Carrie

You'd gamble anything, your daughter says, including unforgiven fights, draining you like a drain, the times she swayed, in falling snow or rain, within your blue eyes, could you ever retain,, the time she most prized, letting go as you came in, was she always that way, smoking her Capstan, make her smile anyway, chuckle on her Saint’s day, dissolve each loss with gain, unhook the gas ring, make tea on the range, dogged by such things is no one to blame ?

Clara

You stroll off the meter, but you don't see me, dressed for the cashmere theatre, blow upon your polished fingers, at the Salon du Te,' hear policemen whisper, discuss suitable places to be, sip Darjeeling, no need turn on your heel, guaranteed protection, like a bushel of wheat, they whisper Blondie’s singing, and all of those parties, you danced by the sea, a desperate fleur de Lys, did waves rise in rhythm, do you remember our street, where you skipped in rayon, twisted to their screams.

Catherine

We dream of justice, defeated, tossed away, images of a love resistant, do we think of Solomon, who never sought that reign, what were we thinking of, will our insolence, our trawled remains, further enslave and imprison us, calendars we see only one, it stays on a single page shows how far we’ve come, uncertain questions, lie unborn every day, none accepted, cigarettes smoked and gone, try to have our say, time frittered on any son, our saving gain.

Baila

Many an ice cold Diva, makes no sense to me, when they sing Ave Maria, your face pale as the tide, a poem makes me weep, dream and ask why, can we ever make history, each morning released, like love we gave to nights, to seamen and Cafe's, stunned beneath the lights, your laughter a delight, like sunshine on the breeze, a taste of the sea, in circumstances we believe, but who makes us decide, demand our own scene, scream out only for Bollinger like angels released ?

Billie

Don’t talk to me and pause, give one of those sighs, I've seen these looks, it's where I live now, not your own interesting life, God you’re slow, while you make good causes, I was barely alive, all those conditional clauses, Recife, Manous, Matta Grosso, Is where you expect to die, and you want me to follow, here’s where a story ends, about the way you cried, when I needed comfort, sun kissed beaches skin glow bars, boys, warm easy delights, you course is always below, carried on the tide.

Bet

When love is only, three missed trains, your face is solace lonely, is it only wishful flare, that love should stay, instead of slipping at the bar, those lines going nowhere, the wine you gave away, nights of ached for care, wrap them in a solitaire , you’ll never change, riding high at the fair, on the cafe' square, trees in the gentle rain, cigarettes thrown in the air. my mother used to scold me, why rush through each day, stations of your litany, one car's just the same.

Banya

Trees of a green oasis, that freedom always boosts, the produce load for freighters, gentle winds on the Karasu, a banshee bleat of roosters, it will slay your mood, your lies and protestations, your cries for food, wine become a dissipation, a raw supply of senses , shatters the sunlit pools, makes a mirage of defences, it's hard to explain, what you've been through, so why now start shaking, camels stand at their stations, hrummp and wait for crew, on yellow sand awakening, love will not betray you.

Bella

Men who want women, eat calf’s liver and greens, something clings to them, as the coming night groans, a wind hushed soul freezes, it chills to their bones, worried they appear timid, by the city's muffled seethe, their desires know no limit, hope these ladies might glow, make love every evening, white hotels like a road show, breath bitter as almonds, leaves what love has gleaned, salted as caramel, between golden tones, they see what Goya’s seen, richer, older, needing pillows, wine, bread, falling leaves.

Annie

Who removes the cast, do only kids look to home, the singing grass, Verde across the terrace, Campari , dark glasses, soda, a city wakes from fast, The Café’ du Repas, I regret my tone , pray at the border with France, deny the chasm, shielded from your woes, loving other women, sourball summer Maria Callas, who am i to moan, whisky colours thrum and sing, sea birds arc and prance, in summer of their tour, look again and offer thanks, for cadence of your loan.

Anneka

The poetes maudit you always loved keep me in the garden is that all there is beside your son who goes back to his mother the one who scatters easy the fruits of men day fades uneasy salt claims an early due is this just a dry run for your evening with me 'i ache for a baby' I moan what have you begun to dance me again dicey laughter jolted kisses birds at dusk settle and hum is it just by listening waters run?

Alicia

Do we think of others, while screaming down the phone, the cross we bear of mothers, prayers for all those, whose thoughts are blown, on summers' blue clothes, drumbeats on marshlands smothers, where we dance alone , men flit like flies uncovered, we can only suppose, by water and evening’s pheromones, what they try to impose, our days filled with lovers, Guggenheim, Tate, Prado, playing cards for trouble, our hand a signalled force more than we can know a river runs its course, questions how we grow ?

