Nicola

Who gives a break, for those who can't denude, the wind in our make up, in our bones, a golden certitude, can’t beat a fire’s warmth, like a waterfall snakes, memories that exude, beyond stories we fake, who will take us home, that driver’s a lazy fool, now his bus is gone, what will our Ma say, are we rattling our jewels, Autumn sheds its rake, standing by the road, within a third interregnum, just leave us alone, can't you see our ruin ?

Maya

Outside the Yankee, I know I’m home, the pavement is green, shouts above the door jar, on a painted stone, my name scratched in scars, pitching roll of the sea, the sun going down, ignore all the has beens, On Princes Boulevard, I am done, hardly see what’s going down, won’t hear of blame, fresh linen and Eau de Cologne, the teeming avenue shapes, I follow beside the cars, the maritime sky atones, no more lonely stars, selling love on telephones.

Lola

My mother used to say, the scent of a woman, is heaven in its own way, absent, for any man, love is a nonsense, like luck in a game, when it's gone, that's the time to weigh, what others witness, . when fine evening’s chance, pours light over sadness, then the cloud breaks, and the sun hangs on, I call out your name, like an arriving cargo ship, coming home, seafarers add to their lists I know I’m one.

Kahlia

From starboard you wail to me, Is this our place, terrified moans across the sea, a crescent rising moon, our lives turned about face, wondering if there’s room, surrounded by the boat’s infirmary, auxiliary lights trace, a brittle wind folded scree, no matter what the news, indifferent stars won’t lace, our lifeboats to the Booms, they bring us into Sicily, Our Lady keep us safe, in these Gardens of Gethsemane, you who know each rhythm, God shall light your face, in our cold night of fortune, as we kneel to pray

Jade

Will you see me home, what flag have you unfurled, don’t leave me alone, you laugh away unspoken, like you’ve been spurned, anchors bind my soul, love is not for mocking, if a thing is earned, chairs need more than rocking, you smile when I make jokes, about life on wretched earth, no wonder that I’m broke, ships roll by forgotten, we sit by trees and murmur, feel my blood is clotting, if there’s need to atone, it’s me still scared, despite this little token, won’t you help me turn ?

Isabell

A crescent moon at home, she knows she is loved, but wants away alone, surrounded by indifferent stars, she turns her face to shove, against her tear stained Da’s, flees the ‘burbs to roam, Our Lady holds a dove, in winter’s night of storms, this time is of the heart, no matter what’s going on, she doesn't feel apart, when they sing of home, in the times to come, weight sings inside her core, she’s asking for a start, at some crummy Drum, his lovely little daughter, what she’s gone and done ?

Hailey

Do we keep or burn, love we thought would last, a flame that could not turn, I can demand anything, now it's gone, passed, but what would that mean, some things don't seem fair, maybe not enough to crash, a circle through a square, now she’s gone it’s raining, bitter songs of our collapse, I couldn’t see it coming, if you take by words shared, they might provide a map, within this salt filled air, all I did was bring, stuff to make her laugh, except now there’s nothing, I didn’t think of that.

Ginny

When you talk seaports, when you talk pool rooms, try to understand what’s caught, coming home he says, don't try to lace my boots, give someone else time to pray, smile at a mirror’s comfort, wait for his dismal hoot, try to stand in support, a tree, a bridge the terrain, livid at my son’s cahoots, instead light a candle name, for vagrants and their consorts, who suffer him like you, and all his tawdry recourse, don’t walk away, you’ll always find a solace, for that mind in flames, the Chalice your oasis.

Evie

Our love of God, a healing fire, please give what we want, sweet offerings of the sod, your ice- cold fish knife, cuts through the morning smog, how different is so far, life is never drawn tight, burdens us we sit in Bars, angels roll white logs, across neon lit signs, we have no need of forests, designed by our cars, a headlong desire, our friends could not care, our ship jolts and rocks, the situation’s dire, we need love not stars, adrift in our lives.

Daisy

Will you spend, a lifetime of gain, eking out a stipend, enjoying that gift, down shameful lanes, standing only in your shift, beneath that rend, all fires give way, you are more than that, washed by the cliffs, sheltered by rain, no one resides in bits, chained to their ends, mistakes all lovers make, for slumbers in torrents, just listen, let each have their say, your eyes might glisten, it’s better today.

Camila

You tear at my heart, I'm a fool you say, don't need to be so tart, to fly my web, you hold my face, it's all in your head, you’re the first to start, why don’t you stay, instead of carrying on, my security in shreds, you’re poised but wait, to distance yourself, when you’re spinning off, I firmly state, no way there’s the bottle, the psychiatrist said, . emotion’s her blackmail, I stroke her head dress, she smiles but hesitates.

