Fraser Duncan

That Was The Week – Beginning 20 October 2025

Image of diary with text of 'This Week' used to illustrate post

Returning to Medium this week it seems only right that I kick off by writing a post like this. I have now submitted my final writing project at university, so I can either sit and drum my fingers for a month or two, or thereabouts, or I can just get on with normal life, such […]

Finishing University Course – And returning to Medium

Image of person peeking over the parapet wall, used to illustrate post

Poking my head back above the parapet again.  My university project is now submitted, and so now, on that front, I simply have to wait to hear from them to see whether my work is worthy of their MA award – or not. Thus, apologies for absence, and now, I am aiming to be here […]

That Was The Week – Beginning 7 April 2025

Image of diary with text of 'This Week' used to illustrate post

I had a slow start to the week due to sleep issues for the first couple of days, but that soon changed, once I had caught-up on some decent sleep. I progressed into the week by exploring the merits of stylus writing on ‘Nebo’ and ‘OneNote’, the outcome of which was to decide that each […]

Things I Cared About – With tongue in cheek

Image of Fraser wearing shades to illustrate post.

Love.  I cared about love.  It came in many forms from many different kinds of people.  I gave as much as I could manage. Breath.  Yours or mine, or ours together, knowing we get to see another day.  Mouthwash is good. Imbalance.  Not everything has to be the same.  Imperfection, too.  It seems I have […]

Identity – Fifth poem of the self

Image of 5 scrolls with flowers to represent 5 poems of the self, used to illustrate post.

never really belongedto anything or so Ithought wrongly whenit was pointed-out to meFamily First Forever then but more too likeScottish cultural heritageminority characteristicsdon’t need to be out andabout to know how near and I like being Britishdespite some awful historyand some terrible politicaldecisions taken to bringus all to task and obey global citizen toowith desire […]

Spirit – Fourth poem of the self

Image of 5 scrolls with flowers to represent 5 poems of the self, used to illustrate post.

brought-up Catholicextensive damage wroughtknee jerk atheist reactionbut slower considerationbrings better tranquillity new learning to respectother people’s beliefswhatever they may beand exploring what mightjust work for me as well still trying to make peacewith myself as much aswith the rest of the worlddeity not possible for meexcept that found in others peace acceptanceforgiveness resilienceawareness responsibilityother people […]

Learning – Third poem of the self

Image of 5 scrolls with flowers to represent 5 poems of the self, used to illustrate post.

I decided that schoolwas not a place to learnand I made a mess ofevery part of my selfthat mattered to me still scraped throughuniversity still an optionscraped through that tooand for many years survivedin the only way I knew how graft and grind was the waypunched more holes in my healthtried to ignore health and […]

Engagement – Second poem of the self

Image of 5 scrolls with flowers to represent 5 poems of the self, used to illustrate post.

looked at the worldand got involvedoutward vision tobe of service to otherstook a bit of learning a lot of learningfor relationshipsexploration andfalling off the edgeof the known world remembered how to playwithout needing to knowwhy any of us do whatwe just do anywayor so I believed then chose my friends makinglots of mistakes on that […]

Animal – First poem about the self

Image of 5 scrolls with flowers to represent 5 poems of the self, used to illustrate post.

animal world of whichwe are naturally partinvades my thoughtsin the every daymakes me do better this body and its healthreliant upon my attentionneeds food and drinkand lots of exercisefirst two are ok anyway the younger medid better it seemsalthough still the runtchallenges been presentfrom the very start I hunt out the best foodensure no dehydrationfix […]

You Again – How can it be?

Image of yellow carnations in a vase, used to illustrate post.

joke cardno greetingpresentfrom the pastwistful prudentlanguage lacksemotional cadenceyour visit stillmakes me wonder blinkyou disappearedI missed youI fill the mugscoffee black FraserJanuary 2025