scotland – Paul Andrew Sneddon

Timescale

Bed rest.Doctors orders. I’m 46. I’m on a timescale.I’ve got stuff to do. I get up and walk to the kitchen.Come back.30 minutes to recover. Fuck’s sake. I’m listening to Otis Gibbs.Stories of Townes and Guy. Window open.It was sunny 30 minutes ago.Now it’s raining. The ache in my chestreminds me of something.That slipped myContinue reading “Timescale”

Hometown Blues

Back home for a few days.Going for a beer. The pub we started our pub crawls in is now flats.The bar we met in is now a nursery.The place we went for our first date is too. Whole town gave up the booze.Started making babies.Cut out the middle part. Must be something in the water.Continue reading “Hometown Blues”

Night Shift

Eddie drove down the main road, music playing loud. He was sure he was the only guy in Ayrshire playing 90s rock down the back roads. Definitely the only one still using CDs. What was it they called his favourite bands now? Classic rock. Fuck off. Jean had been saying,“Why not just go the wholeContinue reading “Night Shift”

Two Ghosts

The waiter brought the mug from the front bar, just like the singer had requested: half full of white wine. The crowd was different through here, the buzz of the front bar seemed another world. He left the mug by the piano and smiled at the singer. She was sitting by the window, singing aboutContinue reading “Two Ghosts”

Blue

Part One The light is fading out,The shadows have a new lease of life.I cough once, twice.I sound like a motorcycle engine starting up.I breathe in deep,Fuck.Fuck this. The day never started.I’ve slept.Not much else. My lungs feel like concrete.Every breath is a battle.Wearing me down.Wearing me out. Got the lights down low. I tookContinue reading “Blue”