Catherine

You're all miserable skivers, she leans back and sighs, we thank the great divine, for all the blessings he bestows, whirr of the morphine driver, like a canary in the glow, singing in the yellow light, she says I've had my time, the manner of her being’s slight, a quiet celebration alone, as kids we could only try, the Orphanage didn't do love, moving with the tide, a candle on its own, her eyes blaze for Ireland, we blow our noses, when she passes by, as a Schooner rolls and groans, marking days that never die.

Babs

Men, the colour of death, ask us can we cope, or if they can help, believe in our presence, throw away the rope, their eyes in the distance, what are you doing next, they ask, the dopes, hand us our cheques, do they regard us as zero, our pay’s just a joke, while they act like heroes, my ticket’s for the deck, carry me away by boat, they say what the heck, think we don’t know, looks like tombtones, on trains rooms and'planes, gives them some hope ?

Aimee

Why do you want me to leave, I still carry the light, please stop writing please, the pen continues without delay, in your hair, your eyes, shine of laughter gone stale, sunlight streams in the evening, geraniums flower near the sea, dogs lie awake at the scene, your hand continues its looping spray, I ask why, everything seems thrown away, the breeze is like a creel, she says you don’t try, to imagine how she feels, there were such brighter days, wrapped within those nights, her eyes scribble away, she gives a little sigh.

Zara

Do we know how to give, or need a fresh climate, learning to love, what about this crew, with all their surly trials, sailing beneath spring’s moon, no one lets it slip, knowing when’s the time, to spin a song adrift, as if we all knew, what's wrong with life, instead of getting a grip , maybe it’s not our gift, even if the time is right, to live unencumbered, wait upon piles of blue, wail if money's tight, whenever is it ever true, we can fly like kites?

Yola

How can we hope to grow, when bodies list and scream, on wine and song or groans, love resists all meaning, worm of a curious quarantine, it dances on the ceiling, and you my loving joke, spill out your feelings, on the lake into water, how beautiful are your cheeks, Apache high on the bone, shudder when my arms reach, for money sworn we’d known, raging Saturdays demons, sunlight finds us broke, work is cut by weeks, our faces nailed to screens, we’re just out our dream, not behaving responsibly.

Xena

What makes a soul atone, for the Cormorants who bared, their cry across water moan, diving towards the river, black scissors out of nowhere, eyes only for silver fins, our Sunday trips are broken, you ask who really cares, remember hard words spoken, how we need to live, why we need to share, the memories of her kiss, who will tend her bones, on tides that flow and turn, wash us with her stories, how beautiful their wings, angels flashing in the air, her laughter in the wind, lower me here.

Willow

Sister what was that time, that cannot be bought, where we got issued fines, we sweated on you lady, outside of court, not just being comradely, in our tears and finery, perish the thought, you forced us to lie, this was no Odyssey, had us break the law, not just any pay day, were you being kind, inserting that clause, to the family support agency, even on holiday, our love was fraught, killed us trying to pray, for justice sought.

Valery

Do you hide your gains, while a lover somewhere waits, closer to the flame, a tremble in your bones, would you close the gate, lock your battered door, like a brigand fights the blade, heavy, scarred, intestate, silver cups your raids, can you name the zones, where your body dissipates, from sail to distant moan, abreast of water are you afraid, the arc of scurried waves, a map has different shades, your love of coin is known, something there to negotiate, even shed a groan, don another cape.

Ursula

Why hurt me with your truth, leave me with your dreams, melt me lemon blue, with your bows and cologne, and easy ballet scenes, would you see me home, against a wall of tunes, dance lightly as a bee, turn me pink as yellow dew, treat me like Shalome, invade all my territory, then just leave alone, your garrotted satin shoes, splay like tambourines, shredding all my tissues, make me wait go on, you’ve someone else to see, we will let you know, talk is cheap.

