Noelle

A painter of religious scenes, she dabs around a glaze, a thirty-year-old dream, regards the work she’s honed, abandoned to this game, it’s never set in stone, yellow days of sunbeams, she always feels the same, images not what they mean, the canvas lets her roam, a stretch on wooden nails, in many ways she's gone, a matchstick in the sea, bobbing without a flame, floating for eternity, work is hard to own, drinks come day by day, in this ocean town, her head cries for relief, sunken eyes flay, a mind that’s never easy, she wants another name.

Nika

Give me demon jewels, and let me laugh through tears, I will dance with fools, under cold white stars, golden gowns stroke my fears, I can't believe this farce, his lover turns a churlish hue, a citizen comrade brought near, I'll give mercy its due, smile and depart, to those ached for years, where there are no charts, turn my head, shrug so cool, don't want anyone to hear, or provide more fuel, love is a poisoned dart, her perfume costs me dear, my life a punctured heart, now it's perfectly clear.

Madeleine

When did I start crying, was it going back to Ireland, or when my son asked why, Nana loved the horses, you who poured sand, on that first course, like the ferry, kids playing, in how my life was crammed, anchored by your chains, you say Ma is forlorn, a martyr to her chip pan, did it ever dawn, you are the one who lies, somehow run aground, you ask me to try, through these hissing storms, masking the wounds, in troubled dust forcing, all that can’t be found..

Nidia

What you would never do, stuff you swore, ride horses in fields of blue, dance again to the sun, rage against broken laws, coax a saddled broom, my partner droops, what are you saying this for, only fools live out of tune, it makes me want to run, take holy orders, drown our days with rum, rage at every heirloom, divined by whores, leave her here to brew, certain hopes I shun, therein lies a heavy score, my almond eyes are ruined, love is raw

Maria

You whisper love, on throwaway 'phones, your ravaged face a moon, you wear a hooded cowl, like saints hide their bones, it massages your soul, your hands like pearl doves, a lifetime learning to moan, fly to those who give, luminous as a snowy owl, above the hunting zones, you search to earn a crust, is that why you glove, linen and eau de cologne, when men need a shove, what are the sacred vowels, when you pray alone, far beyond the police sirens, your star on its own.

Molly

Could you love me, would you dare, the way she turned wheels, look at me I sneeze, is it my grey hair, that makes you dream, drunk on glossy magazines, would you care, the nights we spend easy, with someone's being, you have to have flair, even at fifty three, blowing like steam, your eyes flared, get ready to believe, there’s no has beens, to make you scared, I’ll get some fresh teeth, you’re my new Queen.

Leticia

The turn of brighter days, scour my great freedom, towards the river’s estuary, the café’s and streets, awaken my sense of ease, solace would you believe, not a real home Journee’, shivers at my knees, but eyes love to stray, where all debts are released, beneath cool trees, drinks float over me, I adore my quiet navel, in the high cold seasons, whenever luck has its way, no matter the law decrees, the water still leads, to the open sea, sisters, other countries.