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

Petra

Is there a single bell, for someone’s need, do others have to yell, hanging around like skeletons, with lip sticky greed, faces like rainbow paraffin, standing by the well, say you're a fool to leave, please don’t tell, why I'm not driven, it’s not just the sea, when I listen to shingle, the murder of sea shells, claims my being, between shoreline and swell, makes little difference, sand shifts the shillings, in your eyes a kingdom, you sigh, ‘we’ll see’

Ocean

Worth a night to share, a lighthouse stripes the gloom, they’re frying fish downstairs, from the crashing foam, comes a steady tune, does it warm your toes, when I brought you here, you cried in this room, and told the falling stars, can't you see who I am, love won’t be assumed, mine is no easy home, act like I don’t care, if you dance or swoon, but not with me there, your words cut to bone, split me in the lighted blue, ocean birds fly home. were you ever young ?

Nora

The poetes maudit, you always loved, regard me by your son, you say letters of women, never known who from, litter the earth’s rim, is that all there is, now they’re gone, pages stuck with yellow bits, maybe it’s a dry run, for our evening bond, 'another baby another bun?’ joking I feel the miss, drink something cool and long, like I’ve never listened, what have you begun, to keep me in the garden, birds chatter, bees hum, St Vincent Millay's song.

Mimi

2003 was a big year for me, but lost on the ‘phone, always another reality, my partner Sandra Agnew, the photographer of Nomads, parades in front her news, unashamed in similes, such learning in that zone, images wants me to see, try to learn what to do, don’t boil your bones, searching for a suitable excuse, it doesn't need servility, tell her time’s flown, find a place up the chimney, ride the storm or peruse, her snapshots when she’s gone, it’s not being cruel, I’m a picture at home.

Lara

You drive your red car, trying to look indifferent, so bizarre to wave ta ra, I love ports and rivers, places you can slip into, lonely beaches make me chuckle, what you said went too far, I died alive, still kicking, your desire for molten tar, a string of seaweed delivered, between madness and my solipsism, does it make you quiver, bottles, tidal, wood carved it’ll all be on Twitter, my story , feral stained dark, you forget when I’m riven, on many a star considered, will see you driven, howling towards the gutter.

Kirsty

Would you know better, still wonder if, you trust his letter, wiser than your Da or Ma, kissing your finger tips, wearing a little number, a spirit to your mettle , Ray Bans tightly clipped, sunning on the terrace, Aretha hits the Jukebox, rolling off your lips, pray a little goldilocks, no more time as creditor, hands upon your hips, you won’t easily forget him, talk goes pretty far, wonder if he’s shipped, does he dance at Shalimar, figure in your trip ?

Jade

Glide down a field of corn, my lover chides, dance again to the moon, an altar to pray upon, is that wise, how can you leave so soon, my heart goes boom, i want to tell her why, to dream is not to fool, break free of stupid news, feel the time is flying, the kids gone too soon, all my love’s a tune, played on an innocent light, I need to sing it through, a pitching sea of blue, reach towards a perfect sky, worries to fall off you, waiting for a tide.

Irena

Does your selfish mock, frighten sheets you sleep by, whey faced as their cotton, ones my Nana use to pummel, then hang out to dry, laughing at our songs, wine to sip at crowded docks, cigarettes and flies, men who kiss and shock, manifestos they unroll, across a crowded sky, anything to keep control, streets full of dramatic knocks, are you happy to lie, to see me switched off, near river tides and tunnels, by hurling lilac twilight, water running like in blossom, your face an icon.

Helena

Smoking a cigarette I exhale, shrunken in my mind, a lover's face impaled, can anyone retain, that unforgiving light, whatsoever she gained, hunted, proud, unfazed, no longer hailing the sky, I met her first in jail, she knew certain names, where it's wise not to lie, unship or regale, whom not to shame, she beat out her time, amidst raging flames, kept certain betrayals, mine the hauling frame, her eyes like the rain, blue as the wind.

Gina

Did you fake your marriage, you'd gamble anything, to avoid that happening, your daughter shrieks, all your could have beens, start with me, was it different or tragic, for those who dream, who asked for your carriage, what an image you seek, when the rain sheets, you buy us ice cream, laughing like it’s a fashion, arrangements that seem, emotions aren’t rationed, blow ash off your ciggy, chase numbers on the breeze, takes more than a litany, to set you free.

Fiona

A sunny life is not for me, nothing lasts forever, waves kiss the palm trees, I look at the sand, brown bodies keep us together, to leave just like that, I sip a tiger beer, a leopard sits in a Baobab tree, she eyes the Serengeti, an old trail on dry land, where silver mules are tethered, makes me cross mountains, embark upon terrible feats, she never was a planner, drink a little holy whisky, I’ll be better in heaven, the beach seethes, she says you're jesting?

