Diane Two

You're never a girl, that curses and blasts, your mind in a whirl, face like a stone, when you’re half-assed, it's best you count now, don't wear your furs, for men who feel trapped, rattle your pearls, they’ll roll you like ghosts, strung to collapse, when lies are your own, your head in a twirl, a scarf worn for Mass, say prayers downstairs, cry on the doorpost, drink tea aghast, ask what you want most, turn that flame down, you cook with gas, your flag unfurled, everything will pass.

Diane

A cracked dirty spoon, offers no insight, or makes you look cool, here in this game, a race for your life, who holds the reins, you act like a fool, cooked over lies, stop what you’re doing, when your eyes feel pain, your brain like a firefly, let others go their way, what makes it so futile, you’re drying inside, face like a lost duel, when someone asks why, you're going insane, don’t show them the knife, or act goody two shoes, pretend to like wine, who needs to be cruel, you'll be fine.

Cassie Three

Why dream of empathy, sitting on a wall, too drunk to speak, enough to raise the stakes, risk being torn, the useless dates we make, I wait for the seasons, with my crown of thorns, giving up on reason, kids about the place, being cast forlorn, I have to act brave, don’t look at me diseased, like you’ve been caught, pissing in the sea, lend a hand that shakes, absence your only call, understand why I hesitate, this is not really me, jellied to the core, a flower of deep tranquility, no one ever loved.

Cassie Two

She would scream around you, demand another loan, say everything’s bad news, sunlight, water, she’s high, like some candy floss cone, God knows make it right, she walks the avenue, her daisy head blown, she paints me lemon blue, throws craps every night, she’ll break my bones, never mind the fights, when she cries for truth, she is never alone, can't be bothered to argue, what's worse is the silence, all that's gone to ruin, me, my ma, her spites, will always seek their due, roll up and down the stones, leaves me here to stew, never coming home.

Cassie

Da hates the pen, your stomach turns to rope, Ma stands there bereft, if you really want class, consider them gone, never eat grass, be the first to liken, dope as their stroll, you the chosen one, if they can’t be assed, to leave you alone, poison their matches, don't even pretend, they might atone, the mess they’ve left, with their ugly dash, to one another’s phone, don’t care what happens, when you say you’ll help, make the little ones cope, what then, who needs them at home, we’ll slice our own cord.

Kevin Three

If you’re so aware, think you’re great, who am I to care, am I looking for a home, a country across my face, you're too far gone, a held need to bear, the shaking out fate, just find me one here, heaven screams alone, when voices fade, there’s no one to call in chains at the fair, plan a great escape, I'm like a timeshare, a bird that's flown, when shutters raise, a time that feels old, what if you dare, to claw at my traces, don't you understand, I’m broken freight.

Kevin Two

Put me on the train, I can hardly speak, you listen to the rain, forget sunlit avenues, or this roof that leaks, a bucket fills bad news, Paris or Marseilles, anywhere that speaks, not somewhere fake, pray I’ll see you soon, before my hair is grey, in your lavender room, please don’t mark the day, when crazy inner deeds, come out to play, besides you a magnolia blooms, love turns at ninety degrees, it’s not my tune, what is there to say, who would believe, prayers are forsaken, when you hear the sea?