MicroFlashFiction - Steve Coel

The Wolf Within [ Re-visited ]

21918[i]

Steve Coel

The Wolf Within, originally published
in Chiselled Anthems way back when,
was written after a walk
down the Old Kent.
Take a look around, some things
truly do not change.

The Wolf Within [ Re-visited ]

Steve Coel

Orange medicine cups
litter this early
morning park pavementing
cardboard homes hiding
in scraggy bushes.
And shelters, carefully
built on benches
are being pulled
down for the
day. Plastic sheets
hang on trees
drying as the
mud splattered newly
drunk sleep in
the field before
breakfast.

microflashfiction

Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Scratches jotted on car handles

4/9/18

Steve Coel

Scratches jotted on car handles.

Steve Coel

' Just the one more time. Every time.'

You walks ahead so you can keep an eye on his back. Even now,

now when yous both been on the outside 6 months.

And yous still wearing trademark greys and parallel pockets

with your newest clasp.

Like all bad habits, is difficult to break.

We sees your interesting walk straightaway. Looks like yous

both walking at the same pace. But you isn't. Is trick
you needs to learn. Brings unneeded attention if you

looks like yous running.

Which you is really.

Even so, yous brave. Got to be round this way.

Thing is, yous both got to try harder to stop being

this stupid. Although, fair dos, everyone knows two heads

is better than one.

So well done there.

Is clear peoples got to break you up if theys going to
get better deal than you. And thats how it always starts.
Always. Takes three to break two and four to break three
and so on. Is how wars start.

So; twos easier to deal with. Trust like.

'Knows where you stands with two.'

[ Draft ]

microflashfiction

Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Steve Coel

ymadawiadau

[ 120 x 80 ]

Steve Coel

'...his hand knows where to go to for a song...

[ Desolation Angels, Kerouac ]

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Y Diwrnod Arall

llanw isel [ 120 x 80 ]

Arfordir Byw

Steve Coel

Y Diwrnod Arall [ 2018 ]

The Other Day

Steve Coel

Clear you mind, listen carefully...

and don't stop breathing.

Burn Some Dust - Sweet Pearl

Spinning Top - Society Shock

Early Dawn - Star Girl

Glorious Poet - Heart Power

Desert Dream - Rebel Cause

History Writer - Midnight Gem

Fleeting Visit - Spirit Bridge

Dance Diva - Arctic Roll

Pearl Acclaim - Nitro Boost

Medal of Honour - Texas Rock

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Rust on Cloth

Taith Araf [ 120 x 80 ]

Steve Coel

Rust on Cloth

Steve Coel

[ Ideas ]

...scratches jotted on car handles...paper packed tight in glove, tears behind ears...dead jeans and dated trainers.

...catching your breath on street corners...gripping your shopping against baggy knees...spirit is ignored here...your addiction is poverty...rust on cloth.

[ Discarded ]
...the smell of wet anorak, warm beer and fuel.

[ Notes ]

[i]...tension builds up and dies away, remains static, or assumes a different pattern.

[ii]...microflashfiction involves a flash of illumination, a shock.

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Weekend Pass

UnEven Street

[ 2013 - Present ]

Steve Coel

Weekend Pass

Steve Coel

[ It begins... ]

Grey. A grey dismal sky, disgusted
with seeping sighs at the sight of
cellars of music, cheap meat and
middle aged women with American sailors
careening, preening and screaming,
like angels of delight spewing
on to damp staircases.

Pressing. Pressing new mobiles to ear
young children glare at old timers
clicking tongues on fairground rides
in broken jeans...

Extract from - Weekend Pass.
Performance piece last requested on
National Flash Fiction Day.

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Lighten Up

llanw isel

Arfordir Byw

Steve Coel

Lighten Up

Steve Coel

Mystery man,shadow man
is what they used to call him.
Him a thin whistle at dusk,
the latest three day millionaire
returning from sea to die again
over and over.

Shallower sea back then
better cut cloth
broader smiles.
Now; too many rope marks
and twisted bones on metal
are mixed with drink drunk
sharp curses shared
in dark corners.

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Going On

llanw isel

Arfordir Byw

Steve Coel

Going On

Steve Coel

Poisonous words

leaving a familiar taste.

It's a street thing really.

Really

if it's going down

you're going to know.

Someone will always tell you,

get the message through. So;

stands to reason

you'll either deal with it

or leave.

Quick like.

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Heavenly Session

Slow Journey
Steve Coel

Heavenly Session

Steve Coel

Extract 1.

...old guy in the corner doghead we calls him and doghead is what he likes to be called main reason being he's always on about times either had dogs or raced them something like that anyways was coming here before I took over like so could be different reason anyway always in the corner spot always drinks steady like for an old timer not a problem...

Extract 2.
...watching it all go down not seen it this bad before somebody's going to win somebody always does but if you has winners you has losers too just natural like I ain't a loser will always win me always...

