Monday 31 January 2022

Katie

Can you blame me, from your runaway horse, the way you screamed, look at me, I whisper, you've run this way before, I give the reins a twist, what do you bet my Queen, no sorrow or remorse, you know I'll break free, you are not my sister, I’m not your whore, of a thousand wishes, I spend time in dreams, sometimes inside doors, hustle in car lane streams, like a hard worn duster, lifted from the floor, did you seriously think, I would take any more ?

Sunday 30 January 2022

Joanna

Eyes beat like fireflies, you are no one's fool, they dance like satyrs, jingle on the snowline, this cold winter noon, the mountain’s like wine, sunlight bathes our ties, we’re 28 and cool, it gets us by, on track iron or trainside, down the country’s blues, leaves no time for crying, our family's plight, a suffering misfortune, doesn’t give us sleepless nights, we’re poor and just carryon, no need to be cruel, we’ll party like its Oberon, play all of the tunes.

Imogen

My time goes by unspoken, afraid of family especially Pa, our business closed and broken, which hand do you hold, inside the stable’s dappled bar, sun light leaves me sore, my days scatter unfold, no one sees my scar, or hears that silent roar, memory can’t control, chime of beat or waterfall, an awakened lost Mariposa, I steal away a ghost, elbow grease work foreign bars, deal with other blows, see the crime as a token, why say tu voir, not so easy to let go, we never travel far.

Friday 28 January 2022

Gloria

I walk without fear, down lilac evening, mother's words hush dear, wondering what they know, or who I’ve seen, never bring to this door, do you remember the tears, Dada used to tease, gazed at all our fears, he’s in California now, lived long on our street, house bought, cars on show, tried to film and act sincere, Sunday suit, collars at ease, a mistake when he leered, large hands, stilled the blow, I loved but was uneasy, told him where to go, whispered like a thief.

Francesca

Like a swollen flower, your sleeve rolled charms, disguise true matters, you glide and cruise, and bring to the farm, a rocking tractor tune, cows as big as towers, don’t possess any harm, you hang out feed bowers, won’t frighten or fume, bellow with alarm, at the smell of glue, lovers are like showers, they make you feel warm, are gone within the hour, you dance light or blue, turn the motor on, hear the agricultural news belt out your song

Wednesday 26 January 2022

Eileen

Will she ditch me now, make me drink more drink, sit and wonder how, my eyes are wheaten brown, I dance along the brink, this long winter long, the heat off her brow, gathers and prinks, who she might follow, like a seeding furrow, she can blink, or scatter sorrow, constrained in what I know, what she’s thinking, her forehead’s an arrow, I won't need a show, still less a shrink, to lean forward and crow, you’ve lost me Minx.

Tuesday 25 January 2022

Dana

She says a dawn novena, and worries about her feet, concerned who will see her, love's a trick to trap, not knowing what to keep, equipped for other crap, every tune’s a new scene, bars fuel her sole conceit, blonde singers, wooden dreams, rise to greet and grasp, but when morning turns green, she prays alone unfathered, wondering if there’s a beat, more than any depth of need, to always bet on evens , perhaps with a common tap, poised or in retreat, something good will last, dancing rescues everything.