Beulah

She notes the distance around, the hallway’s public telephone, a screed of wheat when found, she wouldn't dine or sing, luminous solitary but not alone, strapped to this old thing, her granny fleece of Down, like the Book she holds, her feet on the ground, what better cure for everything, than an oat field blue smoked, around her a hundred kin, her drink is ginger ground, lemon linen and eau de cologne, she whispers out her love, her face is shining pink, she can see them all watch them rise and sink, across this sepia carpet.

Beulah

She notes the distance around, the hallway’s public telephone, a screed of wheat when found, she wouldn't dine or sing, luminous solitary but not alone, strapped to this old thing, an old granny a fleece of Down, like the book she holds, her feet on the ground, what better cure for everything, than an oat field blue smoked, around her a hundred kin, her drink is ginger ground, lemon linen and eau de cologne, she whispers out her love, her face is shining pink, she can see all her own, watch them rise and sink, across this sepia moment.

Ariana

Ride horses with leather leads, my lover asks, sway gently in the breeze, pray to an altar at noon, how can you live like that, my heart rises like a salmon, it feels the air I breathe, the kids are up and gone, is all loving done furtively, I want to tell her soon, get away from this prattle, break the ship of fools, raise my spirits to believe, gallop instead of trot, I’m not some innocent Eve, dancing in the perfect gloom, my eyes set on the past, the gentle sea's so smooth, raise me here at last.

Willow

You won’t get far, I still wonder if, you know who you are, where’s your watering hole, Aretha rolling off your lips, who’ve you’ve left and gone, wiser than your Da or Ma, flashing your fingertips, are you wearing a tiara, at Trapani in the foam, where you laugh and skip, are you there to gloat, your Ray Bans on the bar, watching the Ocean slip, sunlight on dock rail spars, still you talk of shadows, ask if they still grip, dance at mother’s window, make the sign of ships?

Vivienne

When you waved ta ra, kissed me here and there, I died in your arms, what you said still sticks, love of harbours and Fairs, beaches pebbles insects, this lonely dog gazes far, at your jumbled worlds, bottles, tidal wood, jam jars, you are a pin prick, squeezed red on my finger, seepage from an oil slick, forget your shiny cars, nothing but a thirst, besides the ocean’s roar, continue with your phoney tricks, say love will keep me here, you have had your kicks, don’t worry, I’ll repair.

Udella

Did you fake your everything, gamble on your cheek bones, just to make bells ring, your girl’s say, you could have had a throne, troubles all scattered away, was it different with underlings, dancing fools called to atone, you dismissed as has been, who call you out to play, sing songs drink full on, set images only you can take, the calendar sings, waves of arrangements and moans, smells of river and lost things, you know it’s been coming, blowing cigarettes like coals, sucking on tangerines, chasing angels down the road.

Tammy

When did I say you must, was it going back to sing, or the words of my son, who loved the house of soul, among other things, he never sang alone, in the city always first, clothes that needed ironing, anchored to his sins, but he never crawled, towards any living being, making songs was his goal, his Daddy blows a kiss, but he never did anything, a pie without the crust, says he knows the score, doesn’t even think, in a back alley scrawled, my boy is dying.

Star

Sometimes you can’t exclude, what cascades deep inside, then a face hove’s into view, laughter in her blue eyes, when she asks me why, moon’s rise on the tide, a lover, grounded and true, she holds out all the time, but draws a line at virtue, once she paced her pride, found places safe to cry, explored huge caves at night, a woman of rage and sinew, beats out sweet lullabies, it’s not an easy listen, here’s the stuff that chimes, like a bell on a kite, her face a sunlit paradigm, a glass in the sunshine

Robbie

Smoking a cigarette, I exhale, stuck here on my mind, a lover's face impaled, can anyone retain, that unforgiving light, the way she's famed, haunted, proud, regaled, she no longer asks why, about the time after jail, she was first to name, places where it's wise to lie, and safer still to fade, a woman beyond the pale, who beat out her time, danced around the flames, crossed uncertain terrain, laughed beneath each sky, small wonder that I failed, colours brighter than mine

Questa

Who forgets generous acts, standing by an unlit lamp, drawing fire, watching ships, are those who give always first, waiting for a scan, measured by horizons, does my husband's laughs, need a tree, a bridge, a candle, to rattle around our pan, send us money by post, we’re jobless on the tramp, throw salt at our ghosts, decant us like the sacrosanct, stamp the Catholic stamp, drunk do not let us sag, tell us to get lost, spit saliva on our plans, for you the baptised hosts, always give what you can.

