Tuesday 29 May 2012

SLEEPING MONSTER – JUNIPER'S DAUGHTER IN TROUBLE by Nick Armbrister extract


SLEEPING MONSTER – JUNIPER'S DAUGHTER IN TROUBLE by Nick Armbrister extract

SLEEPING MONSTER – JUNIPER'S DAUGHTER IN TROUBLE by Nick Armbrister
She was in trouble and running for her life through the forest. She was mortal now, so very human and frail, as fragile as a spring flower under threat from an immense frost. The frost dragon was chasing Juniper's Daughter through the forest, a night terror threatening to suck the very lifeblood from the witch. A slow horrible awful human death with no rebirth, for she had made a pact with her number one enemy, Satan, and bargained her soul away for a mere mortal man, to save him from the gallows. To save his life so she could be with him for one short human lifetime, together.
Her Mother Juniper had gone crazy and tried to kill her daughter with lightning from the sky and small meteors from space. Slightly wounded and very scared, the former witch knew her Mother had failed. The woman who was once Juniper's Daughter lived and ran for her life, her Mother abandoned her only child who had cast her lot in with the Devil. For the sake of a mere mortal man who was condemned to death for stealing a chicken, such was the way in medieval Saxony. Would my Mother really kill me wondered the panicked girl? Would she?
The ice dragon made another pass, sending freezing air and ice thundering down into the trees, missing the vulnerable girl by yards. Soon she would be hit, she knew this; this was her predicament now but events from before led to this moment. How could she forget them?
****
A storm appeared before the man could be hung; torrential rain flooded the town square forcing the executioner and population to flee to higher ground leaving the thief on the gallows. Juniper's Daughter caused the storm to save her love; against her Mother's wishes, for the man wasn't innocent, he was a criminal with a dark past of black arts and murder. That he had gotten away with due to Satan backing him, he thought the theft of a single thin chicken to feed his starving stomach would go unpunished and noticed, for the first time in his life he was wrong. Satan was about to cause an earthquake to topple the gallows and free the man but something stopped him seconds before the ground shook. A freak storm not of his doing – Juniper's Daughter was here!
Clouds coiled in the blue sky darkening it, rain fell down in torrents drenching the crowd who wanted to see a hanging, good medieval entertainment. Now with the man free and in the arms of the witch, Satan flung a lightning bolt down hitting the witch and burning her badly. She was on the edge of death with the former captive holding her head in his hands, enemy and witch crazily together in a surreal situation.
He cried for the first time in his life, never had he shed a tear for the hundreds he had slain before but now he did for the witch who had freed him. She was his mortal enemy, for he was allied with the Devil and darkness, all they stood for made the evil man feel alive. Now something had occurred. A freak happening, he should have killed the witch, burned down the village and killed its inhabitants but he didn't. When the fire struck the witch almost killing her, the evil man screamed, "Master, oh mighty Satan please don't kill the witch! She freed me! If it wasn't for her I would be dead, save her Master!"
"My slave, you have worked with my enemy and betrayed me. You deserve to die like she does, by letting her free you give her power over you and against me! No, she must die! You have one last chance slave to be totally subjugated to me, if not I'll burn you down along with your new friend! You must finish off Juniper's Daughter; kill her with your own bare hands. One more murder won't make a difference. Then I'll forgive you and forget about this little episode. Hurry now!" thundered a voice from the heavens, full of ominous hostility and hidden violence.
"I am still evil and still work for you, you know that! How can you doubt me? Look into my mind and soul. I let the witch free me for you! But I do love her and she can work for us. Ask her before you kill her, I refuse to murder her. She helped me and didn't hurt me," feebly replied the criminal to the dark rain laden clouds. His voice was barely heard over the poring rainstorm.
"Yes I know you work for me, think it over what I said!" bellowed the Devil from up above, making the ground shake.
"But…" stammered the mortal man.
"Let him kill me then Satan! I'm as good as dead already!" announced the witch coming round after being hit by the lightning bolt fired by her enemy.
"Yes my dear but I've changed my mind!" replied Old Nick.
"What do you mean? What tricks and games are you playing with us now!" screamed the condemned man, rage filling his puny body.
"Don't listen to him! He does this all the time, the bastard!" shouted the witch, looking up at a black cloud. She was sure now the Devil controlled those same clouds that she had cast upon the village to keep all witnesses away. She couldn't think clearly due to her wounds and intense pain.
"Be quiet witch!" said the Devil, firing another shot of lightning a metre from her head; the wet grass hissed and burst into flame. Juniper's Daughter struggled to move from the flames with great difficulty.
"Stop this mischief!" shouted the man raising his fist to the sky.
"Help me, I'm in great pain. He's right I'm finished. Kill me and put me out of my misery," begged the witch, her life slowly leaving her.
"Juniper's Daughter, I will heal you and let you live!" whispered Satan. Was this more trickery? "On one condition and one alone. Do you want to hear my proposal?"
"What is it? You only lie and cause pain and suffering, how can you heal?"
"Listen witch. If you make a pact with me and become human and not immortal, giving up your witchcraft, talents and right of immortal life, I will spare you're life and that of you're lover. I promise to let you both live together, in peace. I will also free your love from his dark debt to me. Do we have a deal?" beckoned the Devil playing his hand. Silence descended on the rainy village, water threatened the injured witch and her new friend. They had to move or be washed away soon.

