Nobody Nose ‘Can YOU see the end of your nose?’ She said As she lolled, lounged at the end of my bed With a strange cross-eyed expression that read: “Has it always truly looked this way?” She closed one eye, then another to see If it’s slope and size could actually be. Is that what it looks like? My, ah me! It seems such a big, dumb brute today. And I wonder - I do - in fair repose: Why does she obsess so over her nose? Would she chop it off - as the adage goes - Just to spite her whole head sans delay?

Growth Buds once burst from my fingertips And each crevice of my mind. No, rather ‘burst’ is the wrong word And yet it isn’t, not really. ‘Burst’ as in that strange slow-frame unfurling And simultaneously exploding Motion, as if a handkerchief pulled with fluid flourish And pride from the magician’s cuff. Yes burst. They once burst forth And revealed themselves, myselves Clumsily but gayly from their shrivelled brown shell And with tireless zeal spread out And out And out Growing Growing Gone.

To My Long Lost Grandpa If I never met you and neither did my mother I'm not sure you're long lost. You're not long forgotten either. You're simply long gone. 44 years gone to be precise. I sometimes wonder if I'm at all like you since I look a lot like her. Is my nose just slightly different because of one unknown chromosome? Are my eyes just slightly greener because you stumbled along and happened to fall upon my grandmother? Can I blame you for my damn wonky teeth because it would really help if I could blame it on a phantom. That way people would never be able to prove otherwise and the shadow on yesteryear's windowpane can't defend itself. It's but a silhouette after all. Then again, I don't think I'd want to be like you. You are a deserter. You jumped ship. Maybe you have a family now that you stuck around for but there's a little one right here that you forsook to the wind. You did not do the right thing, for at least one instance of your #life you were not an honourable man. In that sense, I hope with all my heart I have not a shred of that in me. Regardless we got along just fine without you and I don't think I'd like to ever meet you or know who you were (are?). She and I and my sister are three fully-fledged functioning people who don't always get along and aren't always convincingly sane but who are pretty damn good. On second thoughts I'm a bit clumsy so again I could maybe blame that on your trespass. That would be nice, you can at least give me that you kind soul. So why should I seek out a tiny smidgen of my existence marked X? If he couldn't be arsed to stick around for a pitiful child I only know that X is a warning against poison. And you don't stick around to find out what poison does. #letters

Tonight There's the barest breath of air In the hot, red, heavy sky And my heart has been laid bare By the twinkle of your eye In a casual moment Of euphoric, choas-spun Spontaneity you spent Your choice, making me The One. You ask a thousand questions, Spout a thousand flatteries, While champagne-fizz suggestions Have me brought down to my knees. In this wide whirlwind evening You've looks only for me And lips but for my kissing That say we are meant to be. But only for the evening, While the heavens fade black And you twirl me round, you mean Every word you spin. Your knack Is for the skilled seduction Of any girl that you might Your rough embrace weak'ning me As bright spots cloud my sight. I am your doe-eyed prey dear If but only for tonight. #beginningline

#Letters Challenge Results! Thank you all for your beautiful entries, it's great to see this thing not only growing but growing with such quality (really I didn't expect any less). So without further ado the winner and the next host of the Letters Challenge is... @TigerLover! Congrats and over to you!