'RIPPER' and 'GASP' by Adrian Gibb (originally published in May/June 05.)

RIPPER

My past life regression session was in full swing.

“Where are you?” An ugly woman asked.

“It’s 1888. I’m in Whitechappel…London”

“Okay…now…concentrate remember…what do you see?”

I looked down. I could see a knife slicing open a woman’s abdomen. Then my hand began taking out entrails and organs. I smeared some of her blood on my lips…

A finger snapped.

“Are you okay? You’re shaking!”

“I’m the Ripper!”

The ugly face fell.

“What? The…the Ripper? As in JACK the Ripper?”

“Yes!”

“Oh!”

Silence fell.

“Well? What the fuck do I do now?”

“Oh” She smiled “That’s fifty dollars thanks”

‘GASP’

You want to know why?

Your silver face, in deadened space,

Inclined slightly to the left as you gaze,

Through human haze, and ask a never answered question.

You want to know why?

Why?

Because we can smell rain on a burning day

Wafting through our soul like a cooling escape.

Our lips can feel the tips of a lover’s fingers

As they seek the life that we ourselves seek,

Coupled in terror, comforted by shared anxiety.

Why?

Because the shortened days lend a cooling breeze,

A taste of being decrepit, trees naked, quivering in fear of death

Yet wrapped up in a blanket of profundity.

Then a resurrection of blossoms

The days grow long, the sweat kisses the brow

And again, yet again, we see the miracle of colour

And the life yet to come.

You want to know why?

Your arrogant light shines on us dancing.

Your immortal smugness inspires our poems, and lights our paths

To other worlds, albeit human ones, emblazoned by the fires of our imaginations.

You want to know why?

Do we have a choice?

The knowledge makes us gasp a trembling breath

And reach and clasp for the eternal being you take for granted.

You want to know why?

Why we smile to the sky and not collapse to the floor.

Because we die!

So we rise from our knees, and make our future ashes soar.

Adrian was born in East London, South Africa, his family emigrating to Australia in 1978 and settling in Brisbane.
After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 at the University of Queensland, Adrian went on to do two years of postgraduate study, focusing on ancient religions, and a further four years of a law degree, before he and the law broke up due to irreconcilable differences.

Since 1996 he has worked as a freelance editor on such diverse projects as educational textbooks, compilations of short stories and independent film scripts.

Adrian is married with a two-year-old son. He also has two dogs and a healthy mortgage. He is currently doing a PhD degree at the University of Queensland.

His first novel FIDELIS has recently been published and can be downloaded at www.aetherbooks.com