Keira

You must remember this, take your time, do you want me hum it, the face that haunts you, forgives generous lies, like a fire burns true, will give you a clip, find mysteries of your line, hear when the rain ticks, listen to the wind croon, shudder with the wine, walk your next avenue, an ongoing family rift, furls early shipwreck signs, golden dawns taunt you, mark well your intuits, rubbishes all designs, his spirit might kiss you, don't be frightened.

Janine

Does your husband's curfew, make you to suffer still, light holy candles, give money to every fool, keep from falling ill, throw salt at the blues, douse yourself with perfume, his voice becomes shrill, call in collective dues, see your flowers bloom, sing about spring's chill, someone else's wounds, friends say see you soon, take a laughter pill, if they only knew, there's no easy refuge, keep your love of thrills, hold freedom's bitter tune, let him ride the hill.

Indy

Sometimes i feel squeezed, with the smiles he makes, his manner sleepy easy, swamp lights guide his way, Aretha is playing, by the old Levee, when he broke free, New Orleans was shaking, my hair is washed sea green, evening plashes the glades, knows what he's saying, in a magnolia cotton shade, his long gait and knees, pulls at my traces, he issues a whispered plea, eyes big as lakes we listen to the rain, drum on a roof that creeks, its him again.

Haven

What brings me to this night, lets me play so near, opens the locks on life, when you can easily moan, dance before the deer, forget kids left alone, regular as the Five and Dime, a Sourball calms my fears, brings me summer's birthright, see the creep of gloam, stars shine bright and clear, before any whispers of home, the warm evening light, a brown wooden pier, perfect when debt's put right, find my inner road, could live or die right here, offer to share my soul, settle my mind to hear.

Gini

If they ask for a name, to show your dull life, you'd think me tame, your consoling force, a greater glue than mine, doesn't show the door, I dance my evasions, whispering to the night, between you and shame, our house is wooden shored, brings me to the line, creaks a sound forlorn, a dance of burning flame, matches me with strife, teaches me of blame, the illusions i hoard, stilled now with wine, nails me to the floor, saddled now this time.

Franca

Why does time resonate, a web in blue trees, threads across my face, was it some cold dawn, where you sang so clean, the year Lady born, couldn't get past your gaze, shrunk back on my heels, to hear that voice again, you didn't falter, down desolate streets, to worry about the fall, your Ma in broken rage, dug that post war scene, butterflies came late, but what you spawned, let us all break free, still leaves me fallen, at your feet.

Esme

Where do we hope to be, our bodies twist and groan, dancing's never easy, silk worms in cemetery's glow, resist any combing, furious as a curate's throw, then you my lover seize, this time to make scones, our house behind the sea, we swore we'd never moan, on Sundays to live alone, sunlight shifts the room, how beautiful and so lovely, your neck smooth as stone, when my torso pulls free, will you help me grow, your face by the water, somewhere far from home, tell me all you know ?

Debs

Men in suits of death, ask if we can cope, if they could only help, assist our search for dough, throw away the rope, measure lengths we'd go, what dreams we have left, do they think us dopes, sat on the bar like derelicts, are we only bones, high rollers in New York, as we walk the floor, dance tickets bear our wealth, the bleeding worm of hope, deep within our breasts, love our sense of glow, how long before we show, in trains on stations formed, the look of gravestones.

Readers

Going away for a few days - poems will appear again on the 25th July dv. Thanks to you all for reading them.

Callie

I am silent as the breeze, we are leaving from Glasgow, eat pasta think about ringing, but i haven't got the bite, she is such a dismal cow, this old friend of mine, my new Italian lover you see, American Bars is what we know, a bit different from Barlinnie, where she spent time quietly, riding the insane show, now she goes to Disney, doesn’t really do serenity, thinks she'll carry on somehow, brightly shining at some party, heading south the train sleeps, like going around and round, i paint my face with ease, suits me to feel alone.

Belinda

I want to be set free, says my lover on high, a sense of blue conceit, between her hands and shore, she aurveys the sky, her cigarettes by the door, on a funnel gazing spree, any horizon seems bright, thinks she's a celebrity, her power is always more, kind but sheds no light, she names it mystery rope, it stands no scrutiny, always shows she's right, a short step to eternity, but what's underscored, is a racing certainty, harmony stands restored, when fires burn willingly.

Annie

Did you ruin her marriage, you'd gamble anything, to steer clear that passage, your daughter's aims, all her could have been's, debase your claims, was it any less savage, with others who scream, called you to the barrage, ragged clouds of rain, like a calendar deems, roll darkly off the plain, a smell of storm presages, dust across your schemes, your crazy damage, howling for terrain, chasing without cease, numbers you miscalculate, who needs your dreams ?