Azira

Why beseech the mothers, set afire their wooden frames, steal our way home, cotton, gold and spices, what games we play, the infinite knots to splice, sunlight rings with drums, we return the people’s hail, these islands of sweet summer, to settle here or fly, draw away from this place, a seething nest of lies , leave this port for others, inscribe it with our name our names on bloody visits, it’s the reason why, we forage the Spanish Main, our troubles turn to light, we won’t forget to smother, a life in joyous phases, a careworn cache of lovers, dance among our graves.

Aurore

There's times I wish, I’d never been born, on this wretched bridge, my taxi is gone, now leave me alone, in this third interregnum, what makes me think, I know what I’m doing, getting jealous in drink, splashing eau de cologne, Spring coming on, standing by the road, then the clouds shrink, a ship's coming home, curtains start to twitch, they see me walk, an unsteady sojourn, to meet the other souls a ship majestic and garish resplendent in the sun. white funnels red carriage a time to be gone.

Abira

Do you measure distance, looking down a bottle of beer, as if polishing a crystal, the tenor of your bones, a river washes clear, a time to be explored, the cormorants we saw flippant, flap in a broken weir, last tide before the winter, has my lover frozen, somewhere close to tears, when I say please go, knees and face seek penance, a trapeze of wasted years, eyes crying for an infant, do I record each tone, of his faded artists gear, a presence in each zone, I’ll never appear listless, silver will cup my ears, I shall be effervescent, there will be happy years.

Aaliyah

Sat in a lemon light, my lover sleeps alongside me, I know everything is all right, sunrise over Alexandria, Cavafy’s cafés serve mint tea, as good a vista as Thessinger, Arab clothes a desert fire, an iron kettle by a tree, Bedouins in a daily fight, salt cakes a global symposia, swallows thrum an early creed, her solitary dance is Latina, it exhausts bottles of wine, at last night’s soiree, she tires with no respite, will she come to Assyria, dawn brings the early disguise, faces at the port’s dominion, hot brown days go by, we will live on the sea, everything I try she likes, birds are flying to infinity

alex begins the equinox poems 2021 - and the north shore plus 3 lines

Alex

Your house beyond the dunes, roses bloom beneath the sky, money doesn’t bring you truth, or laughing girls with grace, however things may lie, you try not being fake, even God is not immune, there's still a love inside, he won't be duped, fire burns in the grate, don't tell me how you cried, anchors bind the spate, just believe you fool, crying in the tide, don't you know he loves you, all our different hates, left hanging out to dry, all our lovely days, we hear them moan and croon, they make our troubles light, a relieved and laughing moon, drags doubt from our eyes.

Ally

I'm not a fool at dawn, to feel an utter mess every way the wind blows, I should be at sea, on a wooden raft, where there's time to dream, summon ancient forms, erect my little mast, sail with perfect calm, speak evenly, not roar out in distress, where you pay dearly, if you’re torn, living a life like this, my time isn't done, I shall range the Ocean, fix my shiny compass, judge life heavenly, navigate Cape Horn, live without duress, heaven’s crown of thorns, makes me immaculate.

Anna

When we begin to crave, you glance up and sigh, for lands far away, it's a lonely path alone, not having a light, an Iliad far from home, we sit out the fray, anchors hold the bite, ride the tide and wait, listen to the songs, it’s better than to cry, soon we’ll soon be gone, not just on holiday, so let us not fight, find reasons more to say, our horizon’s honed, lead us from this café’, safe in our bones, there'll be no stain, the moon is our right, it will bring good days, warm easy nights.

Michelle

Look at the moon, a spring tide today, everything comes around too soon, the birds who have flown, seeking away, singing as they go, your eyes don’t fool, say wouldn't it be great, to find somewhere new, a place for the soul, where paradise reigns, forget mortgage loans, somewhere not cruel, but poised and sedate, where no rent’s due, problems with ‘phones, emotion’s just a name, for all that we know, your good parts are true, that’s why I paint, but why do you argue, high on my name?

Olly

My smile makes you prance, no fear of being caught, dubbin for our smart chat, I’ll take all of that, show you ‘round the course, smoke and act daft, what others have found, singing myself hoarse, is any lack of balance, I just drink and dance, but you make me worse, in your fresh cotton clothes, you hold hands and ask, is this what we're taught, if love’s such a blast, then rip up the past, you know about horses, how to turn them out, why not take a chance, draw a toil of water, rock me with a cadence, show me more.

