. Engines louder, moves away, From the buildings, long and grey. Turning left then to the right, Engin...

She steps down from the bus, the city dark and cold, Soft rain falling, wets the ground, the silence taking hold. She pulls her scarf around her neck, umbrella overhead and walks off down the alley, looking forward to her bed.Behind her, footsteps follow or is it just a trick, Echoes from the walls, rebounding from the bricks. Her feet move faster, stepping out, but still she hears the sound, The footsteps keeping up with...

“Go on, get aht! Me and and yer ma ‘ave some business to attend to!” The little girl looked at her ‘ma’ slouched across the worn and torn sofa, the strap still tight around her upper arm and the syringe, with its old blunt needle, lying on the carpet below her outstretched hand. “I told yer, get lost and don’t come back until yer got summink fer the table, bloody kid!” The empty vodka bottle shattered against the wall clo...