FURTHER RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM BROOKWOOD...

MY SORDID PAST IN SQUIRREL-DRAG...

Hello beasties,

Just a quick piece this time - I hadn't planned on posting anything new until later in the month or even early June, but I had another trip out to Brookwood this weekend just gone and so wanted to keep to my plan to let any day-trips inspire my writing. This time I was on my own and my leg was still playing up, so I didn't go far - so the majority of my "trip out" involved me sitting in the sun, writing. Of course, this being my second trip in less than two weeks it was a case of letting the same location inspire me in a completely different way from my last visit. This time I came up with something that is a mixture of dark humour and surrealness - maybe something a little creepy too if that's how you want to interpret it. 

SQUIRREL DRAG AND KINDLY APPARITIONS was originally entitled simply THE GRAVEYARD, but that was before I'd written anything; generally I prefer to avoid simple titles or else you just find your work gets lost amongst a million other pieces called THE GRAVEYARD. I always believe in making my projects stand-out as being as unique as possible. It's not always possible - when I published my POETIQUETTE and CAVEMAN LOGIC books there were no other published books with that title - but that's not the case now. Still, even so there still aren't many books with that title. When I started work on my KENSINGTON GORE series I googled to see whether there were many other writings using this title, but was surprised to find that (considering it is an actual area in London) that there was only one horror writer using it as their nom de plume. Anyway, I digress... I worked on the first draft of this new piece when I was in Brookwood on Sunday 10th May 2015 and then gave it a final polish on Monday 11th May - which is (or was) today! ...And now it's up here and posted for you. I hope you weren't expecting too much!

Next time I intend to write about one of the new books - depending on which one is likely to be ready first - or maybe there'll be another weird story... We shall see!

More soon!

Yeti hugs,

Paul xx

SQUIRREL DRAG AND KINDLY APPARITIONS...

(Random Thoughts From Brookwood Cemetery)

 

The graveyard is empty today...

The weather was meant to be wet -

So nobody came by; no-one at all...
The sun is actually out -
But still the mourners did not come...

However, life and death must go on...

I made the journey -
I have no reason to be here other than escape...

This haven of remembrance brings me peace...
Although I would be wrong to think -
That I had the place to myself...
I did not bring flowers -
But the garden is sprouting them for all to enjoy...

Baby rabbits play around gravestones -

Unaware of what these monuments represent...

Although who's to say what a bunny should or shouldn't do?

The place is alive with wild-life...

Squirrels sit in trees doing their squirrel-duties...

Looking out for whatever it is that scares or interests them...

I'd offer my time and attention if I thought they needed it...

Although goodness knows if I'd actually make it up into the tree tops...

Of course, any who know me would suspect that -

Such voluntary work is just an opportunity to do squirrel drag...

It must admit that, indeed, it is extremely enticing...

The chance to dress up in some furry ears and a big brushy tail...

But would I risk getting caught impersonating squirrel-kind?

There are animals here in this very place who would disapprove...
Who would have me locked up alongside previous offenders...
That old lady who comes here dressed as a flock of black-birds...
The student who prefers to spend his weekends in badger colours...
It's the whiskers, you see; the irresistible tickle of the bizarre...
Still, I cannot risk exposing my inner delights...
The Squirrel Police can't have me for thinking such things now, can they?
So I sit here in the garden and I wait; keen to see what may occur next!

I sit and I stare.., I forget to check my phone - I forget to check the time...

Ultimately I am here for escape; awaiting company...
In time it will come; a bony hand will reach out for mine -

Or maybe a kindly apparition will whisper in my ear...

Together we will sit in silence and I will remain... 
My loneliness gone...
My escape complete...

SQUIRREL-DRAG AND KINDLY APPARITIONS and all content of this blog are Copyright Paul Chandler, 2015...