Marjoram

Please don’t let them see, why they ring our feet, we only asked for freedom, your consoling dove, a village soul and shady tree, here in this crowded boat, pray and pray to achieve, bitter chants of make believe, sad eyes show only greed, we have coursed with blood, this swarm of human seed, did only things we could, salved the wounds of refugees, Lesbos and a moonlit sea, help us only to retrieve, what we’ve lost in love, meet with smiles our greeting, instead of voices rough, we don’t expect things easy.

Lucy

Before you turned to me, carried me with your flight, I knew to be free, who gave you that legitimacy, the love I thought right, the fire you released, ships fanned for their speed, whisper at night, you were my every need, sunlit gardens at Thebes, a power beyond my sight, you left me solitary, three days I wept inside, whole cities heard me cry, hearing my song denied, nailed on Ithaca’s creed, spare me your delight, like a broken scream, you’ll see my siren smile.

Katie

Can you blame me, from your runaway horse, the way you screamed, look at me, I whisper, you've run this way before, I give the reins a twist, what do you bet my Queen, no sorrow or remorse, you know I'll break free, you are not my sister, I’m not your whore, of a thousand wishes, I spend time in dreams, sometimes inside doors, hustle in car lane streams, like a hard worn duster, lifted from the floor, did you seriously think, I would take any more ?

Joanna

Eyes beat like fireflies, you are no one's fool, they dance like satyrs, jingle on the snowline, this cold winter noon, the mountain’s like wine, sunlight bathes our ties, we’re 28 and cool, it gets us by, on track iron or trainside, down the country’s blues, leaves no time for crying, our family's plight, a suffering misfortune, doesn’t give us sleepless nights, we’re poor and just carryon, no need to be cruel, we’ll party like its Oberon, play all of the tunes.

Imogen

My time goes by unspoken, afraid of family especially Pa, our business closed and broken, which hand do you hold, inside the stable’s dappled bar, sun light leaves me sore, my days scatter unfold, no one sees my scar, or hears that silent roar, memory can’t control, chime of beat or waterfall, an awakened lost Mariposa, I steal away a ghost, elbow grease work foreign bars, deal with other blows, see the crime as a token, why say tu voir, not so easy to let go, we never travel far.

Gloria

I walk without fear, down lilac evening, mother's words hush dear, wondering what they know, or who I’ve seen, never bring to this door, do you remember the tears, Dada used to tease, gazed at all our fears, he’s in California now, lived long on our street, house bought, cars on show, tried to film and act sincere, Sunday suit, collars at ease, a mistake when he leered, large hands, stilled the blow, I loved but was uneasy, told him where to go, whispered like a thief.

Francesca

Like a swollen flower, your sleeve rolled charms, disguise true matters, you glide and cruise, and bring to the farm, a rocking tractor tune, cows as big as towers, don’t possess any harm, you hang out feed bowers, won’t frighten or fume, bellow with alarm, at the smell of glue, lovers are like showers, they make you feel warm, are gone within the hour, you dance light or blue, turn the motor on, hear the agricultural news belt out your song