Madeleine

She laughs and hums a tune, says its stupid to lie, she’ll leave that to me, like a dog far from home, she doesn’t want a fight, just leave her alone, the elephant in the room, trumps another sigh, the children make her blue, always late coming home, their ask’s a constant why, she worries when they roam, if they blow the juice, she’s sick of denying, what is left to rue, guilty people do atone, but this snuffled exercise, a constant runny nose, she says because of you, hands supplicate the sky, what else is she to do, take up flying?

Layla

Times we ought to share, a burnt light of feasting, makes me dream of elsewhere, let others condone, that passing daydream, of a loving family home, more than any dare, I’ll do what's needed, don’t need the stairs, to hear love's angry tones, swell around my knees, like broken water, it really isn’t fair, I know what I’m leaving, an eternal duty of care, a worn loading stone, it’s now only me, swear that it's over, at play or in prayer, cry that I’m released, shake the sun from my hair, s look over the sea.

Grace

My vision comes quite late, I don’t quite believe, what it has to say, you roll within my thunder, exploding like a spray, lost in moans and numbers, you'll find out one day, when you retrieve, plans you’ve thrown away, my mind is still uncluttered, but inside I can reach, the need for love, I won’t stand betrayed, by your retreat, or sing any last refrain, it makes you wonder, stones, graves, wreaths, who splits who asunder, the memory of your face, is easy to receive, I'm making my own way, listening to the sea.

Mattie

Now and then she’s right, I’m just skimming, something shows me why, like the river off Burbo Bank, shining, arrowing, twisting, me a dark room crank, she loves the sunlight, knows her own following, if someone make her cry, lungs open like a tank, she knows how to fight, when everything turns black, next to me like a bride, her eyes moist and filling, she’ll give a loving sigh, tobacco blonde dank, her whole life is swimming, she’ll make out I’m slack, dance in the tide, her fame is just beginning, her smile like a knife, fresh, alive, winning.

Carl

Something says we're done, you don’t need a sunset, our ashes blown and gone, give God his due, he’ll take any stupid bet, doesn’t wait for thank- you, fire and distant thunder, traps have all been set, the unfettered wounds between us, my tongue is parchment glue, a seal on every debt, I walk along the avenue, don't know where I’m from, tired of cigarettes, beneath this heavy boulder, say it isn’t true in houses that we’ve left, squabbling over what to do, how our world crumbles, in gardens of the West, on each night wind a number, arms to hold me yet ?

Ollie

Her smile makes you prance, no fear of being caught, lubin for your smart chat, take all the chaff, show them ‘round the course, smoke and act daft, what others have found, singing myself hoarse, is a lack of balance, I just drink and dance, but you make me worse, with your sparky flowers, you hold hands and ask, is this what we're taught, love’s such a gas, then why forget the past, you know about horses, how to turn them out, why not take a chance, draw a toil of water, rock me with a cadence, if it’s such a laugh ?

Yolanda

A cold wind blows, it stokes a fear, suddenly in the shining snow, pearl doves arch above, nothing else comes near, their blazing breasts of love, shimmer on my work clothes, my smile is not dear, there are no bad tones, singing along my weather front, even if I do like beer, fly to those who give, their vision blown, I need to be gone, a lifetime left to moan, I have the will to shove, that barrel of heartless cheer, somewhere down the road, I wear lipstick now you know, love these killer years, a woman from stern to bow, let me make it clear.