Grammar. A Poem.

Concrete Poetry Twist on Snow White.

The Fairest of Them All. A Poem.

The apple was plump, ripe, bursting with juicy flesh

like the curves of my body that I hide with frilly layered gowns.

Sweetness and untainted goodness rolls, grows and solidifies underneath

with a cold red membrane outside. A wishing apple, she tells me.

So kind she is to sacrifice her desperate need of magic and instead bestow to me.

“I won’t charge you, my child” she sugary old dear says,

“I’ll give you the first one for free.”

With one bite, my wildest fantasies will materialise before me,

like colourful hallucinations. My Prince Charming on a galloping steed

will carry me away; chasing the dusky horizon until we touch the sun.

I gaze to the Heavens to search for Eve, contemplating her wishes.

Other apples exist but this one – so rich, fruity and forbidden;

it will taste more syrupy and honeyed than them all.

What’s one little bite?

The ugly but lovely old biddy gives a coy smile,

as I place my ruby lips on the apple’s skin.

Down to the core I bite, hard with pearly shrill teeth.

I was right; spicy, fragrant, mushy and treacly,

it fills my mouth with yellow. But as I chew, the sour sweetness fades

and morphs to ash on my tongue. A bitter but zesty powdery ash

that fascinates me. I want more.

Time seem to blur together into one long dream-like day.

I sniff some more of the Snow White, the chalky sherbet candycain.

I sprinkle it like fairy dust and brush it on my teeth for whitening.

First, I am plain old Doc; boring and forgettable. But

with my powdered sweets, I become Happy, Bashful and

Dopey. But the gleeful high soon descends and I fall into

Sneezy, Grumpy and Sleepy. I sleep for days

in my glass coffin. It’s so small and cramped in here.

I’m waiting for Prince Charming’s kiss to resurrect me;

to be my saviour. In fairy-tale land, we can’t save ourselves.

I’m still eating that rotten old apple.

MTV World Stage – Biffy Clyro and Slash. A Review.

Review: MTV World Stage – Biffy Clyro and Slash

Date: 7 November

Venue: O2 Academy, Glasgow

It’s an urban gig myth. A mystical collaboration that fans fantasize about, all the while knowing it will most likely never happen. Two giants of alternative music: Scotland’s biggest rock export of recent years, Biffy Clyro, co-headlining with one of the most famous guitarists on the planet, the living legend that is, Slash. Even as eager fans queued outside Glasgow’s modest O2 Academy, many were convinced it was all a joke – and with tickets only costing £10 a piece when they arguably could have been sold for over £100, you can understand the speculation. However this fantasy, proved to be a reality.

The 2,500 odd lucky fans who managed to nab tickets, after causing a meltdown on Ticketweb due to the overwhelming demand, were in awe as Biffy Clyro emerge. The rock trio, hailing from Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, captivate the stage with the opening chords of That Golden Rule, and deafening hysteria takes over the crowd. Mosh pits erupt and spectators are hoyed into the air to surf along the crowd as Simon Neil shreds on lead guitar and sings in his raspy Scottish tones. A spectacular firework display of pyrotechnics, strobe lights and flames accompany the exhilarating set list, including the classic crowd-pleasers: Bubbles, Who’s Got a Match, Glitter and Trauma, The Captain and Black Chandelier, and the beloved slow acoustic tracks: God and Satan and Machines. An awe-inspiring rendition of Many of Horror unites the crowd in puddle of goo and love for the band and Simon Neil takes a back seat on lead-vocals as every member of the audience sings along to the chorus in perfect awesome unison. Loveable chants of “Mon the Biff!” and “Biffy! Biffy! Biffy Fucking Clyro!” spur on the Scottish rockers to finish their fantastic performance with an incredible version of the electrifying, Mountains.

As Biffy Clyro professes their undying love for Glasgow and say goodbye, the crowd cheer, woo and whistle with all their might and volume as the band vacate the stage for the next act. Anticipation buzzes in the crowd as fans wait patiently for the guitar hero and founding member of the original Guns n’ Roses line up, Slash, featuring the talents of Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge and the Conspirators.

A momentary hush descends on the crowd as the backing music played during intervals stops and the crowd go wild as Slash, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators take to the stage. The mere sight of Slash wearing his iconic top hat, shades and leather is enough to make the crowd scream and bounce in a frenzy as the act open with a pounding and thrilling version of You’re a Lie. Highpoints of the set list include: Nighttrain, Stone Blind, Anastasia, Back from Cali and the fan favourite from Slash’s former band Velvet Revolver, Slither. The stage is submerged in a pool of red and purple light as Slash amazes the crowd with his lightning speed guitar solos. The vintage Guns n’ Roses hits that everyone is dying to hear were met with feverish cheers and screams from the audience as the sound of You Could Be Mine and the classic Sweet Child O’ Mine blew the roof off the place. Just as the crowd think their energy is beginning to waver, everyone in the audience, even those sitting in the balconies are drawn up on their feet as an adrenaline-fuelled encore of Paradise City shakes the building to its foundations, followed by an explosion of seemingly-endless confetti that rains on the audience. The crowd strain their voices and scream for a final time in gratitude and admiration for the legends playing for them as Slash, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators bid their farewells.

Those hoping for an on-stage collaboration from both headlining acts were unfortunately left disappointed but an astounding cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s masterpiece Crazy Train by Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro and Slash, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators can be viewed on the main MTV EMA show.

Lucky for those fans who were unable to get tickets to this remarkable, one-off event, MTV were kind enough to film the sceptical for MTV World Stage as part of the EMA celebrations taking place in Glasgow’s SSE Hydro. An additional piece of good news is that both acts are returning to play in Scotland next month, so there is another chance to witness their epic performances.

