Ella

The arc of her frown, splices lovely days, slugs Vodka when she's down, Macy's, the Five and Dime, New York alley ways, she'll rob any moonshine, won't hang around, in a sun that frays, her search for holy ground, the black lonely night, where all debt get paid, she knows what's right, they'll make no sound, if she delays, to keep open her mouth, , she's done with this Town, stars shift in her gaze, walks river bound, eyes like trays.

Elana

Does anyone ask her why, she loves the falling rain, or adores the night sky, what rights have you, to shoot her down in flames, cloud her days zero, but where is the line, when shame sears her face, sedated by wine, do you place a curfew, make lovers take the blame, is this what you do, like the cherry flower shines, on early Spring days, her angel face sighs, the hair is spun fine, no one sees the pain, will you echo the lie, she'll bounce back again.

Esca

She wonders if she's right, to cry for the sea, crashing turquoise in her night, but who holds the twain, with her chocolates from Nestle', looking out at the rain, sipping her wine, it's cold for the season, thinking she'll be fine, Vodka leads to pain, each glass clouds her reason, she won't say the name, who makes her feel light, when walls start to crease, orange flowers sing like fire, the kids will soon arrive, regular as the heating, laughter in their eyes, Lilac as the sky, a little one soothes unease, their faces bright, the place she can't leave.

Della

What lights up the pain, when the sun rises even, are cars in their lanes, dancing won't atone, nothing comes near, when you don't show, i call out your name, like a dawn novena, but nothing stays the same, the blonde wooden homes, are stacked like wheat, now that you've gone. this lonely game, is no moving feast, it's just morning again, you came here by Freeway, bring back that feeling, sustain that flame, each sea green evening.

Debby

When we pass strange misery, falling like the rain, a dread cortege of limousines, parents always feel, sometimes without grace, they'll never know the deal, when children grow to women, if they'll be okay, always be forgiven, Our Lady sees what's real, all the games we play, with cold lit intensity, she dances on the rivers, groaning with our names, the prayers we always summon, to hang on bursting leaves, touch the wooden weight, guarding against eternity, ignore the terms of freight.

Dafna

Please don't push me, i only weigh six stone, what is this called freedom, consolation of his love, a human need for home, here by an iron stove, i sing a song bittersweet, uneasy chants of lost souls, fills my hair and dreams, as we wait to move, the only song i own, bellows out my longing, shifting sounds of the sea, Syrian Greeks moonlit bones, the rock of Simon Peter, do you hear us keening, Europe doesn't want to know, men say 'time to leave', live or die alone.

Didi

She drinks a little wine, brushes a crumb off carrion, wails for day to get bright, some places she sings for free, beyond the tip of Marrion, where you see the sea, she walks with head high, electric as a pylon, away from the tourist cries, their brains seized, by Terylene and Rayon, sex wine and sun cream, stilled by someone's dying, another lonely Dear John, she dreams of islands, looks for a candle to light, knows she'll carry on, loving darkness lifts her sight, different clothes to try on.

Dolores

You laugh the way you do, head back in the heat, no desert frightens you, it proves what you say, these flowers still stay sweet, even without rain, you are like a worn shoe, brown and sixty three, no wind rocks your truth, you won’t blow away, like the autumn leaves, time enhances your sway, not just yellow and grey, poverty you turn to dreams, paintings explode hot Spring days, don't let the Uptown crew, disturb visions make it seem, they really love the Blues, know how you feel.

Caleah

More than any swollen eye, love holds the door ajar, a hair break down the line, inflated or on the wane, she can cry if she pleases, if the same happens again, home is not a pig sty, compared to that other hoopla, made by another's lies, who needs this game, she fixes a doll's star, the mental pictures she frames, by water she asks why, swears she'll go far, never forgets the war inside, Hell is on the fly, or the highway burning tar, she sees the harvest light, where's her Da ?

Ceyda

She's happy with her lot, doesn't want to be alone, she's never what she's not, you didn't treat her right, skimmed her like a stone, stayed out late all night, you don't care a jot, if she's stuck at home, nothing explodes in your cot, rips the wings off your flight, when she makes that last show, no more angel cake delight, or being in a cotton box, she certainly blows, to put you on the spot, heart ache is a dot, where her river flows, love that is too hot, not for you to know.

