I am squinting at death
but death pixillates
into cubes
of bright.
I am looking for death
but death hides
his white eyes and bitten nails
behind my shopping list.
I am listening for death
but death’s voice is muffled
by a toddler trying
to say her cousin’s name.
pic & poem by rachel mcalpine cc-by-2.0
My brain works
with grey shapes heaving
and words building, building.
Poem and photo by Rachel McAlpine CC BY-NC 2.0
We’re going to play
the game of one cat one kitten
(says Ruby).
You’ll need to be
a lot of characters,
because Gloria won’t understand.
You’ll have to be my Mum.
I’ll say, can I learn how to cook?
And you’ll teach me.
And I’ll run away
because the Mum’s food is yukky
— we won’t say gross.
You pretend to lie on the road
and be a kitten.
I find you and make you my pet.
The more time you spend writing this down,
the less time we have
to play the game.
*
Rachel McAlpine
Game invented by Ruby, aged 4 or 5
For goodness sake (says Ruby)
I know how to spell AND.
You don’t have to write it
in fancy writing.
For goodness sake,
I know how to spell A.
It’s just one letter.
That’s how we spell it at school.
Marie said, “What’s that tattoo
and can I have one too?”
and I said,
For goodness sake, no!
It’s already ruined.
I washed it and it’s blurry.
For goodness sake,
no!
*
Rachel McAlpine
Poem uttered by Ruby, aged 6
Poems in the wild—Rachel McAlpine 