Valentina

You didn’t want my coffee, why so hard to break, the lies I constantly feed, wipe my tears, turn a cheek, make all the wrong arrangements, why are you so sweet, you'd gamble anything, including our days, outside a calendar sheet, your Ma crawled from Sicily, to Naples in her day, for heaven on her knees, am I lucky or just weak, seeing a life in your gaze, oranges and uncertainty, you always try to please, I’m cigarette smoking grey, maybe yours is inner ease, I’ve never been that way.

Wenna

Do you catch your breath, before the sea, wondering what is left, remembering news reports, pertaining to your family, littered all over the Court, in dusty boxes spread, they danced on our street, that one of your friend, the Trucker whom he fought, mother's words now hush be, No inquests at our door,, looking after, time shreds, sepia colours in Terylene, minor demeanours without end, pressed shirts reposed, they were merchant marine, ocean waves and houses bought, across my history.

Xanthe

Will you spend, a world of golden gain, learning to give, or dance on other’s bones, in shameful ways, then act the holy one, against your friends, all fires blaze away, who do you think wins, awash in groans, sheltered from the rain, you'll reside forever alone, chained to your ends, everyone paying, for dreams torn to shreds, if you listen real close, they’ll have their say, cry when the wind blows, then fly away.

Ulrika

You laugh at my fate, I'm the fool you say, who needs to be great, fly into my web, he holds my face, laughs it's all in my head, look at me he shakes, it’s a fine night today, he’ll soon be on his way, my sanctity in shreds, I’m poised but wait, to distance myself, the psychiatrist’s great, . she uses no blackmail, I catch her eye late, hands a wrinkled spread, to him she firmly states, you are alive but dead, smiles and hesitates.

Tina

Go on, watch me dance, what you do with claims, those who know to prance, have no peace but twist, when they hear your name, red curl to their lips, your broad brimmed hat, jaunty high window shades, white face dark glance, waiters drag unshaven shifts, stamp with wooden Ole’, the size of your tips, you suck on gambas, with a raging fame, shout Basta to the Ramblas, are my legs your gift, you are like the rain, lifts, tiffs, over the hill, will you go away ?

Romy

She measures distance down, a screed of wheat, lonely as a public telephone, she won’t drown in song, luminous as the sea, asks if we’re coming along, we’ll have fun in town, careful as can be, puts the brown bottle down, what better cure is medicine, than an oat cake field, trains trundling to the station, being true she casts around, asks everyone she sees, no refusals she’s a clown, when the friends have gone, her drink is whisky neat, lavender linen and eau de cologne she cannot feel her feet.

Quaila

Am pretty sure of what to do, around your knees, a tattered sheepskin to warm you, when birds thrum the dusk, passion doesn't leave me, the evening smells of musk, I never took you to Vera Cruz, you say I’m not easy, always creating some ballyhoo, a person you couldn’t trust, interesting but unseeing, oh well suppose what's done, but water is not food, its shape is what keeps, admit am an unruly fool, you never wanted fuss, at hospice then infirmary, I’ll look after us, orange fires the trees