Sarah

Your song resonates, and still weaves, blue notes on a piano case, artists spin alone, but you sang a treat, the year you let us go, can’t get past that date, how it makes me feel, when you whisper and hesitate, cry for all those fallen, down lonely streets, nowhere else left to go, your fans count the days, for those 'fifties scenes, but time was your adage, the unthought of homes, broken metre and sighs, the years still to come, your face in their lives

Raphaela

1993 was a big year for me, but home’s not so easy, there is always another reality, will my dance leave a legacy, gossamer tears of intensity, a furtive wave on a big sea, like my mother in radiotherapy, unhinged by clemency, parades in front of me daily, they said Daddy was no surety, received no leniency, imprisoned when I was thirteen, an intense premier Ballerina, now I exude elegantly, laugh put lipstick on my history, allowed to move freely, at 38 it feels like honesty, to carry on uneasy wings, my current state of liberty.

Pammy

Your son is going home, his Papa waves bye bye, they leave you all alone, birds thrum their tune, you lie in a lemon light, the lover comes back soon, put something on the stove, crickets sing in the half night, salt rims the bowl, a secret toil’s within you, scientists bemoan a global high, your mother plays on tubes, has she ever known, smoking her Camel Lites, a life not chasing numbers, if there’s any virtue, she’s steady as she flies, doesn’t suffer any fools, says this is her time

Ofra

What brings me to this night, keeps away the tears, paints the walls with life, when you can easily feel, dancing so bold and clear, more than a movie reel, regular it denotes our time, sweet lemon notes brought near, songs are our birth right, creep of moon’s a jewel, above stars white and sere, here is something real, the cool evening light, without drama on lonely piers, set our tunes alight, on its rise it reveals, the communal spirit’s here, someone offers you wine, someone says Hello dear.

Lydia

Sometimes we are cradled, when images are taken, memories of him clean shaven, love lights his blue trombone, black and white sepia playing, sunny evenings down the town, when I was a baby, he had this place shaking, jazzy and crazy, the moon’s dancing zone, draws pictures he’s engraving, magnolia, cotton, bones, his long notes and gait, pull at my traces, I give a twisted wave, would you know you Johns, hurrying through the rain, on a corner zebra cold, he was once great.

Marita

Does a husband's family home, need to suffer still, light 30 candles all alone, money given to every vagrant, sees you stumble, fall ill, they smart at your changes, weigh you down with stones, say they’ll shut the till, cut love block your phone, can they note a river’s play, recognise the chill, of someone’s different ways, let them rage and storm, crush all laughter shrill, their screams at something gone, dancers at a Catholic place, work their usual skills, help you to steer away, hope enables will.

Nicola

Remember who plays that tune, take your lovely time, only you know what’s true, those who are always bound. lost in their own designs, sleepwalk to the sound, it’s a face that haunts you, forgives every generous lie, makes the past seem true, you lie awake with clowns, shudder with each fresh wine, knock engagements down, a detective’s roving purview, can’t erase the signs, nails you to golden platitudes, here in this lonely town, it draws in the fire, ties your golden gowns leaves you at the crime .

Louisa

Ignore little bits of you, schemes that make you cry, you have had a few, don't settle for dry land, roll, dance, see someone wise, stay at sea, get out of hand, what philosophers have found true, only the edge is fine, always roll with better news, forget about temazepam, it always gives the lie, despite the calming bound, this side of the blues, seize any time 'as mine', wear a dress for milieu’s, bejewelled exquisite and grand, stand in front and inspire, any sail needs its cram, lead us away from fire.

Katerina

My time goes by unspoken, not drunk enough to cry, afraid of what gets broken, being skint in lousy clothes, hangs me out to dry, the bars all closed, beyond the grave’s a token, what we can’t deny, outside of pavement soaking, we’re shrunk now in repose, horizons clouded why, what we love foremost, even if we drink and smoke, sing a song then die, we’ll praise the holy ghost, this summer shows, we really tried, to resist all the blows, ride out on the tide.

Janine

She makes a dawn novena, and worries about her hips, if God will see her, each night is a feast, every tune loosens her lips, moves like a chocolate treat, in any wooden season, the bars are full of drips, passed the age of reason, men won’t let her sleep, she gives them all the slip, says she’s resting this evening, barefoot makes a secret plea, let her have some kids, better than not believing, if she had a crayon, to draw a time this is, she’d make a haven lantern, to light a path to bliss.