http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmx1bHUuY29tL3Nob3Avbmljay1hcm1icmlzdGVyL2p1bmlwZXIlRTIlODAlOTlzLWRhdWdodGVyLWZyYWdtZW50ZWQtd2hvbGVibGFjay1sZW5zZS9wYXBlcmJhY2svcHJvZHVjdC0xODg4NTYxMy5odG1s

Sunday 27 May 2012

EXILE


Exile
I use a cream for my problems in life. If I need a girlfriend I use Get Me A Girlfriend cream. And there appears a nice Size 10 slim brunette who gives good head. To get a job I used Instant Day Job cream. Applying it liberally on my arm immediately got me a bakery day job to pay for my tattoos. And for the car I need as a runabout, I got Instant Car cream. Putting it on my hand got me a Fiat Punto on my driveway. Not bad eh? What about getting more book sales? I bought a tube of Many Book Sales cream and put it on my back. I sold a million ebooks and became a millionaire overnight. This cream based solution is a good thing for a quick fix. What shall I get next? Maybe a cream to fix my craaazy mood swing?

Thursday 24 May 2012

My Blade, My Life (by Mel) and more i did live scribble fest oldham may 24

My Blade, My Life (by Mel)
With trembling hands, she reaches for her blade. She tells herself it will be the last time.
She tells herself this every time.
She never succeeded before, but will just have to now.
With the blade in her hand, she breaks out into a cold sweat.
She starts shivering and her heart beats faster.
She thrives on these feelings,
she tells herself she must do it, and she knows what she is about to do, but she does not care.
She takes the blade and slits her wrists -
Bad, real Bad...
The blood starts pouring from her wrists, exposing bone, flesh - her hands dangling -
She drops the blade and minutes later drifts off into a world of her own. Her life had little meaning, and now - No meaning at all.
She had to do it.
Now she is free from pain and suffering.
And now she has succeeded....

Warhearts

A girl.
A guy.
Become one.
She works in the bar.
He drinks in the bar.
They leave in his car.
He drives.
She's his passenger.
Down dark roads they travel.
To where?
Not their normal route.
Venturing here or there.
All in the air from here.
Something went wrong.
His car left the road.
Down an embankment.
Upside down in the river.
No crash barrier?
Trapped in the car.
Assistance came.
Off duty rookie cop.
Rookie no more after this crash.
Cop couldn't get the girl out due to the car being inverted.
Tried to save the girl.
Unable to give her air.
Got her drunken boyfriend to do it.
Her pulse increased.
For a while.
A battle lost.
Would it have been easier if the car was upright?
Boyfriend loses it.
She can't die!
She does.
Choice made.
Drink and drive.
Crash and murder your girlfriend.
Just like that.
A life taken due to stupidity.
How many times did this happen and he got away with it?
Not this time.
Throw the book at him.
Karma will screw him over.
Both man's and God's.
Lynette is dead.





mel is my dear friend and lynette is her close friend. lynette's death affected me very greatly. i had a tattoo for lynette. to remember her forever.

Saturday 19 May 2012

new new poem

Like a Knife
Hippy lady I saw you perched upon the window ledge in the pub. You looked really something. What did you think of me? Of my tattoos? When you sang it was serenely blissful. You in your short hippy skirt and tights, hair all wild, guitar like an old lover. Be my lover? Did you hear my poems? Especailly on dear Lynette. I need someone like you to fill my empty life. I looked for you as I left the pub to get the bus. You had vanished? are you a sylph? Your windowsill was bare. I wish I was stood close to you as you sat there, my hand between your legs, kissing you ever so deeply. Lost and falling into each others' world. Will we meet again hippy chick?

Monday 14 May 2012

Warhearts

Warhearts

A girl.
A guy.
Become one.
She works in the bar.
He drinks in the bar.
They leave in his car.
He drives.
She's his passenger.
Down dark roads they travel.
To where?
Not their normal route.
Venturing here or there.
Tits up from here.
Something went wrong.
His car left the road.
Down an embankment.
Upside down in the river.
No crash barrier?
Trapped in the car.
Assistance came.
Off duty rookie cop.
Rookie no more after this crash.
Cop couldn't get the girl out due to the car being inverted.
Tried to save the girl.
Unable to give her air.
Got her drunken boyfriend to do it.
Her pulse increased.
For a while.
A battle lost.
Would it have been easier if the car was upright?
Boyfriend loses it.
She can't die!
She does.
Choice made.
Drink and drive.
Crash and murder your girlfriend.
Just like that.
A life taken due to stupidity.
How many times did this happen and he got away with it?
Not this time.
Throw the book at him.
Karma will fuck him over.
Both man's and God's.
Lynette is dead.

