Fall

We are worried

About slipping on the leaves

They have fallen

On the ground

Makes us shake 

And feel giddy

The swans bob along

The sky is blue

Fall is here

The water is blue as well 

The buildings bronze

And shining 

We sip tea

Shiver and shake.

Grow

Do you believe in fairies

She asks

We are lying in the lilac field 

Maybe I say

Waiting for something 

To happen 

Rambling on 

Mother abandoned us

Now we must find our 

Own passage 

Rub our shoulders 

In the shower 

We are not broken 

Rotten like fruit 

Tomorrow we will grow.

Mundane

We are in the kitchen

Making up tomatoes on toast 

We smell like death

It crept up to us

On this day

Alice dips 

A sugary finger in the bowl 

Smiles and waves

She really is a good girl 

We both are

She whispers 

Mother can't take that away

We look out of the window 

All is dark

No stars tonight 

Just the gentle 

Plodding of rain 

Time passing 

Clouds rearranging 

Soon it will be morning 

Another day

Another chance

A place to enjoy

The mundane.

ICU

It is midnight 

She tenderly checks

My blankets

A wisp of hair dangling 

On her cheek 

We are no longer 

In danger

But still we flee

We make a nest

Hide and burrow 

What is the place

She whispers

ICU I reply

We are determined 

Not to stay 

All good training 

For another night 

We will rise 

Like a phoenix 

Soar above the clouds 

One final journey 

Where all is free

And real. 

Hotel

Why are we here

Asks Alice

We are not on holiday 

We have never 

Stayed in an hotel 

We imagine a big red bed

Windows and clouds 

Birds gently 

Humming in the trees

We are alive

Our pulse 

Rests 

Like a calm ocean 

All is peaceful 

A song 

A smile 

Clean sheets 

And heavy curtains 

We will sleep 

Dream and play 

This is our hotel

Magical and real. 

Charity

Alice smiles

It has been years

Since we have had

Proper nourishment 

When we were born

We were not fed

Just handed stones

In our pocket 

All fear escaped

In our dreams

We never quite

Escaped

Now we are beset

By fear

Confused

Reaching out to nature

The big brown eagle

Flying in the sky

Some how 

She makes the world 

Seem less austere 

We will sing

Give pennies to the clouds 

Our very own charity

Hope and grief.

Gratitude

We are in our element 

Roaring fires

Soothing winds 

The cold parches 

Our lips

No more sugar today

We have a lot to be thankful for

Creamy milk

Fancy cakes 

Home in time for tea 

She giggles 

Hair ablaze 

I take her hand in mine

Skip trip 

All is well 

We lie in bed

Gently breathing 

Tomorrow is another day

Perhaps there will be an adventure 

Perhaps we will just 

Sit by the riverbank 

Watch the birds 

Soaring and gliding 

That sounds like a capital plan 

Will there be cake 

She asks

Always Little Cricket 

I reply

Always. 

Waters

I brush her hair

Then braid it 

I like the sound

It is comforting 

Safe 

Like warm arms

Wrapped around a body 

There was a rime

When I took the blade

Scratched the skin

Like sharpened nails

Now we dream

Instead 

Something is missing

But we do not know 

What 

Perhaps our past is a myth

The steady flow of 

A river

Cool waters

We swim and play

Create our own magic

A place where 

No one can find us

Or hurt us

A place

Where we will always

Be together. 

The Hill of Hope

She takes my hand

There are many hills 

To climb 

Hope recedes 

Happiness crawls away 

We take the powder 

All that is true 

And real 

October fades 

Into winter 

We will sleep

Dream and trip

Mother goes

Father stays 

So many things 

To forget and swallow 

We will climb 

The hill of hope

October ends soon 

November will 

Bring sparrows and magpies 

Stars and clouds 

The leaves fall

We will forever climb.