Cathy

Our day is just beginning, i dance arms out wide, Burbo Bank is full of swimmers, she kills me with her thighs, next to me like twine, she twists her twisted smile, a constant cigarette brimming, drips blue water at my side, a writer isn't forgiving, I don’t say she’ll survive, her likes don't cross the line, like ships upon the tide, she isn’t made for trusting, never understands why, but always insisting, i could demand many things, Medea would use the knife, but why when you can sing, praise this time.

Cally

Eyes as deep as the estuary, her work sets the tone, even if she feels free, what separates her growing fame, ripped canvas proves, painting's like a childhood game, surrounded by the easy sea, she feels the pull of Domes, peace another entity, Our Lady sees her pain, in yellow nights of moans, even if she looks the same, a bravura of scurried frieze, maps, the bottle, men's groans, she's away from that disease, doubtful of any sanctity, she has what she holds, that temperance is a fantasy, hiding amongst bones.

Carol

You'd gamble on the breeze, my sister says, whatever you could squeeze, around your bones, and never refrain, or want time at home, you fly the trapeze, chase lovers like the rain, whisky breaks your day, going out you're never alone, you could see no other way, smoking your Marlboros, sometimes you'd laugh or tease, dance in the kitchen forget the pain, but never need to please, you don't get those feelings, us little ones displayed, raging to be set free, by mother's praise.

Bassima

You cry about that time, praying late on trains, searching for a lullaby, did you wave a wand, like drain pipes take the rain, or music strikes a band, it isn't me that whines, there you go again, love isn't a fear inside, will you make a stand, or pay just the same, everything's a scam, you never bide the line, encourage me to say, hey everything's fine, I didn't commit a crime, freighters ply on ancient lanes, you sit beside the tide, i cannot say your name.

Betulah

Do you know what breaks, in a lifetime of greed, to fracture the love you make, i wonder if its's trained, that stuff in your creed, a gift from wrapped cellophane, those yellow cries you fake, with such a surly need, is it part of the game, kindness won't do the same, a tremble to your knees, thrown away down lipsticked drains, tell me on the Freeway, is that really your belief, that losers have no brains, if you live by taking, is there ever a need, to understand what you dissipate, trying not to see ?

Barbara

Bad news is never shared easy, especially with your ways, you never did gild the lily, an ice cold fish knife, is no child's game, held towards my eyes, slash of steel cuts disease, chasing good times these days, the woman you wish to be, no siren of strife, who cannot be tamed, but to find your own life, saw what you needed to see, called each night a name, a silk and golden odyssey, said what you needed to me, things are never the same, salt tongue on the breeze, bomb shells in your gaze.

Barra

We dream of kisses, blown or tossed away, from those in the mist, we think of home, that brought us pain, and bled our bones, rage makes us lift, our trouble as gain, or slaves to the shift, we don;t need to know, there's only one page, to allow we're alone, like uncertain drifts, of snow on the plain, we pass as ghost ships, sometimes on our trip, we diminish the flame, somewhere in what we miss, we say what we say.

Benice

Pines flick a yellow beach, you think you can choose, a thin breeze says gently, a banshee wail of pain, what you have to lose, when things go sour again, your face retains its dignity, you can beat this mood, use all your furious energy, a sudden fall of rain, makes unshaven workers drool, at what they can't attain, it's hard to be discreet, what you've been through, coming back you laugh easy, the hotel brims with ease, Carp swim around in pools, search what you can redeem, from all that hurts you.

Brooklyn

You were an ungrateful little shite, who missed family holidays, when you asked for paradise, not only a wish to share, that love but could not name, smiles for worried parents, are those lines too striped, in the wine you gave away, all that sleeping out at night, beyond windows frosted glare, your bloodless eyes astray, snow falling off your hair, clothes wrapped like a drainpipe, you’ll never change, Ma and Da asked why, a bed at hospital's side, orderlies rush around with trays, no more howls of childhood dislikes, you howl just the same.

Ava

We wake near a lemon train, my lover lies supine, everything now beyond pain, sunrise on the Levantine, where Cavafy lived and died, making verses to a life, Thessinger loved this terrain, an iron kettle on the fire, lone figures on an empty plain, salt whorls a global fight, swallow thrum yellow skies, she dreams of desert nights, and exhausts the drain, of last night’s wine, the passages she irrigates, but never obtains, an air of early disguise, we move towards our Chicane, we know about this light.