Sunday 13 May 2012

FORGOTTEN PROMISES

FORGOTTEN PROMISES

We talk face-to-face, so close, so fragile. In the morning I say goodbye
my eyes searching her tearful eyes for one last gleam of hope.
Then I go, I promise from the bottom of my heart to phone you and I will
But I never do as the headlong rush that is life rushes me by,
making that one night seem so long ago.
I ask myself, did it happen? Really? I mean, all I have is the memory of the
sweat on your body and the curve of your figure.
In some faceless, nameless town I meet you in the street, your eyes pierce me
and reduce me to ashes. I’m so sorry I broke my promise but life forgot all
about me.

Tuesday 8 May 2012

OUT/IN series of old romance gone wrong poems 2001

OUT

So we went out to see a film, with cars and music:
The Fast and The Furious. It’s like old times, you know,
Nick and Deb, when we had that thing.
Now the film ends and we go to your house,
reality hits home in the usual way.
The bloke you met sends you a text “Hello beautiful…”
and then I know it’s time to leave.
The trauma starts as I realise, this is it,
it’s finally over and I have to move on.






OUT 2

I walk down to the road in the dying day,
as my heart cries and my brain collapses.
Dave likes you and I go to a club, to meet
a girl and get over me and you.
But all I do is to get pissed and have a dance
to old music, all on my own.
In my own lonely kingdom, where I rule by myself.
How has this happened, the loss of what we had?
When we were a couple, a real happy couple?
Maybe never, my brain cries to bring me down
to earth. How can it work
when you have three screamin’ kids?



OUT 3

So I had to be with you after watching Lost in Space,
it was the damned robot and it having a heart.
Away to the pub I hurried to be with you
and to banish my loneliness.
Sadly it wasn’t to be as Jo stole your attention
and you ignored me.
So I went home, lonely and upset,
as other eyes sought you and took note.




OUT 4

Dave was his name and he plays rugby,
he wants to see you and share a drink with you.
Will that be all you share, as you see him every Thursday?
I know how these things work, two months as mates
“See you next Thursday Deb…” and then
you’re suddenly lovers.
He noticed me, the week before, needing to be with you.
Patience was his game and yourself was his cause
as he hatched his little plans.
Now he will think, when will she be mine?
I know it will work. All it takes is a little time.



IN

I now wonder, why it’s always this way the broken
heart and failed romance, it’s Nick and Deb.
Maybe now you know, I love you so
and I will pine away forever.
How can it have come to these silly games,
me putting an ad in this paper?
You have your Dave and so many more,
so will fate grant me a reprieve?
Will fate laugh and kick me when I’m down
or help me and make me strong?
All I know is that I want my life sorting
and no more emotional trauma.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Natalie. Roberto poem new

Natalie. Roberto

Oh my dear friend Roberto. I remember back to our time, when we made love. Not the last time but the time before. When you were doing your college film studies and were so happy on your future. It was you who said, “Nat, I’ll make the best film ever made.” And his dear eyes were so full of passion, life and innocence. And a love so powerful, I cried, right there. Love for life, film, his country and lastly, for me. I new then in that moment, Roberto loved me. Maybe more than all the other things. How was that possible?
I replied to his film statement. “Tell me, what film will you make Roberto?” Those precious eyes clouded over. I heard him whisper: “Why Natalie, I’ll make the film about you. A small story about you, how you’re in a band and love to fly in your red stunt plane. My film is about you Natalie.”
I was utterly speechless. Those close to me and anyone who cared to listen knew my voice was always in motion, just like the ocean. He looked at me. That moment is still with me, over thirty years later. I never did reply to him. I embraced him and cried tears of joy. For him and for a love I had but never dared admit to myself, till Roberto died in a British artillery barrage weeks later. I was in love with him. He has no known grave.
Was his body found and marked ‘Unknown Argentine Soldier’ because he had no dog tags? Those beautiful innocent eyes are gone forever. I can’t remember what colour your eyes were!
Oh my dear Roberto, I say it now. Every day since you were killed in battle, I say aloud my love for you. Even now I’m married to Nick and am with him, he understands. His words bring clarity to me when I weep for you, dear Roberto. A life stolen by war, unfulfilled. You never did make your film about me, never completed your film course or chased your dreams. All dreams shattered by Them, those who forced you to join our army to fight the English.
I quietly say to myself, your end was fast and you never suffered. I don’t know exactly where you lost your young life, just the area. I’ve been there to see with my own eyes. I felt you were nearby to me. Are you still earth bound my love? Are you? I sense that you are. Please be happy for me and my new family. I wanted all this with you but war stole you from me, forever. I can’t remember what colour your eyes were!
At least I have someone who should hate me for what I did to his countrymen and who listens to my incoherent words about you Roberto. It shouldn’t be Nick wiping away my tears, it should be you. Please stay close to me. I have to move on from those awful times. I dedicate my life to peace. Please understand my lost friend.