It’s safe to say that those stumbling home from the O2 Academy, after being shook to their core with their faces melted off, their voices coarse and a piercing ringing in their ears, definitely had a night to remember.

Kidnap: Short Story.

Dear Milly,

I folded this letter as many times as I could to make it really tiny and I gave it to the big guard man at the fence next to your unit. He pinkie promised me that he wouldn’t tell anybody about it so I hope you get this letter and that nobody else does.

I don’t understand what’s going on. Has anyone told you anything? Mum took me to the centre today. It’s so horrible and chilly cold in there. Everything is really white and clean and shiny. It has a really funny smell that doesn’t fade away no matter how long you are there. It stings my nose and makes it itchy, like when you really need to sneeze but it just doesn’t come. Have you been taken there yet? Mum was crying when she took me in and she told me it was for all my own good and that I wouldn’t be safe until I had it done. I wanted to believe her, Milly, but because she was crying, it made feel bad, like something was wrong, you know? Nobody is telling me anything and I get smacked if I ask those people too many questions. I haven’t been outside the unit or at school in ages, none of us have. I asked Katie and Holly and Harry and Thomas and Jenny and nobody knows what’s happening. They aren’t telling us kids anything. I don’t really think the mums and dads know too much either.

I thought I should tell you about what happened at the centre. I had to warn you, Milly! We were called into a doctor’s office and Mum had to leave and she was crying real bad and trying to hide her face from me which made me feel worried. I didn’t want her to go and leave me alone in there but someone took her arm and kind of pulled her away. I wish she could have stayed. The doctor told me what was going to happen but he used so many big fancy medicine words that I couldn’t really understand. The doctor rubbed this cold brown stuff on my hand. It smelled just like the weird coffee that Dad used to drink with ice and no matter how many times I ask for a sip, he always says no and that it’s a grown up drink. It made my hand go yellow as if I had a big bruise.

After that, the doctor took out a little knife-looking thing from his drawer. On the side of the knife thing, there was a little glass box attached to it with something inside, like a small white tube. I didn’t know what it was but I knew it was going to hurt. He told me to take a deep breath and look away. He told me it wouldn’t hurt, it’d only nip for a second. Liar! It was the worst pain I have ever had in my whole entire life, Milly, honestly! I don’t want to scare you but yeah, it hurt. It was like a little gun that shot this little tube into my hand! My hand bled and bled and he gave me cotton wool to press on my hand to make it stop. When it stopped and I took the wool away, I could see a little red light flashing inside my hand. It’s the little tube! It’s inside my hand, flashing! It’s still doing it, even right now as I’m writing this letter. I tried to pick it out but it’s too sore.

After he shot the tube into my hand, big men in white coats came in and they took my dress, tights and bangles into another room and gave me this big, baggy, mucky-looking dress and a big black coat to wear. They’ve taken all my dressing up and kiddie makeup stuff from the unit too! All I have is mucky clothes. But the worst thing was still to happen though, Milly. I wasn’t sure if I should tell you but I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen to you too.

After the doctor shot me with the knife gun, another man came with a big razor and it was growling and shaking in his hand. I knew what they were going to do and I tried to run away but they had me trapped in that little room! I ran round and round and even tried hiding under the table but they grabbed me out from under it. The other big men held me down and I was real scared, Milly. I kicked my legs as hard as I could and I even managed to wriggle one of my arms free and punched the biggest big man on the chin but it didn’t seem to hurt him. I threw my arms and legs around like mad, as if I was in the swimming pool! But I wasn’t strong enough to get them away.

They held my head still and the man with the razor started shaving away my hair! He shaved my whole head. Every single hair is gone! I tried to pick the hair up from the floor and put it back on but it just fell off again. I only did that for a second before they put it all into a clear plastic bag and took it away. I’m totally bald now, like a baby or an old man. I’m so ugly, Milly! I cried the whole night long after I got home and I wouldn’t talk to Mum at all because she let it happen. She didn’t even try to protect me, Milly! I start crying every time I see the mirror. Do you think my hair will grow back? I heard that after your head has been shaved, it never grows back! I really hope it does though. I look like a boy.

Mum says that it’ll keep me safe and keep me looking like all the other little ones. But why do we all have to look the same? This has happened to all us kids in my unit now and every night all I can hear is all the kiddies crying themselves to sleep. Mum’s right, we do all look the same. Has all this happened to you yet? I hope it doesn’t have to happen to you, but well, I think it probably will. I hope you’re safe at least. Another kiddie from our unit went missing today. They’re trying to act like it’s no big deal and keep it ‘hush hush’ but I can tell Mum is worried. All the mums and dads are.

I’ve been keeping count low down on the wall in our room by drawing little lines every time another kiddie disappears. I’ve got up to 33 lines so far, I think. I’m worried about the lines though. I think I’ll get into trouble if they notice them. Do you have an idea why kiddies keep disappearing? If you know anything at all, please write back and tell me.

I’m not even sure this letter will get to you because they’re being really mean about us all talking to each other. I hope nobody finds out about this letter. But if they do, I hope I don’t get into too much trouble. I hope this, whatever it is, all ends soon. I want my hair to grow back.

Remember, don’t tell anyone we’re writing to each other! We’re not allowed to and I’m scared, Milly. I’m scared that I’ll get in trouble with, well, you know who. Please stay safe and please please please write back as soon as you can! Your letters are the only thing keeping me happy sometimes and I really want a letter since you didn’t reply to my last one. Why didn’t you reply, Milly? I miss you! I miss the old times.

Lots and lots of love, hugs and kisses from Angelica xxx