Shingle Street By Carol Coiffait

Of course the waves help She uses them for lift-off. Out, past where they break She waits for the seventh one See, it's bigger than all the rest. She leaps astride her boneless horse And it lifts and flings her beach wards. Whee! She's swimming. No she's not. She's thrown onto a bank of fine shingle Where white horses try to paw her back Back into deep water. Her knees and belly are raw Her back get slapped till it tingles. She rides the waves for hours For the thrill of it She's learning the skill of it. But tonight, what a commotion As Mother slaps on Calamine Lotion .. Tonight, how her skin will burn And crackle between starched sheets As her old land-self emerges.

Copyright © Carol Coiffait 2004 Photographs courtsey and Copyright © Andy Hogben

Europe, UK, Poetry - Mermaid By Carol Coiffait

	She swam beyond the realms of possibility Lazed her days away in chilly pride With such utter equanimity, that the North Wind blew her back into hot water. Well, she was her Mother's daughter In a Pacific, non-specific sort of way And she craved the lick of an ice-berg Read more...

Europe, UK, Poetry - AMOR VINCIT O By Carol Coiffait

	Over the greasy cobbles of their youth at night, they sometimes risk it; arm in arm and slow as spring-time seeking out the truth, the depth of friendship in the nearest bars. But once a week, on pension day never mind the weather, they lock Read more...

Europe, UK, Poetry - OVERHEARD ON TOP OF THE TIDAL BARRIER By Carol Coiffait

	I know it's a long way from Venice, but I'd say that sky is pure Canaletto. You what? Stick a few mature trees under it, say some English oak and elm, an old-style farmer and his dog, a cart piled high with hay pulled by a horse from a brewery dray and it's a bloody Constable. Read more...

Europe, UK, Poetry - FOUR WINDS ON THE HULL By Carol Coiffait

	The South Wind is a laddish lover: He fends me off, pushing me back on myself afraid of his own reflection in my green silk gown, as I go sliding through the town. I skirt the tanneries, the snags on rusted hulls, the miles of fine silt, patterned by rats and gulls..I'm craving for the real mud-flats, Read more...

Europe, UK, Poetry - Between The Lines By Carol Coiffait

	Between the need for nicotine and a trip upstairs, I forget what it is I wanted to say. Between the wine and coffee I forget who I am and slip inside your skin, your country, breathe mountain air, taste honey Read more...

Europe, UK, Poetry - HERRING GULL By Carol Coiffait

	The wind is an artist. It turns the pages indicating which words I should use. The silent blackbird and the loud-mouthed gull are artists too. They give me words for movement, for appearances and disappearances. Read more...

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Africa, Poetry - Mosi Oa Tunya

	by Michelle Dee Clark Smoke that thunders, masking the coming storm Young men of Chinoyi disappear Men and women tortured for telling the truth Tyrannical regime, that's what they fear And who, are they? Read more...

Sports Football - Sunday League 4th Jan 2004 HASSG Lions and Qandil 6 - Malt Shovel FC 6.

	by Mo with 5 Video AVI's of The Game This week's match produced a bounty of goals for both sides along with a fair share of controversy and terrific spirited action. I met up with the Hassag Lions lads as usual in Pearson Park at 10 am, to be given the news that a Hull Daily Mail journalist and photographer were due to come along and write a piece on them. Read more...

Asia, Iraq, Food - Mixed Roasted Vegetables by Amy

	OK guys this is not an Iraqi Recipe, BUT EVERYONE LOVES IT! I give it ***** (five stars) Prep time approx 20-25 minutes. Bake 45 minutes. Ingredients 1 Eggplant, cut into chunks, 1 each red green and yellow peppers (red/yellow optional), chopped coursely, 1 onion cut into wedges and separated, 2 medium zucchini (or any green squash, or leave out entirely) chopped Read more...

Europe, News - Hull Kurds celebrate Saddam capture.
	It's Sunday evening in Hull, December 13th, 6 o'clock in the evening when I am interrupted from writing up my Sunday football report (I am following a Kurdish Sunday league football team) by a phone call from a friend, Heather. "I'm looking out of my window (Middleton Street, Hull) and seeing crowds of Kurdish young men dancing in the dimly ..". Read more...

Asia, Articles - Michael Standring killed for being a symbol of democracy

	by Peter Standring On the 12th of October I hope that you might to reflect on what the Bali bombing meant to some people. It is tempting for me to try make a point for the many thousands of individuals caught up in this and put it into to some geopolitical context. I have considered it best merely to give an honest, personal perspective. Read more...