Kieron

Gone is the time, I stare straight at you, you’re a real dame, you don’t make it easy, to see things through, what is in me, a cashmere coat is fine, to stamp out the blues, but not in July, you don’t do breezy, why disguise the truth, in the way you speak, hard times besides, you won’t suffer fools, to sharpen your mind, shake the car keys, am I your mule, each day’s no Odyssey, I’ll just stand in line, to catch more sad tunes, drink sweet wine, swallow your perfume.

Diane Three

Wear your best smile, now out of my way, walk the lonely miles, in your bones, you’re not meant to stay, alone, leave the good times, for your holy grail, don’t have a dime, can you atone, when it's howling a gale, you’re that far gone, flip a coin to the sky, think of hoisting sail, your blouse is just fine, drink from a Jeroboam, covet some desolate mail, throw stones at your ghosts, know how to cry, when love’s like a snail, you're not going to lie, it’s worse than jail

Diane Two

I’m never a girl, that curses and blasts, my mind in a whirl, a face set like stone, when I feel brassed, it's best you count now, don't look scared, turn away trapped, I won’t rattle my pearls, see your ghost, strung out near collapse, these lies are your own, does your head twirl, teeth rattle in a glass, say prayers downstairs, cry on the doormat, drink tea aghast, ask what I need most, I’ll turn the flame down, cook with gas, my flags unfurled, you can relax.

Diane

A warm weathered room, split by sunlight, doesn’t make me feel cool, here in this game, a race for your life, I don’t hold the reins, am not a fool, spinning cooked over lies, to see what you’re doing, my eyes feel the pain, your hands dance like fireflies, sooth them on their way, can you smell the ruins, do you cry inside, ask if someone needs you, when others renege, I’ll protect you at night, a moon on the causeway, in sandalwood dunes, you’ll be fine, you’ll see beloved, we have the fire.

Jess Three

Why dream of empathy, sitting on a wall, too tired to speak, enough to raise the stakes, risk being torn, the useless dates we make, I wait for the seasons, own a crown of thorns, giving up on reason, kids run about the place, crying cast forlorn, I have to act brave, don’t look at me please, as if you’ve been caught, dreaming in the sea, a hand that shakes, askance at my gall, understand I resonate, this isn’t really me, jellied to the core, a flower of deep tranquillity, asking only more.

Jess Two

He dances around you, screams for loans, say everything’s bad mojo, sunlight, water, he’s up high, like some waving comb, who’ll make it right, I walk the avenue, my daisy head blown, he paints me lemon blue, drinks all the night, will break any curfew, forget about the fights, when I cry for truth, know I’m not alone, useless to argue, what's worse is the silence, all gone to ruin, his once niceness, he’ll get his dues, receive his broken bones, nothing here that's new, no longer in my zone.

Jess

Da's back in the pen, my stomach turns to rope, Ma stands there bereft, if you really want class, consider this joke, when you turn grass, be the first to offer, smoke with their loans, you the first one, if you can’t be assed, then leave them alone, don’t poison the glass, or even pretend, the hurt is gone, with all your mess, the ugly crap, sung down the phone, don’t say it’s the last, when needing your help, give them some scope, if you can’t act proper, live on your own