Fiction – Mark O'Neill

A Classical Tale of Keats and Chapman

Chapman walked in to find Keats standing amid piles of musical scores which sprawled over table and chairs. “Have you joined a band?” Chapman asked dubiously. “No! This is all for the prize!” Keats tripped over a teetering pile of what turned out to be the complete score of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, scattering the pagesContinue reading “A Classical Tale of Keats and Chapman”

Roffa and the Mystery

Roffa liked her mornings to have structure. She started in the kitchen with a heaping bowl of Roffa food accompanied by pleading looks at any member of the family daft enough to try and eat their own breakfast while Roffa was hungry. Which was always. After breakfast Roffa would do a quick tour of theContinue reading “Roffa and the Mystery”

Roffa Goes to School (continued)

Once outside the front door Ben stood and waited for Alpesh while Roffa sniffed and snuffled about her. She was not too sure why she was off on an adventure today but she thought that Ben had said it was to “Show her tail” and that sounded a very good idea to Roffa. Roffa knewContinue reading “Roffa Goes to School (continued)”

A Word A Month

For 2022 I have decided to publish a poem or piece of short fiction every month at the end of the month. Ursine paws must be kept in practice least we turn them to darker deeds… January 22 – This House is not Our House (poem) February 22 – Another short adventure of Roffa (fiction)

Keats and Chapman make a bet

One time Keats and Chapman made a bet. They had been discussing the concept of “charisma”, how humans might take on that intangible glamour most usually reserved for the gods. Keats stated that charisma was an external projection, whereas Chapman insisted it reflected an internal quality. Their debate could have spun on endlessly if Keats’sContinue reading “Keats and Chapman make a bet”

Roffa goes to school

Roffa was torn. On the one paw, she liked routine. Her morning and evening bowls of Roffa food should be in the kitchen every day in the same place and at the same time. And it should be the same food too! Same bowl, same place, same time, same food. Those were Roffa’s views andContinue reading “Roffa goes to school”

Why do dogs howl at the moon?

In which the reader learns the truth of why dogs howl at the full moon, thanks to Roffa the excellent dog

The Rainy Day, an adventure of Roffa, the excellent dog

Roffa liked the rain, she like the way the drops fell from the sky so she could catch them on her tongue, she liked the way that the drops bounced on the pavement and the plants, she loved the smell of the world in the rain. Most of all she liked getting her fur wet.Continue reading “The Rainy Day, an adventure of Roffa, the excellent dog”