Deborah

Do we think of others, while screaming down the phone, the cross we bear for mothers, pray for all of those, whose thoughts are blown, in forgotten summers' blue clothes, drums across a cornfield smothers, the dance we do alone , men flit like dung uncovered, we can only suppose, by water and lakeside pheromones, what they try to echo, our days filled with lovers, Guggenheim, Tate,Jazz trombones, throwing dice for trouble, our hands a signalled force, more than we ever know, a river runs its course, asks us what we know ?

Betsy

It’s hard to measure distance, looking down a bottle of beer, when you think it’s crystal, the tremble of your bones, a river washes clear, a time to be explored, the hawk above the rushes, now hunts across the weir, along fast tides of winter, are you my lover frozen, somewhere close to tears, when I say it’s over, knees and face seek penance, a trapeze of wasted years, your eyes like an infant, should I record each tone, of your faded artists gear, a memory in each zone, If I appear listless, silver cups my ears, I’ll try to be different, bring me happy years.

Anne

We stand with her remains, sworn at by the jetty, she'd lie awake awaiting trains, if she could hear our moans, would diss our useless levies, scatter instead holy water, thank these blessed days, neither disturbed nor easy, by a morphine driver’s flame, the manner of her tone, another Liverpool tributary, a voice calm without stones , more a silk worm trail, mass cards from yellow monasteries, a promise to return home, money given was not a loan, just as she crossed the estuary she’d never ask for more, we bow to the morning ferry.

Anne - The beginning of winter poems

We stand with her remains, sworn at by the ferry, she'd lie awake awaiting trains, if she could hear our moans, would diss our useless levies, drink instead holy water, thank these blessed days, neither disturbed nor easy, by a morphine driver’s flame, the manner of her tone, another Liverpool tributary, a voice calm without stones , more a silk worm trail, mass cards from yellow monasteries, a promise to return refrain, money given was not a loan, just as she crossed the estuary she’d never ask for more, we stand at the morning jetty.

Anita

Sat in a blue light, my lover dozes alongside me, I know everything is all right, sunrise over Cologne, Benny’s café serves mint tea, as good a vista as our own, warm clothes a decent fire, no iron kettle by a tree, we applaud the coming sky, salt cakes a global warming, swallows cheat an early need, birds sing in the combing, we exhaust a bottle of wine, it makes for a jamboree, brings us delight, will we return home, go back by boat and sea, I don’t think so, cold brown days pass by, we’ll work and save and be, everything we try to like, it’s so good in Germany.

Tanya

How do I take this scene, looking sweet on vodka, as if it will protect me, off my face with anxiety, mascara pushed down the sofa, eyes looking furtively, fix this place like a firefly, red and yellow dark cellar, her hand waves Hi, my greatest days contained, she loosens first my collar, we sit side by side restrained, she's a gift from the sea, brings me Rioja, at my next epiphany, doesn't bother with history, has neither sou nor dollar, explores my territory, I’m not going to stop her.

Toni

Who will tend our bones, how beautiful her kiss, will a river wash the stones, my wrists around her straining her body pallid, limpid face open to the daylight, pink Lupins nod and bow, their noses to the wind, birds sing and sing alone, their song has a keening, a hawk sails across, winter fields unseeded, we drive along the road, the babies she’s missed, grey coat her eyes older, she whispers for a ciggie, remembers broken missions, smiles before she’s leaving, her soul to the mist..

Tammy

More than any laughter love seeps around her knees like broken water inflated or in despair she can cry when she pleases if absent she doesn’t care it’s not a slaughter compared to that other disease a damp smiling river she stands at the fair swears she’ll never release the name of that man it’s a matter for daughters to know what they’re leaving close the door after get out of that scene.

Selma

From starboard you wail to me, ‘where is the baby’, a terrified moan across the sea, a crescent moon at Christmas, we don't know where to be, the radar off the mast, surrounded by auxiliaries, coastguard lights blink officially, wind hides our folded dreams, they lead us here to Sicily, please lady hold her fast, these Garden of Gethsemane, no matter who says what, indifferent or responsibly, she is warn and snug at last, robbers have fled the scene, but God will find a way, in the cold light of spring, he will have his say..

Sasha

Who brings a lie, to a thirteen’s year old life, one you can't deny, smoking endless cigarettes, chasing numbers across the sky, they carry the same distance, the river in July, the cool evening light, are debts ever untied, they killed Papa in Tashkent, I performed for Stalin terrified, anxious to avoid his gibbet, Tass reported my flight, it was good for Philliskaya, they didn’t ask me why, my handsome pirouettes, love measured nights, to dance without regrets, I was only a child.