Zada

I ask for a name, to shame your dull life, don't think me insane, your consoling groans, taste sweeter than wine, pity's not in my home, where do such lies lay, you dance in time, whispering your evasions, silent in your bones, between you and the night, guards shout all aboard, this roaring train, brings us to the fire, makes me spit like rain, I'll make you atone, without troubling Aquinas, teach you how to love , dwell in burning flames, praise our holy bond, let illusions crave, bound by wire.

Yareli

Should you know better, wonder still if gripped, you read his letters, wiser than the phone, sense in your finger tips, you wear a little gown, Aretha at your request, moves roll off your hips, drinking San Miguel best, forget enduring heroes, awaiting ships, the sun is going down, feels like your butress, but you laugh and skip, plenty of time to rest, dance a bar lovers tune, enhance all you've hid, the Fleet is back again, act like a little kid.

Xandra

Race through a field of corn, my lover asks, dance you were never born, an altar to pray upon, how can you live like that, heart beats without sound, I want to call form, roar like a big cat, am not a fool forlorn, flee a love that's sad, no kids on the latch, my loving isn't bad, spirits perform ancient charms, forget our little chats, gallop to a perfect sun, run before a following storm, its not an easy task, to ride freight trains home, adjust my Ray Bans.

Vicky

A needle truth is never easy, it sparkles where lies end, to always gild the lily, is there ever a time, that forever tends, to claim we're all fine, bites the hand that deserts us, cadges off our friends, when they confer illusion, light shines our Valentines, hot brown days send, tidal boats to the skyline, absence is a lost release, even as we set, fire to every belief, we don't mind betraying hopes pretend, if they ask us why, say it's in the sand.

Ulla

Waiting for the train, a cloudy day a breeze, there's a tidal spray, you never really own, what's gone to seed, in these solid Ocean towns. long journeys nerves frayed, its gone half past three, he won't wave goodbye again, am cool but turn , when he closes the gate, still feel my stomach churn, me who'll take the blame, through windows in the rain, looking out over the Bay, me who shouts too firm, he'll always make me pay, let him go and burn, love in stupid ways.

Tacey

She measures a distance beaten, by public telephones, across fields of blue wheat, she won't bathe in wine , isolated but not alone, lives by a water chime, a granny rolls up sleeves, like the book she holds, her rifle next to the sheets, what better cure is a cry, to surrender perfume soaked, a lover from old times, her drink is whisky neat, ravaged lipstick Eau De Cologne, she whispers her feelings, secrets like lemons and lime, flow from her garden wall, she doesn't care for time, carrying this load.

Stella

Eyes beat like fireflies, who is the fool, dancing on the bread line, they ask me to play, this Sunday in June, face Up to past games, sunlight on the lilac, turns purple and cool, little faith in signs, crazy side of the Bay, they want me to muse, how they've been betrayed, our family's demise, the money tooled, burned thru their lives, don't ask me to say, every meeting's a duel, am not cut out that way, know whats been done.

Rayleigh

When you talk coastlines, when you feel safe, remember this time, pay off the loans, coming back you say, we'll have no more scorn, who needs to downsize, everything here's fine, push into the light, hope for better form, sharp as a needle in sunshine, happy for being born, don't talk about crime, a bridge across the plain, we'll forge own designs, try to perform, where kids are not pains, drinking wine from bowls, this is no game.

Quinn

Forget ferocious ease, for any justice sought, love sets off the genie, flings explosive contours, what cannot be bought, captured between its zones, she shakes her car keys, November's for New York, it's certainly no Odyssey, filled with caring thoughts, her worried family notes, how she keeps the score, nothing better seized, than the whiff of blasphemy, gilded behind retreat, more than any human cause, what betrays her dreams, stifles on the carrefour, is demands for more.

Pammy

Can you see that locket, what flag have you unfurled, you feel inside my pockets, is it me whose tame, turns cold upon your stare, all is not the same, when a kiss blows softer, loneliness does not share, a fuse without a socket, take your callow game, anchors hold me square, ships roll down their lanes, sit by trees eat Whatsits, clothes we'll never wear, surprise often comes upon us, amidst the evening flame, the river risen here, I'll always call your name, love beyond repair.

Oona

Do we stoke and burn, flames as blue as gas, shall we turn them down, you worship all the earth , now time has passed, but remain unconcerned, holidays you jumped and cared, never let a joy collapse, there was always prayer, on smokey brown chairs, with songs strong as brass, you'd consider money earned, leaves you eager to learn, small talk makes you laugh, you were never really spare, all I did was have affairs, all you did was fast, raised me to the air, told me to get lost.

Natalie

She kills me with her being, on stretched out sunny days, dances like a fallen queen, talks of leaving home, an artist bright and unfazed, needs to expand her shores, has never left her street, tho' she's traveled many ways, resides with me upbeat, it leaves you to suppose, we're more than passing trains, when love like this gets close, part of me is reeling, sprinkling like flower sprays, visions on St Anthony's quay, now an empty cellulose, morning cafe' warmth and cakes, kisses at the dawn boat, time across my face.