Oaklynn

Parents fade away, sometimes without grace, don’t sit at my table, mothers without children, see their departing gaze, the waves only visit, Our Lady knows I’m great, no matter how they pray, on cold lit Sundays, my Dad is unfiltered, lost within his ways, his problems consistent, demands loans from my pay, chants without praise, never took us on holiday, a gooey existence troubled, how can we obey, let them take communion, living is my game.

Maggie

At the entrance lights and raises, a candle for drinkers and vagrants, her youngest suffers that way, in Piraeus there's a convent, behind the lip of alleyways, where the cruise ships frequent, she passes through them in a daze, to a tree lined oasis, far from that tourist game, hears maritime hooter’s advent, what do you expect anyway, sun, wine and sea beats sense, encouraged by a daughter’s praise, she knows no one’s to blame, they enjoy what they pay, she smells in momentary instant, the monastery’s sweet gaze, a loving darkness from within, she kneels to ancient names.

Nadia

More than any man, love brings her relief, like a river swells the dam, inflated or in despair, can cry when she pleases, mostly on the stairs, but none of its an omen, compared to that other disease, iron framed tantrums, when she stands and swears, she'll never release, the new peace inside her, gathered in a doll's pram, all she needs for leaving, made spledid by her elan, it's a a quiet affair, Spring’s great feasting, she’ll settle for that here, happy in her creed.

Lena

You'd gamble anything, my sister says, including a wedding ring, around your eyes, could you ever retain, that time so prized, then you cry and sing, chase love like a spray, of broken wings, a smell of smoke and fire, you beat out the flame , encircling your whole attire, keep on smoking, maybe you can smile away, laugh at summer things, but yours is a selfish prize, can you feel the rage, the little ones denied, dappled by the day ?

Katie

Do you create lost dreams, you could have owned, easily arranged with iced tea , don't talk to me and goo, i remember this town. even if the river’s blue, the only person in your team, you consistently let down, in causes you entreat, the struggles with your tubes, all your troubles found, in that lonely hard school, others call you a has been, you could have worn a crown, I might have been Queen, resurrecting some hopeless feud, rent unpaid in rooms with fleas, do all poets wait for news, will drinking set you free ?

Jerry

My great open days, without a care, make sense of me you say, yes, go on, watch me prance, you know about mares, but you've never made beds, you smoke in the haze, crumple Florentina’s on a chair, under a broad brimmed hat, a white faced chancer, you breathe in thin air, shout mas vino, clap, are my legs to your taste, you’re such a flirt, the words comes in phrases, I wonder at your balance, you haven’t a prayer, being chained to this dancer, others glare.

Idaho

My weekend sings, in this time of plenty, especially on my tiny wings, betrayed by our bones, can’t anyone see, the yellow light of fall, I am dancing on strings, It is a cruel destiny, a terribly fragile thing, we call time our own, beneath an early rising sea, but some of us drown, smell of diesal that clings, I hate blue Mondays, fire distinguishes me, act up play the clown, reject all flag waving schemes, take holidays for a month, my sweet solitary’s.