Babs

Men, the colour of death, ask us can we cope, or if they can help, believe in our presence, throw away the rope, their eyes in the distance, what are you doing next, they ask, the dopes, hand us our cheques, do they regard us as zero, our pay’s just a joke, while they act like heroes, my ticket’s for the deck, carry me away by boat, they say what the heck, think we don’t know, looks like tombtones, on trains rooms and'planes, gives them some hope ?

Aimee

Why do you want me to leave, I still carry the light, please stop writing please, the pen continues without delay, in your hair, your eyes, shine of laughter gone stale, sunlight streams in the evening, geraniums flower near the sea, dogs lie awake at the scene, your hand continues its looping spray, I ask why, everything seems thrown away, the breeze is like a creel, she says you don’t try, to imagine how she feels, there were such brighter days, wrapped within those nights, her eyes scribble away, she gives a little sigh.

Zara

Do we know how to give, or need a fresh climate, learning to love, what about this crew, with all their surly trials, sailing beneath spring’s moon, no one lets it slip, knowing when’s the time, to spin a song adrift, as if we all knew, what's wrong with life, instead of getting a grip , maybe it’s not our gift, even if the time is right, to live unencumbered, wait upon piles of blue, wail if money's tight, whenever is it ever true, we can fly like kites?

Yola

How can we hope to grow, when bodies list and scream, on wine and song or groans, love resists all meaning, worm of a curious quarantine, it dances on the ceiling, and you my loving joke, spill out your feelings, on the lake into water, how beautiful are your cheeks, Apache high on the bone, shudder when my arms reach, for money sworn we’d known, raging Saturdays demons, sunlight finds us broke, work is cut by weeks, our faces nailed to screens, we’re just out our dream, not behaving responsibly.

Xena

What makes a soul atone, for the Cormorants who bared, their cry across water moan, diving towards the river, black scissors out of nowhere, eyes only for silver fins, our Sunday trips are broken, you ask who really cares, remember hard words spoken, how we need to live, why we need to share, the memories of her kiss, who will tend her bones, on tides that flow and turn, wash us with her stories, how beautiful their wings, angels flashing in the air, her laughter in the wind, lower me here.

Willow

Sister what was that time, that cannot be bought, where we got issued fines, we sweated on you lady, outside of court, not just being comradely, in our tears and finery, perish the thought, you forced us to lie, this was no Odyssey, had us break the law, not just any pay day, were you being kind, inserting that clause, to the family support agency, even on holiday, our love was fraught, killed us trying to pray, for justice sought.

Valery

Do you hide your gains, while a lover somewhere waits, closer to the flame, a tremble in your bones, would you close the gate, lock your battered door, like a brigand fights the blade, heavy, scarred, intestate, silver cups your raids, can you name the zones, where your body dissipates, from sail to distant moan, abreast of water are you afraid, the arc of scurried waves, a map has different shades, your love of coin is known, something there to negotiate, even shed a groan, don another cape.