Siobahn

A crescent moon at Winter, I know why I’m loved, but always be a sinner, surrounded by icy streets, I turn my face towards, the freezing gentle sea, if the cold light kills us, my time is one of trouble a life with different runners, are they out of reach, Our Lady holds a dove, no matter what I preach, by the dun lit rills, my shadow like a moth, I climb toward the hills, a Catholic flame and keeper, my Da stands good enough, but cannot get the reason, why I act so tough.

Sara

Isn't it good to know, by travel, wine or gourd, when our brim fills over, you may wonder, what you dream of doing, when it’s gone, will we resist all moaning, wooden planks nail us down, light dancing on the combing, when you stand by water, sunlight in the ponds, Sunday in late October, in the luminous flow, your lips show the marks, how beautiful you are, my passion never flounders, as long as birds are flown, eyes bright in the darkness, love’s' always around

Sophie

Do we ditch or burn, a love like gas, the flame turned down, crack enough jokes, so your Da won't collapse, somehow he'll recover, you won’t need an urn, now time has passed, he’s over the Meths, in smoky bars and broken homes, his words so crass, they never travel alone, all you did was keep them, to hold you fast, made them dance, now you’re on your own, celebrate the past, care for his bones, look forgive and laugh.

Stella

When you talk coastlines, when you smell rain, who pays the fine, smile in the mirror, wait for a dismal train, stand here and shiver, don't waste my time, nearing home you say, all your words are lies, proud of your honour, a bridge across the plain, you act like a sinner, for our youngest child, who suffers more than pain, behind your terrible why, you ask who delivers, his birth right a highway, light up a Marlborough, shadows cross your face .

Rita

On long days says a blessing, for the drinkers and vagrants, all those others gone missing, a mind awash with waves, she rushes to this oasis, ignoring tourist games, on the island there's a mission, behind where cruise ships lay, she makes it her monument , she hears the wails, sees beach people like wraiths, dance by sun and caves , belayed by sons with issues, they are not to blame, she skirts around the kissing, makes an unlit foray, feels the convent's sweet gaze, its scented loving faith, touches ancient flame.

Rabiah

Please don’t let them see, why you ring my feet, I only asked for freedom, your consoling love, village soul and shady tree, here in this crowded boat, I sing of the sea, a bitter chant of make believe, in your eyes is destiny, they have courted blood, this swarm of human seed, given only what we could, the terrible wounds of territory, Lesbos and a moonlit scree, broken what we can't retrieve, these ships bear our crud, hands with sullen greeting shout, 'let's make our push,'we bow again to history.

Raymonde

Before you turned to me, carried me on your flight, I knew how to be free, who asked for that load, love you thought was right, the fire in my bones, ships famed for their speed, cram more sails at night, you were my every need, a sunlit garden in Cologne, the power beyond my sight, you left me dancing alone, these days I weep inside, whole cities hear me cry, knowing a song’s denied, removed from our island home, spare me your legitimacy, I walk a strong road, the siren is my smile.

Queca

Across my forearm lover, my skin a chance number, I point to the others, my face a sweet mirror, an astonished wonder, that this could happen, I feel myself crumble, how the world slumbers, at such illicit silver, night winds sting like leather, whip the daily stumble, our days become longer, fighting over what’s gone, fire and distant thunder, the way we have to run, one unwashed sign above us, they make us walk under, some won't make sunset, scattered, broken.

Queenie

If I’m not too late, I’ll see it through, each evening by your gate, down fallen roads, my mother states be true, but she doesn't know, your love traits, our trips to secret venues, the odour of purple grapes, I’m lucky to allow, by church reason and virtue, all you won’t swallow, in this land of hate, make me swoon, trust me to say, I melt by your bones, swept lemon blue, everywhere I’ll follow, in times of this trouble.

Pilar

Can you love me, like a runaway horse, the way it wheels, look at me, I whisper, I’ve heard this tale before, do you think I'll resist, am I going to seed, without sorrow or remorse, betting that you’ll walk free, in this game of trespasses, I'm not your whore, journey of a thousand vespers, I need time to speak, bellow across marble floors, sing at stations and plead, I’m not for the cloister, you know the score, don’t kid me sister, don’t kid me anymore.

