Sarah

It's quiet here now, after years of the need, my face smooth as stone, I still see the place, where praise be, my soul will be saved, we arrived on the blow, to this shiny new café’, why God only knows, grant me the days, where I can act carefree, not hemmed by ingrates, men with barren tones, say have one on me, cry on my shoulder, plead for a stay, they’re here for a reason, to me it’s the same, in the blue dawn, bells ring exclusively, I make my way home, over there is the sea.

Rowena

You smile across the beach, a flash that lights the bay, salt hangs on the breeze, danger flashes in your eyes, something in your gait, no need to question why, you dab perfume for the heat, walk with a serious mien, smell the pine trees, you won’t toe the line, be tamed, no-one needs to cry, love has set you free, seaweed your cocktail, silk from a silken sea, red tiles shine this paradise, men chant your name, one step is just fine, speaking truth is never easy, when drink is the flame, no place for an Odyssey, the water’s your escape.

Matty

Now and then she’s right, am I just skimming, froth glitters on this pint, 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, skinning.

The First Chef

Will you be the same, a smile beneath the trees, each time we separate, the dollars and the dimes, bars stacked like wheat, we sit drinking wine, now it's a morning shame, not just my feet, that walk this tired frame, No I'm not fine, come back to me, don't ask me why, what does it take, a dawn novena, to have you back again, spiky as a porcupine, your body a litany, now is the time, why can’t you remain, where the sun rises even, cars fill up their lanes, and I hear you singing.

Malena

You who own the night, the wind hushed sand dunes, do you wonder why, I keep a cheerful romeo, beat away the blues, always on the go, forget the bitter times, all the brute untruths, the thought of infant’s sighs, dreams of flying solo, always glad to see you, since last time you phoned, the air plashes by, the evening's getting cool, some wait all their lives, others touch the stones, let them set the spume, what they had before, men whistle passing by, I laugh and hum a tune, say it's stupid to lie, my heart’s an open room.

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?