Abira

Can I still call you Mum, do only children dance, in the years long gone, Sunlight warms the terrace bar, Cocktails, sunglasses, chance, you'd adore our shining car, a hut outside sells rum, i pray any wound you'd lance, regret you couldn't come, look at you as the one, a glimmer in far distance, ask why you had to run, dusk arrives on my phone, starlings wing an electric prance, the bay echoes perfect tones, will i ever feel your love, seem awkward at your glance, night is fired by drums, my uneven balance.

Aileen

How can i contemplate gain, acting like some forgotten seer, as if that hurricane, will protect my bones, make a river draw them near, a time to be sought alone, like animals of the plain, howl weeping towards their fear, can we ever love again, last winter by tidal stones, when we sat close to tears, was it like coming home, does our soul work that way, a trapeze of childless years, eyes trying to fix a place, where we don't hesitate, when she draws me near, the absence of any pain, suddenly becomes clear.

Abiyar first order poems from here up to Tracy

We stand by her ashes, she made us swear at the ferry, laid down with her Sash, she cut a fine dash, dismissed worries said be merry, life is only a flash, thank God for her tirades, what it is not to worry, as she comes close to the grave, whirr of the morphine backlash, moans from a yellow reverie, softer than any drum crash, we're all bound to rave, who refuses tributaries, when we're on parade, once as fired as Potash, Orange kids without a penny, cheeks pale as potato mash, we wave her off the jetty.

Zena = second order poems from here down to A

I want to be free, says my lover from on high, no fire or blue sea, between her and the coast. she looks at the sky, coughs her cigarette throat, an island catching lee, searching horizons that're bright, she knows what it means, wind threads over the boat, unkind and sheds no light, if they'll find us afloat, she stands no scrutiny, God knows if she's right, a short step to certainty, but can't you please see, in the strange lantern light, ballast carried for sympathy, gets lost at night. do they wish upon us death, recognize what's above ? like a match stick on a sofa their faces to the wind in this space a firefly, a dingy bell drop cellar what messes with your head, they laugh, the dopes, do they think of us as hurt, do they wish upon us death, recognize what's above ? with the herring gulls alone, their faces to the wind give me just one more time. it reaches inside you again worms of the cemetery quarantine, they party every night, scenes down every lane, skim the lake with stones, each Sunday we know, when sunlight lifts the Poppies, we don't check the Escrow, or make promissory notes, far more than any keep, birds thrum their tune, she pulls at my traces, the moon is her nosegay it haunts her face, other shipwreck look for signs

Zanzibar

A tune as sweet as day, to settle in our bones, help us find a way , we sit side by side insane, leave us all alone, all my friends the same, before they make us face, bitter seeds they've sown, dangerous moments in any game, my eyes fill with shame, all the love we've known, the only song is blame, what does it take to praise, when you deal with stones, that bloody you and break, don't make haunted faces, at promissory notes, the moon will let you slay, their callow jokes.

Yaya

Who decides to give us rest, will a sail makes us thrill, our flight to change address, a skeletal frame, a map, some water, are we shrill, at the sight of early rain, maybe there's more to caress, than other nights to kill, or fix our battered compass, locate the punitive terrain, where we eat our fill, this last voyage to pray, shape our days at sea at best, fix our eyes beyond the rill, we will face each duress, if we're Black we won't egress, be devoured by floating Crill, by flame or water to confess, hunger drives the will. 7 poems She plys me first with vodka like a match stick on a sofa, my eyes fill with shame, in this space a firefly, a dingy bell drop cellar, then loosens first my collar, we sit side by side insane, my new friends are game, the difference in a dollar. Zanzibar i say 'they get me high', as if i'm on a plane, we thank the great divine, for all the blessings he entwines, the sound of rain, windmills spin on hills nearby, within this sense of ease she says I've had my time, the manner of being done, is itself a celebration, we were't allowed to lie. she is going home they will aid our search, throw away the rope, measure distance before we lurch, what messes with your head, they laugh, the dopes, sat in bars making bets, do they think of us as hurt, do they wish upon us death, recognize what's above ? my wrist around her glides, her body limpid, to lay upon the tide, with the herring gulls alone, their faces to the wind of someone else's purlieu, learn to dance don't get blue, ignore those cool untruths, give me just one more time. she dances on Hawaii, thats what she'd like to do How can we ever grow, /is this your last throw it reaches inside you again worms of the cemetery quarantine, resist just the same, they party every night, and you my lover throw, scenes down every lane, skim the lake with stones, each Sunday we know, when sunlight lifts the Poppies, we don't check the Escrow, or make promissory notes, far more than any keep, birds thrum their tune, she pulls at my traces, the moon is her nosegay it haunts her face, other shipwreck look for signs