Khalila

My star is coming home, a wonder of the sky, in shelters you lie prone, why whisper about love, rolling in a death vice, face ravaged by the moon, Saints show me their bones, a poem makes you cry, you can’t afford to moan, doves in sunlight crash above, a lifetime of men’s sighs, I fly to those who give, fresh linen and eau de cologne, makes you wonder why, blossom always chokes, I’m not disguised by fits, money only lies, just get me through this shift, don’t weigh like a stone, I’ll dance alone on wire, see before me shining roads, before I kiss goodbye.

Benny

A prognosis out the blue, I read the lines, ask what's wrong with you, act like I already know, ties that bind, blow hard on my bones, hope brings a certain glue, what can be put right, if you provide a clue, you’re not up there alone, in this rosy light, there’s always my home, It’s warm near the flue, and nowhere’s a crime, for fire to fashion, how to keep going, through evening and night, when the kid’s phone, I have to act fine, coffee gets me through, this crazy time, what else can I do?

Chris

The year Lady passed away, couldn't get past the blues, was shrunken day to day, I wanted to be alone, not see anyone new, on the street or Metro, but you became my angel, I didn't have a clue, you washed my thoughts away, arranged all the loans, bought me different costumes, put jelly on my bones, before this game, I didn’t think of you, only what a waste, where would I call home, my head went loopy loo, I acted like a drone, then you began to erase, all my bitter tunes, more than any mate, got me on the crew.

Dave Brown

Face down any claim, your stars won’t refuse, once more outrageous fame, you who wonder why, worldly canons of virtue, always make me sigh, this is no mug’s game, TV blares fake news, chases me through my days, spins the constant lie, let them sing the blues, for all their crass disguise, hardships on the way, nothing’s here to rue, catch them on the make, only fools rely, beyond the swollen hype, look them in the eye, always meet their gaze, this lottery card’s for you, I’m tired of talking plain, heavy with some truth.

Iain

All of you make jokes, don't disturb my waves, worry if I’ll cope, never stoop to choose, or firmly swim away, think how much you’ll lose, you are not dopes, to encourage easy ways, as if you had no scope, if you want good news, let others stand and gape, what I say is true, because you moan and mope, note every bitter phase, down every coming slope, it won’t separate the numbers, for distant tides or sail, ships can leave without you, some things can’t be undone, never is too late, to face you here alone I would call it grace.

Roberta

Forget all the clowns, that come to woo you, half of them in chains, as loud as your woes, ships blow hooters, every song sings of home, not just in their dance, but down each avenue , who can fault your elan, a queen without a throne, bars are full of losers, you’d rather be alone, nothing comes by chance, your chimes maybe fewer, but forget about the past, barefoot walk on stones, you would never refuse, a game of Bingo in yellow stripey clothes, aboard a Yankee schooner, no need for ballroom gowns, to make them swoon.

John

Say your life’s so unfair, many a seed is sown, then again what’s shared, if you bring the sea, to face the bright unknown, you’ll find what’s meant to be, in someone’s loving care, drink it down and feel, what you need is more, is this fixed image real, were you ever born, to feel such loving need, when someone makes a dare, do you moan, dance unsteadily on chairs, throw away your keys, mask with scorn, any wanton creed, give us your daily prayer, make us warm as toast, don’t be scared, talk always has a cost

Carney

Your face set like stone, asks how it’s to be, tell me all you know, chipped away by time, the daily useless commentary, I try to answer that, neck splashed with shaving foam, problems hang around me, stretched out like a photo show, on Sunday's I drink wine, until time freezes, when your turbulent mind, plays tunes that suddenly echo, and dance inside me, struggle now to focus, my house on the train line, the bottom of a road, where I smell the limes, as my body loudly groans, as if carefree, makes an appeal to microphones, watches morning TV?

Marky

Dream tunes won't hurt, enough to crack, our happy café’ world, silken tents you've thrown, never collapse, held fast by metronomes, plates you sometimes hurl, nothing keeps me back, sweet talk makes you curl, this life is not our own, in many ways it's crass, consider that part gone, I’m not perturbed, how much time has passed, which flags are left unfurled, restraint is constant hope, will you hold me fast, nothing's worth the slope, old songsters sing or burn, set me on the path, turn the flame down, make it last.