Role Model

Who did you look up to

When you were small

She asks

My sister I reply

Without a flicker of doubt

She was always there

For me

Still is 

Hmm 

She chews her hair

I had sisters too

She says

I left them on the boat 

And lost them when 

I fell down the Rabbit Hole 

How easily one can get get lost

Separated from love 

And understanding 

So many trips and falls

We have to suffer 

To know who truly loves us

We settle into bed 

Pull the covers up 

Against the chill 

I am glad I have you 

She whispers 

Likewise 

Little Cricket

Likewise.

Tea Party

We move the table 

Into the centre of the room

Iron the tablecloth

It shines white 

In the winter sun

We take a clean tea towel

And wipe out our special cups

They are fine china

Gifted by a friend 

Not quite matching 

But more than just a cup

An act of love 

And caring 

We would like to invite

All our friends to tea

But they drifted away 

Into a different world

It is just me and Alice

But that is fine

We know each other well

And do not have to talk

To understand each other

We boil the kettle 

Take the milk from the fridge

We will sit down together 

And enjoy our tea party 

Thinking of our friends

With every sip 

From the special blue and white cups

A tea party for all to enjoy

That makes us happy. 

Anchor

We will not drop anchor

In this cursed place 

We are aware of time passing

But cannot move 

Our dreams are pale 

We remember them

Groggily 

In the morning 

Before the sun rises

And eases our bones 

Takes our head

Low to the pillow 

We do not stir

When we sleep 

There is no space

To toss and turn 

We check our pulse

It is racing 

Fast as a trigger finger 

Today we will rest

Fix a few problems

Drink tea

And watch the sky

The clouds float by 

Like angels 

They make us smile 

I suppose all anchors 

Drift with time 

Perhaps we will float 

To a better place.

Freedom

Through discipline 

Comes freedom 

We have our routines

Our rituals 

They keep us safe

A window into the world 

The trees are falling down 

Wonderland is crashing 

No more Hatter

No more cream teas 

She swings her legs 

In glee 

Just you and me 

She giggles 

Just you and me 

I conclude

The strange men cannot 

Touch us 

We will always be together 

Dreaming

Being 

Through that we are free.

Colour

We are blue

Not just the colour

Deep inside 

Each breath is an effort

An act of will 

Her dress scrapes 

The table

Thick cottons 

And white pleats 

She is whole

I am broken 

Pieces of broken glass

Scattered on the floor 

We paint a scene 

Blue and further blue.

Surfacing

We take a deep breath

Surface from our dreams 

Our skin is slippery 

Like a thread 

Unspooled 

We spin and dance 

Sit on the glass chair 

We run the risk

Of losing our skin 

Beads of sweat

Gather on our brows 

We cannot bear 

The sensation of cream

Our flesh is dry

Burnt out 

We would like 

To dip our toes 

In the water

Like surfacing from sleep 

Another day 

Has been and gone 

We try to wake up

Gather our words 

Perhaps tomorrow will be better 

We cannot be sure

But we will try

One breath at a time

Slowly surfacing 

Emerging 

Waking up. 

Secrets

We do not have to 

Tell our secrets

They are written large

Upon our skin

Show don't tell

She giggles

I pass my fingers 

Over the fleshy pink lumps

Hard to believe 

What we have done 

Its truth is everlasting 

All the pain and suffering 

The calm and purpose 

We are not sure

Of what we have become 

A walking book

Words as flesh

Letters as scars 

All the while a song of being 

Could there have been 

A different way

We stop and think

Too late now 

To consider alternatives 

We are what we are

Secrets spilling out 

A past 

A moment 

A life 

Maybe now we can rest

We have shown all we 

Need to show

Secrets and truths 

All a story

We dare not speak out loud. 

Love Song

There are roses in the window

They shine

Bright vermillion 

Today will be chocolate

And flowers 

A celebration of what is

What was

What will become 

A love lost 

And found 

Two pairs of shiny hands

Interlaced 

Understanding 

We will sing love songs

Usher in the night

Glad we have each other 

To weather the storms inside 

To keep the sun shining 

And the rain at bay 

Perhaps we will dance

Almost definitely sing 

A love song

We giggle 

Chords bright and true 

I could never be without you

Little Cricket

I know she feels the same

In the morning we will sing 

Usher in the day

Our love is not lost 

We glory in its light. 

Scar

Our scars burst forth 

Like magical daydreams 

Or shards 

Of broken nightmares 

Our words are broken 

Soft like petals

Along the shoreline 

We are lost 

But will rise 

Take a deep breath 

And be 

The light does not

Make us afraid 

We are untethered 

By rights 

Words are our being 

Dreams are sweet 

Like honey briar 

We bear our scars

Smile and wave 

So far behind 

All in front 

We will be found 

Like treasure on a beach 

We will rise 

Let the pink flesh fade.

Invention

Who invented the teapot 

Asks Alice

I stop and ponder

I think it was a long time ago

I reply

Ancient people 

In far off lands 

She furrows her brow 

Older than Wonderland

And Hatter

Much I say

Tea used to be a ceremony 

It still is 

She says 

Swinging her legs 

On the chair

I stir our rosy red pot

The tea inside is golden brown

Piping hot 

And ready to drink 

We are always ready for tea

It soothes us

Makes us stop our thoughts 

For a moment 

Let our imagination wonder

To far off lands 

She giggles 

We couldn't live without tea

Or teapots 

Whoever invented them 

Should be remembered 

For making our day 

Full of warmth

And sweet warm liquor. 

Safe

We wrap the flowered quilt

Around our shoulders

We are safe in our room

Outside it is dark

It soothes our head

If we stand on tip toe

We can see stars

And the lights 

Of other houses

A new day dawning 

We will feel the 

Ground beneath our feet

When the sun comes up

Say hello to the 

Strangers we pass every day 

There is a familiarity 

In this small place

We are not sure if it is comforting

Or suffocating 

It is hard to imagine 

Being anywhere else 

This is the place

Where we have words 

They keep our troubles

At bay

Our room

Our bed

Is like a cocoon 

It protects us 

Keeps us safe

No wonder we do not

Want to leave

I hold her hand and smile

It feels good to be safe

In this uncertain world. 

Heart

They stitched in 

Our heart 

It was a glistening stone 

Patches of dust 

Bound together 

Like wishes 

When we are happy 

It shines blue 

Underneath our skin 

When the shadows swarm

It turns red

A light to guide us 

A hint in the night 

Someone has shown us mercy

Helped us to breathe 

We hold our hand

To our chest

Feel the beat 

And the warmth 

We are alive 

Little Cricket

The Red Queen

Cannot steal our heart

It is safely stitched in 

Beautiful loops and twirls

A scar we can love 

We rest on the bed

Happy to follow the beat

Of our heart.