Category Archives: Literary

George Orwell Quote

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Topher

‘Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past’. You might have encountered this reflection in the past. It’s from the novel 1984, which has been adapted into film. I’ve reviewed the 1983 version on … Continue reading →

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Kitty Toughpaws

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Topher

She was my sister’s classmate and friend Pestered Ate Jacky that was the trend During my days off uni, I answered the landline checked out the tease ‘Could I speak with Jacklyn please?’ Said this in her thick Indo accent … Continue reading →

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Tomato Rice

Posted on March 1, 2025 by Topher

A few times, we ordered tomato rice with crispy chicken supporting the local enterprise Got this from the Viet restaurant down the road They served it hot and the carbs reminded us of Java rice They put lettuce and sliced … Continue reading →

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The Process

Posted on February 16, 2025 by Topher

Writing a poetry collection is arduous The culmination of bits and pieces, months and years, make you cantankerous For me, writing poems began in sixth grade Got the highest marks in my Filo class though I did not pen a … Continue reading →

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Five strengths

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Topher

Share five things you’re good at. In terms of fiction, I’ve released a story collection. Nonfiction? One memoir. Poetry…is on the cards. Authors can’t be one trick ponies. We must adapt and grow. Kurt Vonnegut and Albert Camus were versatile. … Continue reading →

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One Day

Posted on January 5, 2025 by Topher

If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why? Jamal Wallace is my obvious first choice. However, I’ve mentioned him too much in my writing. Meanwhile, I saw the series One Day on … Continue reading →

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A Rare Dialogue with ‘The Comma Poet’

Posted on December 1, 2024 by Topher

If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why? For me, Ernest Hemingway is the most obvious choice. He didn’t pen a dozen books, go to wars, and travel the world, if he wasn’t a gifted … Continue reading →

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The Garage Man

Posted on October 26, 2024 by Topher

James was his first name but we christened him ‘Jackfruit’ Conked out in our toothless neighbour’s laundry room, until he had to scoot Penniless and homeless, Jackfruit was going back to sleeping rough Seeing him pack up brought me great … Continue reading →

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Word of the Month

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Topher

What’s your favorite word? At the moment, the phrase ‘conked out’ represents my favourite English words. I first encountered it in Stephen King’s 2019 novel, The Institute. The expression may mean a) asleep b) passed out or c) silenced. The … Continue reading →

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The Hoarder of Chucky Street

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Topher

On the fringes of humanity, beyond the realm of decorum and sensibility As you fixate on typos, malapropisms, and tenses, before guzzling a calzone They’re shown foraging through mountains of trash Upon them a radical regression; yearning only to make … Continue reading →

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