Yanka

She must really want me, looking fierce on vodka, as lightning strikes this scene, off my face again, like a match stick on a sofa, my eyes fill with shame, in this place a firefly, a dingy bell drop cellar, her fingers wave Hi, on worst days I think of veins, she loosens first my collar, sits side by side insane, she is someone from the sea, she brings me first Bollinger, I hug my knees, who can mess with dignity, without a Sou or Dollar, i don't like who i've been, laughter fills the darkness. my new friends are game, different from that other place, 6 poems Zanzibar she talks of Baltimore, and what it means to be, outside fire know the score, , measure wine or the law, you can’t wriggle easy, from that institutional core, how it is to be deep certainly not worth a cry, a family on the cheap, She says 'they get me high', as if i'm on a plane, we thank the great divine, for all the blessings he entwines, the sound of rain, windmills on hills nearby, within this sense of ease she says I've had my time, the manner of being done, is itself a celebration, we were't allowed to lie. they will aid our search, throw away the rope, measure distance before we lurch, what messes with your head, they laugh, the dopes, sat in bars making bets, do they think of us as hurt, do they wish upon us death, recognize what's above ? my wrist around her glides, her body limpid, to lay upon the tide, with the herring gulls alone, their faces to the wind of someone else's purlieu, learn to dance don't get blue, ignore those cool untruths, give me just one more time. she dances on Hawaii, thats what she'd like to do How can we ever grow, /is this your last throw it reaches inside you again worms of the cemetery quarantine, resist just the same, they party every night, and you my lover throw, scenes down every lane, skim the lake with stones, each Sunday we know, when sunlight lifts the Poppies, we don't check the Escrow, or make promissory notes, far more than any keep, birds thrum their tune, she pulls at my traces, the moon is her nosegay it haunts her face, other shipwreck look for signs

Yasmin

hard A, hard E, hard O I am singing softly again, we are leaving that terrible sea, i salve my wounds and think of rain, but we are never alone, it doesn't take much energy, a witness who can never condone, my new friends are game, Americans don't do uncertainty, different from that other place, i lived there hunting bones, who would want to see, me fighting with scarecrows, my grappling forays, among the poor and diseased, we will all know someday, can we ever ascertain, if nothing scares us really, when we lay aside the rage, what makes us happy ? 6 poems Zanzibar she talks of Baltimore, and what it means to be, outside fire know the score, , measure wine or the law, you can’t wriggle easy, from that institutional core, how it is to be deep certainly not worth a cry, a family on the cheap, She says 'they get me high', as if i'm on a plane, we thank the great divine, for all the blessings he entwines, the sound of rain, windmills on hills nearby, within this sense of ease she says I've had my time, the manner of being done, is itself a celebration, we were't allowed to lie. they will aid our search, throw away the rope, measure distance before we lurch, what messes with your head, they laugh, the dopes, sat in bars making bets, do they think of us as hurt, do they wish upon us death, recognize what's above ? my wrist around her glides, her body limpid, to lay upon the tide, with the herring gulls alone, their faces to the wind of someone else's purlieu, learn to dance don't get blue, ignore those cool untruths, give me just one more time. she dances on Hawaii, thats what she'd like to do How can we ever grow, /is this your last throw it reaches inside you again worms of the cemetery quarantine, resist just the same, they party every night, and you my lover throw, scenes down every lane, skim the lake with stones, each Sunday we know, when sunlight lifts the Poppies, we don't check the Escrow, or make promissory notes, far more than any keep, birds thrum their tune, she pulls at my traces, the moon is her nosegay it haunts her face, other shipwreck look for signs,

