Monica

Love holds the door ajar, my hair falls down unkind, nowhere gets me very far, I sit on a high stool, drink a little wine, God knows I need a few, you ask about my Da, Oh he’s fine, stuck as usual on the Bar, the money he blew, in a poor easy light, just to please some other fool, cruising in her fast car, he rocks around her lies, no wonder I’m scarred, there’s nothing cool, about the hurt inside, except that other part of you, viewed from afar, that sees each morning rise, like the northern star, knowing it’s my time.

Kevin

He reads and hums a tune, says its stupid to lie, he’ll enjoy this view, like a dog far from home, he doesn’t want a fight, just let him be alone, the elephant in the room, trumps another sigh, the grandkids make him blue, always late coming home, their ask’s a constant why, he worries where they roam, if they blow the juice, he’s sick of denying, what’s left to all of us, guilty people do atone, but this same snuffled exercise, like any runny nose, speaks some truth, her bum supplicates the light, what else is he to do, take up flying?

Jenny

I won’t say no , or ask you to sign, brush away those bitter tones, I know what’s at issue, when you burn like fire, set dreams loose, chances are I’ll follow, a chef dancing on a tyre, nowhere I won't go, you play the fool, echo what is right, pull out a tune, others dance fandango's, in morning’s cold light, rooms without windows, places smoky blue, where you can lose sight, of what is before you, please let me know, if I’m on your mind, riding high on the blow, checking out the time.

Corys

Who needs a shrink, when a lover somehow, always wants a drink, one day he might stroll, down this road like a clown, other times rotten lie low, I know what they think, he’ll always miss the furrow, his head down a sink, a display all his own, show them what he’s sown, outrage now he’s gone, I shudder at the stitch, a whole investment blown, work and strain and stink, who will want me now, face like an ice rink, heavy as jeans I’ve sewed, politics dull pink, sweat shines on my brow, ride away don’t blink, Chagall’s in the saddle.

Jay

Blow smoke across my tears, share jokes in the dust, then she disappears, I even know the jail , a blanket for our love, whose passage never fails, what brought her here, in the lilac dusk, a woman once so clear, ice blue on the rails, a player till she's bust, absorbed in all her ways, no one could get near, a spark never dull, I swallow all my fears, haunt me like I failed, I did what I could, roll tobacco in red paper, store away the years, her perfume is like musk, across this bar a tear, who betrayed her trust?

Isabella

What hours do we keep, they ask the blue shadows, strained on dark brown seats, leave us alone will you, our mouths don’t need notes, we 've heard the news, we are not at liberty, to repeat old jokes, these colours of simplicity, do what they always do, much as anything we know, make every space a view, it’s our mission to keep, a ray of hope, survive this place of dreams, ask us what is true, even if its only show, we won’t play bitter tunes, dance ourselves to frenzy, worry what’s below, a flower signals our belief, to sail without ropes.

Artie

The letters says we're done, you don’t need a sunset, our ashes blown and gone, give this place its due, it’ll take any bet, won’t wait for thank yous, fire and distant thunder, traps have all been set, the gold stretches 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, the muse at my shoulder, says what isn’t true the houses that we’ve left, squabbling over what to do, it’s how our world crumbles, the rooms that we rent, on each night a number, signs that twist me yet?