Idullia

The pavement wears a sheen, do you feel love, down by the Adelphi, cars fill up their lanes, how you keep strong, I call out your name, my 'phone has no screen, it does make you wonder, if there's any need, about tales danced in flame, when you once hugged, me like an arriving freighter, absent from the sea, with stars late in coming, can you still believe, I’m here again, a pulse that still features, on your radar, this fine green evening

Henrietta

Can you love me, like your runaway horse, the way it used to be, look around you I whisper, you've ridden away before, do you think I’m a temptress, I live near the sea, without sorrow or remorse, no keening to be happy, your kingdom’s a lost address, where you think you're home, forget it, nothing brings such certainty, I am not your whore, a thousand nights of gluttony, won’t gather my caresses, someone deserves them more, I can pass any test, hope dream carry on.

Fara

You joke like all of us, the desert doesn't scare you, your water jug is porous, we go to meet the writers, my partner’s late to bloom, dons her silk and linens, the almond trees join chorus, after rain exudes, smells of jasmine and sea, poets fly here like kites, colours of yellow and blue, say they are enlightened, you consult your catechus, rage at literature they chew, who needs a performance, if they want to delight, let them search for food, your pale smile frightens, it denounces all the room.

Gina

Your eyes dance like fireflies, you are no one's fool, they cascade like satyrs, beating a tune, on Sundays you’re cool, won’t hurt you the blues, sunlight burns the tyres, you’re twenty eight and true, can’t stand deniers, this side of the moon, there’s nothing to rue, no one’s out to get you, neither poor nor righteous, preachers or crooks, love’s such a dynamite, your ship sails on fire, it’s the way you cook, your family's desire, to find some fresh virtue.

Elena

Your blown kisses, reach my maritime coast, a light from Cape Mission, across the weather zones, they dance on water, turn it blue with love, nothing like their lilt, so light they float, across our continental drift, they help us know, what stands foremost, and what is only loaned, on a wind lashed cliff, looking down at fishing boats, I touch your lips, sometimes the most cynical, hug their bones, even those most critical give thanks to God

Dolly

Waiting for the train, an ordinary day, late, sometimes it’s hard to pray, the Loco is shining steel, gone half past eight, does anyone care how she feels, she makes the glass dilate, a cool yet burning rage, the carriage window the same, who writes the deeds, to make everything great, make somethings seem real, she’ll take the blame, . there is still a heartbeat, from yesterday’s shame, she's going to leave, her face shows the strain, she’ll give no signal, there is no need.

Beatty

She pinned a shamrock on us, as if books were our passport, the ones from the Orphanage, like a schooner puts on sail, puffed her cheeks an instant, dreamed for all our tales, made us Inquisitive, when winds froze our compass, furious declarations at Christmas, at the parties on Atlantic parade, Brooklyn holds a steamy closeness, jellies, anniversaries, men in shades, she died reading the Cantos, listening to Paul Simon, her shiny page folded Catechus, Homeward Bound quoting our names, we revered her just glory, our dollars and fancy trades, each bridge an open door.

Chrissy Jones

Alone at the bus station, you ask for a smoke, is that you that patient, you the prodigal daughter, now in a white coat, once so full of laughter, we thought you’d made it, you always went for broke, said the love we trade, is all that matters, even if your kingdom’s spoken, your clothes tattered, you gave us all away, in the manner of your jokes, even drunk on the pavement, your dark glasses won’t shatter, tell them that your hosts, your soul is the river, a red letter fragrance, you’re as beautiful to know, still just as elegant, you’ll ride this blow.

Adriana

Teresa d'Avila has said, a tiny drop of blood, does not bring death, not in the broken sky, nor for your own good, just let it pass by, suns moons and the rest, will bring you no ruin, closer to the test, for ones who seek lullaby, imagine each flower in bloom, see how time’s a butterfly, if that makes sense, yellow sand or tidal flood, always do your best, orange flares the waterline, your house is still stood, songs might make you cry, rejoice before the dust.

Zee

Men who need to love again, eat calf's liver and greens, nibble at succulent entrée’s, my Nana used to cobble stew, on stoves where I would keep, charms in the house that bore you, they make lovely women vain, their orange suns are sweet, white hotels glisten and sway, Nana used to walk the Brew, my Ma’s Bath House sweeping, steaming Copper’s iron tubed, faces shrouded cold as icons, these men do all the speaking, women if important to pursue, expensive designs golden maze, they won’t seek your ease, rich old guys at Cafe’ museums, want only wine and trophy.