Ella

Clattered steps in the evening, heart beating like a train, I’m dying to see her, my heads a jungle fix, high as an Arctic crane, flushing love in the mix, a drumming racket cinema reel, gorgeous flowers are sprayed, she does that to me, her touch more than any wish, how difficult it is to say, I’m a stage for all her tricks, the scent of perfume released, she arrives at the station, the joy in every crease, her face is a gift, to serenade any freighter, can you how I live, when you leave again ?

Dee

There's times I wish, I’d never being born, love’s not a cherry dish, on Princes Boulevard, my lover gone, just leave me alone, with my own cherish, that does no harm, but I won’t bet it, then a dog barks, this girl’s coming home, cars make their marks, no point getting jealous, smelling eau de cologne, Spring proves the lesson, standing by the door, they hear me shout, my freedom’s torn, days getting longer.

Chrissy

The great profuse Diva, makes good sense to me, when she raises Ave Maria, in circumstances of our own, can we ever make history, each morning a waking thorn, hymns make me dream, your face is of the sea, you sleep like a Queen, wine we brought to town, to tourists and Cafe's, you danced all around, laugh at such generous sweeps, you brush clean the streets, the place is your keep, tip Bollinger down, make time take a leap, nothing about you loaned, music is everything

Bella

Just one fervent wish, begs for three missed days, love is a spilled dish, spoken in bars on ‘phones, it brooks no delay, light holds a glassy tone, a bed within the mission, lemon trees in gentle rain, stack together each issue, no talk of prison bones, dollars can’t allay, we are long becalmed, listening out for wind, wishing for children’s praise, rolling stones without sin, in late spring’s clothes, our life rocks this way, a boat that sails alone, got to see her again.

Anna

What's wrong with dreaming, and loving the sea, forget all the scheming, like luck or a schism, it’s the place to be, when love isn’t given, a different philosophy, seizes all that energy, don’t do derogatory, play hard on the rhythm, find a reason, to dance and not spin, say your serene, even if you’re solitary, at this grand party, in this film, the sun never keels, absolves us in wonder, this spangled evening.

Zana

The guests who won’t leave, this house of the spirit, blast fire on our dreams, engage with bad news, push us to our limits, swallow some awful brew, they are like banshees, turn our bones to relics, invent terrible music sheets, know that love runs true, escape by ship this instant, make decisions on the blue, summon a horde to agree, what we gift we kill, by blessings of the sea, wild rejoicing still to do, spend our lives this minute, locked within this unholy crew, who hold all the ticket

Yara

Strained in my bones, I struggle to explain, heart whirrs like a drone, returning home feels good, kisses blown in the rain, she holds the door open, laughs at all my jokes, the useless games, small wonder that I’m broke, must do what I should, take yesterday's blame, with tins of chocolate, she wears a lemon Kermode, the ribbons of a day, leaves her standing cold, a sea wind ocean floods, the tornado of her rage, her imprisoned lips mouth, you're dancing again.

Xena

Here's the question, why on the communal phone, do you only whisper, behind a crushed mesh serenade, swallow awkward notes, in crinkled paper shades, any reason you’re like this, these never imagined sweet tones, should come to this, rain dances on the parade, flush with the marked zones, colours of barred gates, you’re lonely that’s the jist, is that what love is for, smoke illicit sisters’ cigarettes, numb away the pain, say you've been honed, a lovers' voice tolls again, you smoke on your own.

Whitney

Round a futile yard, we try to hide our fears, ships gone on the rocks, light a path to Mars, satellites hang in the atmosphere, by multitudinous stars, these miracles of endless parts, don’t shift our tears, shaken answers for a start, no need to look far, everything we know is here, hell heaped on a handcart, junk is for no marks, that picture is clear, sentence pronounced by some old nark, how it broke our hearts, to see such loss smeared, like sunshine on prison bars, your time coming near.

Veronica

Who wants to be free, my lover reaches, her hand where I can see, nothing between her and sun, the breeze lazy on the sea, don't you want some fun, love strays over this beach,, she says brightly, her toenails painted peach, skin all toned and scrubbed, she thinks she's a celebrity,. light as a biscuit crumb, not given to any jealousy, if by reason of speech, she'll stand no scrutiny, says marriage's a tin drum, somehow glistens with certainty, knows nothing is ever done, If I speak I’ll scream..

Unity

There's just one tune, alone by the beach, I want to play to you, if there’s others you know, memories other fools leave, do they echo like pheromones, your mud caked shoes, lemon blue by the sea, glisten in a glorious hue, can you feel in your bones, like Davy Jones’s feet, the need to atone, you laugh at this news, in your voice a creak, marine gardens hove in view, men are permanently loath, to accept your testimony, when you say it’s over, coins jingle in payphones, others only beseech, between distance and home, they’re history.

Tracylee

If there’s more to say, your ma’s no harm, welcomes me anyway, trees and yellow roads, fresh linen and thorns, we enact the County code, it’s harvest time and hay, I'm lucky to be born, when a life is saved, you move such big loads, down fields of corn, fresh as I’ve seen anyone, your mother gyrates, within a gathering storm, understands your greatness, brings me wine and Coke, a summertime sojourn, we dance alone, on fine blue mornings.