Red

There was another young girl

Who had magical red shoes

I tell Alice

She clicked them three times

And wished herself home

Sounds a little lazy

She says

Did she not have to solve puzzles

Yes I say

And she made friends along the way

Just like you

Hmm she ponders

I am quite happy with my 

Shiny black shoes

There is quite enough adventure

And magic in the world 

To need magical feet

And what would the Red Queen say

I think she would disapprove

I tell her 

I am glad there is red 

In the world 

But I find blue more calming

And golden hair

She giggles 

Nothing too bright and shiny

That hurts us

That is why we had to turn the 

Red bed grey

We stay for a second in the silence

It is good to have a jolt of colour

But rather nice to sink back in the clouds. 

Homecoming

The birds lose their wings

Fly into the window panes 

They do not die

They are coming back to nothing

A re-birth

A homecoming 

Do you remember 

Any other time

Asks Alice

No I reply

They are all the same 

Same stories 

A time when all there was

Was lies 

We have come and gone 

There and back

Still we do not find peace 

Tell me something new

She pleads

But I can't 

I roll onto my side

Cry quietly 

And she wraps a tiny arm 

Around me

Embraces me

Like a proper homecoming.

Fairy Tale Retold

We sit together wrist by wrist

Listening to the Fairy Tale Retold

Everything thing is a story

Which we tell ourselves

The words become clear

Translucent in the night sky

Inside we are howling 

A miracle

To take us over the bridge 

Enough is enough

Says Alice

But I cannot hear her call

It has been too many years 

Hidden from the brightness

Hiding in the shed

There is no one left to tell

We shut ourselves inside 

Close the the door]

Sever the threads

Everything is close but far away

Where do we start

Where do we end

Everything is curious 

Like a fairy tale retold.

Famous Faces

She sits crossed legged

On the thick carpeted floor

Silver tea set to her left

Book in front of her

Quite the little pixie

I wonder what it would be like

To be famous

She asks

Don't you already know

I reply

Well I am only a child 

Let me think 

I say

It would mean that you couldn't 

Ride a subway

Or drive a car without sone one 

Wanting to take your picture

You would be followed

Perhaps you would like it

Having all the evidence 

That you exist

Perhaps you would try

To hide

Wear a hat 

Dress up in a suit and tie 

Or sit back comfortably 

In a trouser suit

Confident that you are important enough

To be measured and reported

She thinks for a moment

I enjoy being on the page 

Here quietly with you 

But I do not wish for more than that

We both smile and she turns the page of her book. 

On Writing

Our pulse slows

And our heart feels like a cushion

We are writing

At peace

As the letters and words

Fall onto a blank sheet of paper

It is the best thing we do

She giggles and twirls

So many adventures

I wish they weren't all

Nearly blue

But then you can't write happy

If you have never really known it

She sits beside me

Golden blonde hair

Trailing her shoulders

Dress and pinafore 

Washed and ironed

As if today will be a big day

I stop and think

Just what am I trying to say

It is what you show

She answers 

Not what you tell

I think he taught me that

She chews her fingers

But then again

He told a story

So much confusion

I think we should pour the tea

I put my pen down

Feel the relief of having done

Something today

She hands me the cup

And we sit in silence

Enjoying the sweet, golden liquid. 

The Dead Are Beautiful Tonight

We are huddled together

Back to back

In front of the bush

There is a curious stain in the sky

Crows says Alice

They alway come 

When your shut your eyes 

A spider crawls up a web

We are careful not to disturb

Its journey 

It moves so gently

It seems almost still 

There is a taste of salt

In our mouths

A reminder of the seaside rain

Subtle but there

Night falls down

Around us

Like a warm blanket

It is all just energy changing 

She says

Moving closer to me

Don't you think

The dead are beautiful tonight 

She asks

I think of all the memories

The smells 

The taste of frozen kisses

Yes I say

I think the dead are beautiful tonight

As beautiful as the living

And like us all 

The one's on the journey to the end. 

Moon

We pass the moon 

In between our hands

Alice throws

I catch

It seems natural that way

It is a game we have 

Been playing for many a time 

Something we can give 

Each other

With no regrets 

I am mute

Cast upon the shadows 

Her laughter breaks the silence

It is a pleasure to break the lull

To cast a space 

Between everything and nothing 

I see the breath in her rising

Perhaps there is nothing better 

I like the cool moon

It seems kinder 

Than the blazing sun

Perhaps there will be raindrops

To wash away the tears

We belong to each other

As the thunder roars

Pray for a kindly moon

And glorious sleep.