Lydia

Sometimes we are cradled, when images are taken, memories of him clean shaven, love lights his blue trombone, black and white sepia playing, sunny evenings down the town, when I was a baby, he had this place shaking, jazzy and crazy, the moon’s dancing zone, draws pictures he’s engraving, magnolia, cotton, bones, his long notes and gait, pull at my traces, I give a twisted wave, would you know you Johns, hurrying through the rain, on a corner zebra cold, he was once great.

Marita

Does a husband's family home, need to suffer still, light 30 candles all alone, money given to every vagrant, sees you stumble, fall ill, they smart at your changes, weigh you down with stones, say they’ll shut the till, cut love block your phone, can they note a river’s play, recognise the chill, of someone’s different ways, let them rage and storm, crush all laughter shrill, their screams at something gone, dancers at a Catholic place, work their usual skills, help you to steer away, hope enables will.

Nicola

Remember who plays that tune, take your lovely time, only you know what’s true, those who are always bound. lost in their own designs, sleepwalk to the sound, it’s a face that haunts you, forgives every generous lie, makes the past seem true, you lie awake with clowns, shudder with each fresh wine, knock engagements down, a detective’s roving purview, can’t erase the signs, nails you to golden platitudes, here in this lonely town, it draws in the fire, ties your golden gowns leaves you at the crime .

Louisa

Ignore little bits of you, schemes that make you cry, you have had a few, don't settle for dry land, roll, dance, see someone wise, stay at sea, get out of hand, what philosophers have found true, only the edge is fine, always roll with better news, forget about temazepam, it always gives the lie, despite the calming bound, this side of the blues, seize any time 'as mine', wear a dress for milieu’s, bejewelled exquisite and grand, stand in front and inspire, any sail needs its cram, lead us away from fire.

Katerina

My time goes by unspoken, not drunk enough to cry, afraid of what gets broken, being skint in lousy clothes, hangs me out to dry, the bars all closed, beyond the grave’s a token, what we can’t deny, outside of pavement soaking, we’re shrunk now in repose, horizons clouded why, what we love foremost, even if we drink and smoke, sing a song then die, we’ll praise the holy ghost, this summer shows, we really tried, to resist all the blows, ride out on the tide.

Janine

She makes a dawn novena, and worries about her hips, if God will see her, each night is a feast, every tune loosens her lips, moves like a chocolate treat, in any wooden season, the bars are full of drips, passed the age of reason, men won’t let her sleep, she gives them all the slip, says she’s resting this evening, barefoot makes a secret plea, let her have some kids, better than not believing, if she had a crayon, to draw a time this is, she’d make a haven lantern, to light a path to bliss.

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