Creative

Creative: The Principle of Succession by Katherine Moss

0 494

Photo: “Fossil Sitting in Sunlight” by A Guy Taking Pictures

She says she is not my rock
and this is as it should be,
I, a craftsman, her lapidary,
picking my tools blindly.

I feel that she is smooth and retains
an inner cold but she has grown
to become faceted, not like a jewel
but dull and heavy. Gritstone hewn.
Strife and the fear that belongs to others
struck upon her like flint against flint,

why then did she not make fire?

She is the founding stone
they build their futures upon.
At the edges she is flawed
with wear and tiny fissures,
like bites from the diamond
teeth of their sawn-off success.

She is set. Long laid down.
Nothing should have the force
to push her further into new formations.
Her face turns towards the sun’s own
hand lens shifting darkness on a sundial.
Hold her long in your palm

she will mimic your warmth.


This creative piece was submitted as part of our November theme: Isolation and Introspection. If you would like to submit your own creative work to aAh! Magazine, please email aAh.Editor@gmail.com, and be sure to check our latest “Letter from the Editors” to find out next month’s theme.

About the author / 

Katherine Moss

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • Spotify Wrapped – aAh! Magazine’s top albums of 2025

    By Adam Taylor It’s time to post your top artists to show how cool and different you are. Spotify Wrapped for 2025 has finally dropped. This stat-loaded list of listening habits gets everyone excited, revealing top artists, songs, podcasts, music genres, and hours listened – which can be a bit concerning… Spotify adds new features…

  • Call for online submissions: Creative Writing and Featured Artwork – Hometown

    Featured image: Suzy Hazelwood aAh! Magazine’s Literature and Creative Student Editors are delighted to announce our first online call for submissions for the 2025/26 academic year. This series invites creative writing students and visual artists to respond to the theme ‘Hometown’, offering the opportunity to showcase their work online. Manchester is a hometown for thousands, and simply…

  • What’s On: Things to do in Manchester this December

    Featured image: Manchester City CouncilBy Adam Taylor and Amy Corringham Winter is approaching, but don’t let the cold and dark days stop you getting out and about – aAh! has gathered a selection of events for all budgets for you and your friends to enjoy. Get into the festival spirit with a variety of activities…