Delilah

You laugh like Camus, but it’s not the heat, deserts don't frighten you, you’d say that fools, always miss the beat, when looking at ruins, you are like an almond, brown and seventeen, before the wind, will you blow away, like their leaves, nothing to harm your stay, just the yellow and grey, poverty of hurt dreams, poems on hot spring days, inside you hum a tune, turn your head at screams, ignore the blues, your spirit sunk deep.

Deborah

My parents say i'm plucky, sometimes without grace, you don't know how lucky, children with single women, Oh you'll be okay, just give them room, Our Lady holds my heart, no matter games they play, on cold lit parts, my Da was unfaithful, lost within his ways, he'll always be dull, asks me for money, chants without praise, at my kids communion, a goody two shoe sucker, i no longer sway, before their truculence, am over obeying.

Xona

Why won’t you let me see, please don’t bind my feet, i only asked for freedom, consolation of his seed, a human soul or shady tree, beside these heaving beings, i sing you all a Huda, a bitter chant of make believe, for your eyes on destiny, as you wait for trains, you swarm of human need, only song remains, the dancing wound of Syria, Greece and a moonlit sea, rock of Simon Peter, Europe hear my keening, New York light a greeting, boatmen cry'time to leave', sail or enter history.

Xiang

Do we know how to give, live a lifetime of greed, to bring us to love, do you sometimes jib, if it’s in our creed, our gift to wonder, what about your lover, with all her surly needs, the yellow light hid, does her face have a number, bear witness to your ease, a high heeled slumber, would you tell her in sin, or life's end in weeds, it was me spinning fibs, how we have to limit, knowing too much to see, stones,flowers,pieces of drift, to conjure freedom.

Xaria

Truth was never easy for you, especially on this campaign, your breath warm fish glue, frightened on my lips, this no child’s game, iron scabbard at the hip, what am I doing being blue, chasing my days, with a woman like you, who cannot be bought, outside of slavery, a sheath of cotton wrought, around your lies, golden trinket silken delay, all your crass disguise, better to be true, face down outrageous claims, sail by stars to Maputu, Africa on your blade.

Xena

Our ship leaves Trinity Bar, in darkness and green light, to Africa or further far, tell me, tell me daughter, your lips a place of fight, why sail among this slaughter, Bow spit carries your alarm, when bells ring out the night, will we meet our patriarch, like a song across the sea, the Maghreb is within sight its warm embrace holy, when i touch your sweet star, across this shining bite, it warns of useless pillars, eternal hope of semaphore, rose petals of sweet delight, crusted bird cried orators, your eyes a constant flight.

Veronica

Sister what was that time, when I prayed on trains. sweated for a child, did you see me climb, a drain pipe in the rain, not me who derided, poets from another scene, God is not to blame, our love not a dream, in our tears and brine, we say it just the same, you turn away your eyes, anchors bind my feet, prows ply ancient lanes, we sit beside the sea, you laugh a demented chime, cannot bear to say, nothing seems to rhyme, you are not my slave.