Maria

Smoking a cigarette, an old friend's face appears, laughing not lonely yet, geese rise and sail, ride the wind without fear, i knew her from jail, snow blanket around our heads, she always brought cheer, a calming voice steady step open colours of her face, anyone could go near, she acted with even grace, whenever there were threats, her eyes shining clear, she'd absorb any dread, a woman who enjoyed fame, blew flame across fear, made a miracle of each day, then disappeared.

Lucy

We stand by unlit lamps, a tree, a bridge, shaking, waiting here like tramps, if there's kindness to share, red lips white faced, gi' us some pennies spare, remember that posh sap, wine shipped secret champagne, who wanted us to unwrap, his stories of dockside snares, cargo ships and freighters, dark rooms without care, we can be happy she snaps, watching the rain, track down some warm path, you won't hear me swear, say straighten up our game, ask how much we dare, shuffle what remains.

Kayla

What if the stars are great, my daughter slowly fades, she won't see them anyway, listens to the clock, yellow wing's not much to say, her phone's still blocked, doesn't matter what she takes, the walls eau de grey, in her cell she hesitates, her kids are still shocked, confined within their days, lonely as the lavender crop, they see each creep of grace, watch time roll away, I’ve seen their faces, laugh as my my dogs frolic frown since she’s put away, their heart are locked, our visits never late.

Josie

2020 wasn't finished with me, not after that screening, my partner Sandra Gee, the photographer of happiness, has ashamed cancerous dreams, now she's for a festival, what should have been, dazzling different by the sea, has to fit my radiography, howling at her requests, raging in midstream, I shout about my breasts, poets don't die unseen, swept away like leaves, sometimes they have to heave, she still continues to jest, knowing how i feel, silliness is her only quest, to rip apart the seams.

Isla

A sea passage marine blue, my smiles won’t show, what our ancestors refuse, strangled by swaying steps, I'll tempt you with my glow, dancing waves my bequest, not waiting for the curfew, to take your arms and show, the fertile lands of distance, a knife my only threat, a young woman free to bestow, love to a shipmate's chest, bellowing engine chewing, horizon's a shipping furrow, there's nothing left to view, I feel blessed, the engines warm my toes, my mind is at rest, in places without windows.

Hayley

You'd gamble on anything, your friends say, including the Holy calendar, i wonder kissing your lips, watching cormorants in the Bay, roll on waves like ships, did you have other flings, salt and perfume far away, how they clean their wings, this time belongs to kids, would you feel that way, when everything rescinded, tunes drift by in rings, smoke and whisky rise to slay, a search for night's failingss, going out as you came in, what a scene it makes, a safe harbour for lovers, count numbers to your day.

Gia

What you would never do, stuff you swore, ride horses in fields of blue, dance again to the moon, pray to broken laws, jump like a startled roan, my present partner swoons, why I'm saying this for, only fools welcome ruin, I want to run away stoned, take holy orders, drain summer into the foam, rage at every heirloom, divine night by party whores, leave you here to stew, a fool you led me home, you'll pay a heavy score, my almond eyes are tombs, my love is raw.