Last week a very tall man
in a long black coat and dark sunglasses
offered me the chance to make one wish,
providing it helped the nation as a whole.

I pulled the man close to me and stared at him.
I pressed my nose against his, squinted
and gently whispered my wish to him.

The man hesitated.
‘Are you sure?’ he said. ‘But you only have one…’

‘Yes,’ I nodded. ‘Proceed.’

And with that
the very tall man
in a long black coat
removed his dark sunglasses;
revealing to the nation, the most beautiful eyes in the world.

© Carl Burkitt 2015

642 Challenge: “A very tall man in a long black coat and dark sunglasses offers you one wish, but it has to benefit the entire country.”

The dog who couldn’t bark
grew up to be a great listener.
He was quite a hit with the ladies.

© Carl Burkitt 2015

642 Challenge: “Write a story titled ‘The dog who couldn’t bark’.”

When NASA sent me a letter
inviting my dog to go to the moon,
I was shocked.

When I read I could only
pack him one thing to take,
I was stumped.

Pedigree Chum?
A bone?
A squeaky toy?
I had no clue.

In the end I chucked my toddler in there
so they could finally settle their turf war.

© Carl Burkitt 2015

642 Challenge: “Your dog has won a free trip to the moon. What do you pack for him?”

If I could eat only one thing
For my whole life

I’d pick the thing you said
Before you walked out my door.

© Carl Burkitt 2015

642 Challenge: “If you could eat only one thing your whole life, what would it be?”

It was my first ever visit from the tooth fairy
And, like anyone encountering a surprise intruder would,
I punched her square in the mouth.

As blood filled her gob and her molars littered my carpet
I apologised profusely and tried to aid her to her feet.

The tooth fairy rejected my help,
Swiped the change from my piggy bank,
And called me a ‘massive shit’.

© Carl Burkitt 2015

642 Challenge: “It was my first visit from the tooth fairy and I…”