Yola

How can you measure love, do you look to the sea, wonder if anything's above, she talks of Baltimore, and what it means to be, outside fire know the score, laughing at the Doves, driving now carefree, away from the shove, measure wine or the law, you can’t wriggle easy, from that institutional core, circumstances of our own blood, bring that guarantee, hotels provide a gentle scrub, serene as a white man's club, she lives on fault lines she tells me, when not to really rub, always act gently. 5 poems how it is to be deep certainly not worth a cry, a family on the cheap, She says 'they get me high', as if i'm on a plane, we thank the great divine, for all the blessings he entwines, the sound of rain, windmills on hills nearby, within this sense of ease she says I've had my time, the manner of being done, is itself a celebration, we were't allowed to lie. they will aid our search, throw away the rope, measure distance before we lurch, what messes with your head, they laugh, the dopes, sat in bars making bets, do they think of us as hurt, do they wish upon us death, recognize what's above ? my wrist around her glides, her body limpid, to lay upon the tide, with the herring gulls alone, their faces to the wind of someone else's purlieu, learn to dance don't get blue, ignore those cool untruths, give me just one more time. she dances on Hawaii, thats what she'd like to do How can we ever grow, /is this your last throw it reaches inside you again worms of the cemetery quarantine, resist just the same, they party every night, and you my lover throw, scenes down every lane, skim the lake with stones, each Sunday we know, when sunlight lifts the Poppies, we don't check the Escrow, or make promissory notes, far more than any keep, birds thrum their tune, she pulls at my traces, the moon is her nosegay it haunts her face, other shipwreck look for signs,

Xavier

She says 'they get me high', as if i'm on a plane, we thank the great divine, for all the blessings he bestows, the sound of the rain, a windmill trying to blow, birds sing in yellow light, you wouldn't know her pain, she says I've had my time, the manner of being done, is itself a quiet celebration, as kids we weren't alone, the Orphanage didn't try, to brush away the stain, she never passed us by, like a Schooner creaks and sighs, or a candle at the flame, she shifted like the tide, marking all our days. Men, the colour of lead, ask us can we cope, if we can be led, they will aid our search, throw away the rope, measure distance before we lurch, what messes with your head, they laugh, the dopes, sat in bars making bets, do they think of us as hurt, , do they wish that death, recognize what's above ? my wrist around her glides, her body limpid, to lay upon the tide, with the herring gulls alone, their faces to the wind of someone else's purlieu, learn to dance don't get blue, ignore those cool untruths, give me just one more time. each sea green evening, she dances on Hawaii, thats what she'd like to do How can we ever grow, /is this your last throw it reaches inside you again worms of the cemetery quarantine, resist just the same, they party every night, and you my lover throw, scenes down every lane, skim the lake with stones, swear what you'd never be, each Sunday again, when sunlight lifts the Poppies, hide her deceit/ a soul not hers to keep certainly not deep, a family she thinks cheap, who don't check their Escrow, than promissory notes, far more than any keep, birds thrum their tune, she pulls at my traces, the moon is her nosegay it haunts her face, other shipwreck signs,

Xanthia

Men, the colour of lead, ask us can we cope, if we can be led, they will aid our search, throw away the rope, measure distance before we lurch, what messes with your head, they laugh, the dopes, sat in bars making bets, do they think of us as hurt, at the Metro in New York, look at us like dirt, my ticket to the Med, is purely based on hope, not how big my cred, do they wish that death, on trains in rooms as we know, comes only from the bed, look at me like gravestones. recognize what's above ? my wrist around her glides, her body limpid, to lay upon the tide, with the herring gulls alone, their faces to the wind of someone else's purlieu, learn to dance don't get blue, ignore those cool untruths, give me just one more time. each sea green evening, she dances on Hawaii, thats what she'd like to do How can we ever grow, /is this your last throw it reaches inside you again worms of the cemetery quarantine, resist just the same, they party every night, and you my lover throw, scenes down every lane, skim the lake with stones, swear what you'd never be, each Sunday again, when sunlight lifts the Poppies, hide her deceit/ a soul not hers to keep certainly not deep, a family she thinks cheap, who don't check their Escrow, than promissory notes, far more than any keep, birds thrum their tune, she pulls at my traces, the moon is her nosegay it haunts her face, other shipwreck signs,