Draft Extract from Tin Collector [ An 11.59 Publication ]

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

Arbrofion gweledol / lliw

O ble mae'r bobl wedi mynd

Steve Coel

Illustrations for new microflashfictions

on rotation in the studio.

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

I am not yet cold

I am not yet cold.

Steve Coel

I am not yet cold.

Steve Coel

I am not yet cold.

Steve Coel

I am not yet cold.

Steve Coel

I am not yet cold.

Steve Coel

I am not yet cold.

Steve Coel

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Teamwork

Slow Journey

O ble mae'r bobl wedi mynd?

Steve Coel

Teamwork

Steve Coel

Extract 1.

...like I says
when they leaves their mark
people learns about it
real quick like.
Got to,
if they wants to survive
in this game.

They likes nice things,
pretty girls...
you knows the story.
All knows how that one goes.
They's still young.

Keeping it all legit
is hard part,
and truth be
they got that covered
real good.
Has the the gift they has,
is why they'll stay
top of the pile
for long time.
Round here at least.

Extract 2.

Still,
someone needs to have quiet word.
Straighten things out.
Cos like there's always a someone
involved somewhere along the line,
always.

And this ain't normal.
But you tells me
what is.
Take that drink now I will.

Draft Extract from Tin Collector [ An 11.59 Publication ]

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Sings the Blues in E

Sings the Blues in E

Steve Coel

Ping...Ping...Ping...

There it is.
Again.
Same place,
just by swinging
doors next to the kitchen.
Driving us all mad
so it is.
Driving me mad more like.

Started about a week ago.
At least is when it became
a nuisance.
You gets everyone settled
for a sitting and then

Ping...Ping...Ping...

Nothing to do with equipment.
Been checked.
Just sort of hangs in the air
and when you stands
by door
you still can't place it.
Bit of a mystery really.

Manager says we should
get somebody in
to have a closer look.
We suspects he means
a priest not a plumber.
Stuff gets done even so.

But in the background
you still hears this sound
and some people thinks
we's doing it on purpose

Ping...Ping...Ping...

In E so it is.

3rd Draft. [ 2008 - 2018 ]

llanw isel

Arfordir Byw

Steve Coel

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Burger 'n Gravy

Burger 'n Gravy

Steve Coel

You knows when you hears
people talking about their
last meal?

So..on Death Row apparently you
gets to choose a last meal.
Tells you quite a bit about
the person who orders them like.

Hungry mostly I'd be guessing.

Anyway; I's sitting in the local cafe
before closing and this fella
comes in and asks for the
last meal of the day.
Burger 'n Gravy.
Nice.

Hungry probably.
Low on cash, definitely.

So he eats it, walks out,
and gets knocked over
by the late bus.

Some last meal eh!

3rd Draft / Last Draft? [ 2008 - 2018 ]

llanw isel
Arfordir Byw

Steve Coel

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Grass and Paper

Grass and Paper

Steve Coel

Crouching; doglike alongside a

fence corrugated with time

the local old man patters

his way home, all

memory a slight flicker

in grass and paper.

Liquid; sweet and delicate,

reminds him of
people long gone,
dismissed with
relatives and friends,

sweethearts and enemies,

photographs and bruises.

In a bottle he finds

time and peace.

In a bottle he becomes

young again.

A fighter.

A winner.

[ Grass and Paper, 'Two Voices' - Notes, 1998 ]

llanw isel
Arfordir Byw

Steve Coel

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Y Diwrnod Arall

Y Diwrnod Arall

[ The Other Day ]

Steve Coel

Clear you mind, listen carefully

and don't stop breathing.

Strict Tempo - Rock Icon

Persian Sun - Very Smart

Far Reach - Rocky Blue

Boundary lane - Lucky Mistake

Desert Frost - Coal Stock

Magic Ship - Celtic Artisan

Plough Boy - Silver Nails

Highland Peak - Dutch Canyon

Global Melody - Sweet Taboo

Lethal Turbo - Easy Gold

O ble mae'r bobl wedi mynd?

Steve Coel

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

Steep Holme

Arfordir Byw

Steve Coel

For all suicidal storm surfers, beach pariahs
and plastic foragers.

Could be their first time, could be their last time...
but for many, there is always a next time.

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication

Rules for storm followers

Steep Holme

Arfordir Byw

Steve Coel

' If you can hear bells ringing, then a storm is coming.'

[ Beach saying]

Rules for storm followers
Steve Coel

1. Don't bother interfering with the suicidal surfers.
Only exception are the 'storm preachers' hell
bent on trying to save someones life.

2. Why learn names? Everybody lies.

3. Let people do their own thing.

4. Authority sucks, so just ignore.

5. Safety is never an option.

microflashfiction - Steve Coel

An 11.59 Publication