Idullia

The pavement wears a sheen, do you feel love, down by the Adelphi, cars fill up their lanes, how you keep strong, I call out your name, my 'phone has no screen, it does make you wonder, if there's any need, about tales danced in flame, when you once hugged, me like an arriving freighter, absent from the sea, with stars late in coming, can you still believe, I’m here again, a pulse that still features, on your radar, this fine green evening

Henrietta

Can you love me, like your runaway horse, the way it used to be, look around you I whisper, you've ridden away before, do you think I’m a temptress, I live near the sea, without sorrow or remorse, no keening to be happy, your kingdom’s a lost address, where you think you're home, forget it, nothing brings such certainty, I am not your whore, a thousand nights of gluttony, won’t gather my caresses, someone deserves them more, I can pass any test, hope dream carry on.

Fara

You joke like all of us, the desert doesn't scare you, your water jug is porous, we go to meet the writers, my partner’s late to bloom, dons her silk and linens, the almond trees join chorus, after rain exudes, smells of jasmine and sea, poets fly here like kites, colours of yellow and blue, say they are enlightened, you consult your catechus, rage at literature they chew, who needs a performance, if they want to delight, let them search for food, your pale smile frightens, it denounces all the room.

Gina

Your eyes dance like fireflies, you are no one's fool, they cascade like satyrs, beating a tune, on Sundays you’re cool, won’t hurt you the blues, sunlight burns the tyres, you’re twenty eight and true, can’t stand deniers, this side of the moon, there’s nothing to rue, no one’s out to get you, neither poor nor righteous, preachers or crooks, love’s such a dynamite, your ship sails on fire, it’s the way you cook, your family's desire, to find some fresh virtue.

Elena

Your blown kisses, reach my maritime coast, a light from Cape Mission, across the weather zones, they dance on water, turn it blue with love, nothing like their lilt, so light they float, across our continental drift, they help us know, what stands foremost, and what is only loaned, on a wind lashed cliff, looking down at fishing boats, I touch your lips, sometimes the most cynical, hug their bones, even those most critical give thanks to God

Dolly

Waiting for the train, an ordinary day, late, sometimes it’s hard to pray, the Loco is shining steel, gone half past eight, does anyone care how she feels, she makes the glass dilate, a cool yet burning rage, the carriage window the same, who writes the deeds, to make everything great, make somethings seem real, she’ll take the blame, . there is still a heartbeat, from yesterday’s shame, she's going to leave, her face shows the strain, she’ll give no signal, there is no need.

Beatty

She pinned a shamrock on us, as if books were our passport, the ones from the Orphanage, like a schooner puts on sail, puffed her cheeks an instant, dreamed for all our tales, made us Inquisitive, when winds froze our compass, furious declarations at Christmas, at the parties on Atlantic parade, Brooklyn holds a steamy closeness, jellies, anniversaries, men in shades, she died reading the Cantos, listening to Paul Simon, her shiny page folded Catechus, Homeward Bound quoting our names, we revered her just glory, our dollars and fancy trades, each bridge an open door.