Twenty One

I stand by her grave, where praise be, i hope to be saved, her eyes like thunder, wine dark on the sea, they make me shudder, in the blue Nave, stripped like the trees, nothing's left to trade, between here and surrender, the old amber need, doesn't stay to linger, my voice starts to break, it's late for the season, geese honk on their way, her face is the wonder, happy laughing clean, that i tore asunder, it's quiet by this place, fifty years of need, for my allotted space, she makes for me.

Twenty

Me Ma stamps the tar, it's not good news, second husband runs the car, a trip to the park, peel oranges in a barn, love never hungers, won't let him cross the arc, he's bemused, right from the off, she's a stone heart, my son says he knew, it's only the start, Da's not gone far, lipstick, a shirt he uses, Ma says with his tart, she smokes a Lucky Star, smelling the perfume, he's falling apart, I still hear him cough, splutter like a fool, hope is a distant mark, from this latent brew.

Nineteen

Is it love of rain, or a burning pyre, that you're against, you sit in the gloom, listening to the criers, no one jumps the queque, seeing problems look away, they pester you for hire, it's never easy or brave, to do what you do, your eyes seek the tide, they were never blue, an offering to the saved, like an ice cold fish wire, is this what you gave, whispering at someone's due, here's my coat to lie in, my song is true, not defined by trains, nor tongues of a liar, the miracle I crave, my life on fire.

Eighteen

Gamble everything away, don't care what you do, won't kid this kiddar's rage, at winter's iron thaw, from you there comes no tune, just a sallow maw, watch ships in the bay, work is just a ruse, salt always in your cake, everyone's your whore, sad song's come on cue, what a cache they hoard, smoke ciggies in the rain, every trick in use, this life is such a game, curdled love tied with cord, no one really hates you, why make them roar, gnaw at some cause betrayed, conceal bitter news, take it to your grave, drunk on stolen food.

Seventeen

They'll let you know, what people up here feel, almost in their bones, that jilted smile's a strain, hurting in the trees, they see it anyway, take your time right now, those night's without a key, the river always flows, why seek the rain, peer in mountain streams, don't have to catch a train, nothing to bestow, with other crazy schemes, life's no picture show, been a long time away, to live within a dream, now face each coming day, you don't have to borrow, we see how you've been, stay to warm your toes, nothing's how it seems.

Sixteen

My song is good mojo, it maybe flawed, but i know the score, love on a lilac sea, whoever takes the tour, waves goodbye to dreams, life is a bag of bones, a lender of furious pause, it won't let you doze, my tune is your creed, come back for more, this is our scene, dance in my zone, like we used to before, our time hasn't gone, knowledge is real, your clothes sweep the floor, how good it feels, I'll smooth your tones, succour the poor, temper your groans, eye every door.

Fifteen

You ask what's new, never one to help the poor, i arrive on cue, you never did say please, divined by any call, or my sense of ease, always back of your queue, sitting in this gloom, I'll bust the curfew, bad guys on this street, no fool for your cause, when you hear the screams, it pulls your life askew, hacking out your chores, sweating with the Blues, i know where you've been, with all your glorious mores, whose turn now to bleed, you never were my glue, drinking at some lonely door, your head full of tunes, tilting at the bar.