Paloma

My time goes by unspoken, afraid of family especially Da, our farm closed and broken, it doesn't take much memory, chime or beat of bell jar, to awaken lost pity, which hand will you hold, inside the smoky station bar, sunrise leaves me cold, you steal away like a refugee, chase some foreign star, I deal with infidelity, the days scatter and unfold, no one seems to care, or hear my silent roar, the crime is seen as comedy, they say to me tu voir, let it go take it easy, we never travel far.

Paula

Does my hardness mock, white faced curl your lips, the sheets we rocked, then hung out to dry, crowded bars, wine to sip, like geese they flap and cry, startled by the river song, a sound of ships, Nana used to pummel, cigarette papers you roll dry, smoky pictures that skip, across a crowded sky, my Ma boiling socks, making bath house trips, while you sit there blocked, are you happy with me, will we live in sin, do they make me lie, eyes adrift.

Patricia

I walk without fear, down lilac evening, mother's words hush dear, wondering what I know, or who I've seen, never bring one to this door, that photographer so clear, who Dada used to tease, the image comes with tears, he's in California now, they lived along our street, their house bought, Protestant souls, he went to buy our father beer, Sunday suit, collar at ease, who said don’t come near, large hands, still calloused, they made him feel uneasy, it wasn’t me he troubled, I loved the magazines.

Ola

Like a wreath of flowers, disguises a family ruin, lace covers your arms, you glide past me, do rocks and palomas, dance to your beat, treat you like a dower, swung you by your hubris, other animals cower, do you shout and heave, brighten with alarm, at the presence of defeat, a lover here and now, make you feel cooler, dance light or never, rage about your feet, an absence of charm, the sky full of showers, a rain washed calm.

Octavia

Will she drop me now, make me drink more drink, sit and wonder how, if i should wait near, glean what she's thinking, if her intentions are bare, her eyes a vibrant brown, they dance at my blink, this Summer long, the heat off her appears, to drain the sun’s sinking, what she demands disappear, like an artic ship's bow, that groans like a clinker, to the frozen horizon, don't need eyes of a deer, nor even a shrink, to tell me what’s clear, love is an ice rink.

Ophelia

She says a dawn novena, and worries about her feet, dancing who will see her, love is a trapeze door, unknowing what secrets to keep, it glides the floor, every tune floats bigger, the dust shuffles her conceit, wood yards and blonde singers, rise along the shore, but when dawn turns green she prays alone, wondering if heaven’s trigger, will replace a depth of need, no bet is ever even, perhaps with a communion order, even a retreat, she’ll know the score, stuff to make her dream.

Oona

Living here's no paradise, it’s always in the news, people aren’t very nice, might as well be jail, pavement’s are like glue, love’s a broken grate, all I want's a better life, show what I can do, need a little respite, my songs are well regaled, the arias too, pity I don’t escape, this cesspit full of lies, little pieces made of you, don't ask me why, what has been created, boils away like stew, know I’m not an easy play, home’s for me no searchlight, when it beams on truth, this time of early night, sheds no pretty hue.

Noelle

A painter of religious scenes, she dabs around a glaze, a thirty-year-old dream, regards the work she’s honed, abandoned to this game, it’s never set in stone, yellow days of sunbeams, she always feels the same, images not what they mean, the canvas lets her roam, a stretch on wooden nails, in many ways she's gone, a matchstick in the sea, bobbing without a flame, floating for eternity, work is hard to own, drinks come day by day, in this ocean town, her head cries for relief, sunken eyes flay, a mind that’s never easy, she wants another name.

Nika

Give me demon jewels, and let me laugh through tears, I will dance with fools, under cold white stars, golden gowns stroke my fears, I can't believe this farce, his lover turns a churlish hue, a citizen comrade brought near, I'll give mercy its due, smile and depart, to those ached for years, where there are no charts, turn my head, shrug so cool, don't want anyone to hear, or provide more fuel, love is a poisoned dart, her perfume costs me dear, my life a punctured heart, now it's perfectly clear.

Madeleine

When did I start crying, was it going back to Ireland, or when my son asked why, Nana loved the horses, you who poured sand, on that first course, like the ferry, kids playing, in how my life was crammed, anchored by your chains, you say Ma is forlorn, a martyr to her chip pan, did it ever dawn, you are the one who lies, somehow run aground, you ask me to try, through these hissing storms, masking the wounds, in troubled dust forcing, all that can’t be found..