STORIES FOR THE PEOPLE

A wandering bard, writing for joy

  • The breaking mountain

    They were tired, hungry and cold. The three Pakistani soldiers made their way downhill between the icy peaks of the mighty Himalayan mountains, the crunch of their boots and the clatter of their gear echoing across the landscape. It was barren; a monotony of grey rock stared up at them and but for the shadow Read more

  • Cain and the sandfish

    It was a rare and spectacular double sunset. The two suns sailed down toward the lip of the moon, burnishing its vast desert with shades of fire. Cain stood atop a dune, leaning on her staff, watching. As the sky darkened, the glowing phantom of the planet she orbited became clearer. One half was painted Read more

  • The Moonchild

    I leave a white and turbid wake, pale waters, paler cheeks, where’er I sail. Yonder, the warm waves blush like wine. The gold brow plumbs the blue. The diver sun – slow dived from noon – goes down; my soul mounts up! Is then, the crown too heavy that I wear? – Herman Melville (Moby Read more

  • Picture Perfect

    “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is fairest of them all?” As the words were spoken, the reflection of the speaker melted away and smoke swirled across the surface of the mirror. The room darkened, the mirror flashed lightning-blue, and a thunderous rumble shook the walls. A booming voice echoed around the room: “Why, Snow Read more

  • The Dread

    On top of a lonely hill, stood an inn.  Inside, the fire crackled and danced, throwing a dim glow into the shadows. A low murmur of conversation harmonised with the groan of the wind outside, while the rain drummed on the dirty windows. On occasion, the door shuddered open and another weary, frozen traveller collapsed Read more

  • The Good, the Bad and the Devil

    The lone rider cast a long shadow in the setting sun. He whistled a melancholy tune that waltzed over the arid scrubland, off to the burnt horizon. From beneath the rim of his hat, he surveyed the landscape, eyes squinting against the dust.  In the distance, rising above a Spanish-white village was the church he Read more