I love getting presents, especially when they are precisely what I want at that moment in time. But if I could only get one more present for the rest of my life, it would be this: a poem written exclusively for me, by one of the poets I truly love. I would want to meet…
Gender Matters Matter
I dug this poem out today - I must have written it when I was around 9 or 10. What a laugh. I'll admit, along with some subtle editing, I've made one significant change today - Elly has changed from a boy to a girl elephant (and without the complicated surgery.) Recently I read an opinion piece…
After the party
As our bodies collide and we miss each other, I start thinking of all the times we have touched but not touched. I open my mouth to tell you this then shut it again without saying a word. Our bodies part and we tuck and fold, packaging ourselves up again, gifting ourselves once more to everything…
Recently I found out that a literary magazine (Takahē, published quarterly here in New Zealand) is keen to publish one of my short stories. In the same week, I learned that I am one of two runners-up in a writing competition I entered a couple of months ago. (I can't tell you any more details as they…
The Singing Scribe
I was on stage recently, belting out a parody of Bohemian Rhapsody with a group of fellow musical theatre-ites (fortunately it was a paid gig, which made it bearable), and it got me thinking about music and writing and the ways in which we humans express ourselves. I'm a trained singer and I've been involved in musical…
Jasper the despot cat
I love cats. I own two - Samantha and Lucy - and our neighbourhood is full of them. There is only one, however, of note: Jasper, the cat next door. He's huge. He's intimidating. He scares the living bejesus out of my two poor little girls. You always know when he's coming because, incongruously, this huge boy wears…
small talk
you tell me I'm beautiful i say the same you wake up beside me then ask me my name that's small talk, nowadays
Patricia Bell, Author 