Old Cronies – Friends for life
we stumble throughremembering of thingseach of us reminding another of things forgottenfrom yesterdaybut each havingwell-remembered storiesfrom decades long ago we niggle and moanabout the health of eachcomparing meds andthings no longer managedmobility, sight and hearingare usually top of the listbut various chronic conditionscome in at second place through complaintsand memory lossthere is everlasting comfortold friends gathering […]
Red Armchair – Existing as a magic portal
Here is an armchair, a Chesterfield armchair — only one — as two would not have fitted in this small space. The giant sofa did not fit through the door of the flat (apartment), never mind in the lounge/study/dining room/ extended kitchen space that really should just have been a lounge. Still, the kitchen is […]
Drifting – Slowly escaping
long stretch of sandy beachin cold-weather Scotlandwaitlast two weeks in Julywe have a summerGlasgow invasionand huffy locals soft and warmgolden sandsgallons of alcoholmost populartowelsbathingsleepI pick my way pastwith shovel in hand I want cold hard ridgeslugworm beneathbaited hooksbobbing dinghyout in the bayaway and awayfrom the maddening crowd bite on the lineflurry of activitycrash landingsea creaturemurdered […]
Island of Silence – Tranquil existence
Listen! Nothing! I live in the middle of the city, and I have my windows open on this beautiful day, despite the cold. If I listen harder, it’s still nothing, not even the resident magpies in the trees, for now. Oh there, the vague sound of a train, and now, the hospital helicopter in the […]
Glaikit – Or embracing the slow life
“Where am I?” This is my rallying cry as I grow into the third age. It is not about being physically lost. It is more about needing an assessment of progress on thinking journeys. I take my thinking for a walk most days, living alone allowing me to do that without derogatory comments coming my […]
Taking Time To Tick – Meandering moments
time fliesuntil you startwatching the clockor until you look to seewhere time has gonesee what effect it has hadon your song do you feel that you belong?are you having fun yet?keep on asking foreverbut never, everstop doing whatyou’re doingwhatever that may bethat keeps you feeling youngand helps to keep you free and only when you […]
Making Fun of The Self – On talking whilst alone
Some might think I talk a lot less living on my own. Maybe I do, but it seems otherwise to me. I constantly ask questions of myself and the inanimate objects within the room. And I have full-blown conversations through the window with the birds, the cats and the occasional rat crossing the lawn. The […]
My Voice – My voice is Scottish
never shuts upnever speaksvoice through writing,other people,adversity,group vs solointernet voicephone voicework voicefriends voicestrangers voiceorganiser voiceteam member voiceparent voicepartner voicechild voiceill voicehealthy voicestressed voicerelaxed voicelearning voicesharing voicesleepy voiceawake voiceunconscious voiceinternal dialogueangry voicefrightened voicesibling voiceageing voicevoice no more FraserAugust 2023
The Cold and Dark – I see the snow that isn’t there
I see the snow that isn’t thereit brings back thoughts so dark and meanthe ice persists in soul laid bare But I have often taken careto polish memories and make them cleanI see the snow that isn’t there On seeing snow, I have to stareat all the things that I have seenthe ice persists in […]
Changing The Guard – Marking a new beginning
Who’s there?This changing of the guardmarks a new beginning wherefair question becomes quite hard. Another passagefrom one age to another stagein life’s little struggle and searchfor meaning.We seem to lurchfrom one answer to another,seeking solace from sister and brother,asking what we inherit.What was it of our parentsthat was of merit, and considered worthwhileto pass on […]