Paul

Don't sing me your Blues, stammer on the wire, say everyone pays some dues, life isn't a stone, left in the fire, you have to extoll, whoever breaks the news, why you’ve cancelled the choir, brings more singular truths, business is in my bones, it poisons all desires, I’ll always be alone, I’ve read all the books, they don’t really inspire, except stay away from booze, this café is my ruin, but I’ll always aspire, to wear my best shoes, each little bit of me, that everyone requires, gives them no clue, I’m not a liar.

Esme

Are there any good parts, she smiles and says, they're not in your heart, I look at the moon, a spring tide today, everything comes around too soon, cool but my eyes spark, wouldn't it be great, to make a new start, to find something new, I listen but wait, she doesn’t hear my truth, a psychiatrist on a handcart, emotion's just a name, I'll sell the car, sometime soon, she judges, berates, then what’ll you do, kisses me near the bar, you’re a fool she states, I see a bright star, why hesitate ?

Helen

Tunes jingle and you sway, my insides screech, got to make my case, between home and leaving you, help me to say, what I need to do, my tear-streaked face, lemon blue by TV, shows how fate, kills the truth, is it our own conceit, we jump so many hoops, others come here too late, eager to squeeze, love from this pooped party, they re- echo old news, of a coward's deceit, how I put on dancing shoes, is there a way, you can set me free, wipe clean the slate, succour my release ?

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.