Paloma

Who wants to be free, asks my lover, I do, my hearts skips a key, nothing between her and the sun, the breeze whispers on the peninsula, says she thinks we’re done, my bright intensity, bends awkward out of trouble, unhampered by serendipity, the smell of her perfume, makes me think of mother, who also played out of tune, light has a kind of density, it leaves no spaces for cover, wish I could join the Fleet, she'll stand by her ruins, places run out of love, so close to the truth, it’s hard to keep going.

Olivia

Who wants the last kiss, asks my lover, eyes raised as if nothing amiss, nowhere between us and sea, a kindly breeze on the peninsula, it makes me want coffee, her eyes full of mist, given over to watching others, nails painted and clipped, same colour in our infancy, the great light untroubled, she thinks she's a celebrity, a blinding sky resists, any hope of cover, she'll look for passing ships, places that bear no scrutiny, it's a small step to bother, her being happy, a marriage running over.

Natalia

Bending smiles to blonde seats, the kids who drink wine, laugh up from the Bleachers, a twisted smile between, wooden decks that blind, soften cool blue evenings, she sees the creep of moon, regular as the lemon night, dance sourballs in her glass, men who only want room, to enlighten their lives, love the way she loves them, but the goal, the jewel, escapes each time, only makes them drool, sikn laughter at such scenes, nothing can entwine, her great sense of being, she’s never frightened.

Maya

Absolved free of the scorn, I've wrapped her in, she passes from our home, uncertainty arrested, my letters binned, her tears trip uncontested, believe me a career is born, by making false decisions, wronging women my new crown, delivery, testimony manifest, between myself and her lips, whoever knows what’s best, they tell me nothing shorts, the rattle of wind on sill, that cannot beat bad thoughts, I pause, bitterly still, sunlight cracks the window,

Lena

You used to write then, of smoky laughter and winters, tales and all the rest, awful stories of the tenements, scrawled over by wet kisses, men who had lost everything, but made you their friend, do you want me in splinters, to read all that again, the little lines of credit, dollars dimes and dodgy business, houses lying within a sentence, nothing else but that wee pen, sunken sunlight by the river, for us far off kin, why only help to fashion, the dreams of lonely sisters, donning boots and leathers, your smudges like a siren ?

Katherine

Don't talk like that she hisses, you always make a fuss, love isn't mailed long distance, powdered lightly she groans, shadows of light catch dust, a fragrance of glacial cold, others seek convergence, she’ll do what she must, through days of pure insistence, she’s betrayed by everyone, doesn’t ask for much, her epiphany not yet done, my fair haired little sister, what have the years brought us, that it's come to this, a parent who fled the home, a pie without a crust, mandolins contain your song, but weeping she dismisses.

Janis

Do you ever spare a thought, about our separation , he interrogates me at the door, you think it’s easy for me, avoiding drink's temptation, his chin is cast to the lee, full of trouble and fraught, his protesting eyes dilate dance like he’s been caught, for my part he feels, I'm from some other place, my upper rooms blown easterly, his blessed mother’s thorn, she would say don’t hesitate, drag her through the Court, like a wind blows viciously, she spreads unleavened hate, her steady flow of history signals one word, escape.

Isla

As if to anticipate me, the wind soothes the Lime, and Cypress trees, on hills beyond the Cliffs, an ambient light, seeps, says forget his lips, I drink green tea, aroused in stumbled fright, by a foam washed sea, surprised in my shift, supposedly young and bright, I still hear music shiver, his song one long apology, really more of a whine, stunted by apostrophe’s, mandolin strings drift, on futures with the tide, remnants of cargo ships, sing of love and sigh.

Harriet

Was going to leave without you, idly breathing without a clue, a supposed departure from Taranto, I chew pasta and think about home, but really don’t know what to do, you are such a generous soul, this friend of yours Billy Hughes, my Italian friend brings news, says he really isn’t true, knows it’s not New York, but most place have the same avenues, that walk the unfaithful walk, since our time on Corfu we’ve had to face the truth only love makes you drool, men think they can beat our bones, fade away into the blue, but they bring nothing at all, least of all Billy Boo Boo.

Gerri

Your love of Horse, a needling wire, allows for no discourse, no rush to atone, for the offerings of desire, hands like ice cold stone, cut our morning recourse, fevered in dawn’s grey light, they run a river’s course, on burdens we own, through candlelit nights, our demons ride home, there is no concourse, for ourselves or the time, friends have all withdrawn, we sail all alone, like a tide breaks the line, circumnavigates the globe, laughing on fire.