True

She hikes her skirt up

Strikes a match

If we burn the paper

We no longer exist

See

Easy as pie

She whispers through the black smoke

For a minute I believe

Then remember 

When morning comes

Reality joins her

Sharp as scissors 

Blunt as stone

She doesn't care 

Pack a suitcase

Go away

It means nothing to her

She nestles in 

Chops

Chomps 

The finest piece of cake

A dream can bake

I finger an envelope 

Full of atomic bombs

None of this is real you know

You can’t hide here forever

I feel my skin

The fever on my head

Sticky fingers

Swaying in the dark

She leans across

Licks them

Nothing to be scared of silly

We share the same germs

We are dead and done 

I think

Bandages and chocolate spread

Twirling round my head 

Is that all we are Alice

Words

Well I am

She eyes me up

I’m not sure about you

You are memories 

Rules and regulations

Laws baked tightly in a pie

My chin drops

She stops chewing

Buck the powder

Ramp the dream

I am the constant drone that wears me out

You have to stop carrying them 

If you want to get out

I know

I know

I would like you to be there 

Under the green apple tree

I can’t keep the scared at bay

Not if you're not here

I know 

I know

I will be real

As long as you need me

Right until 

Your very last word.

Abrasion

We live in a house 

Which isn't a home 

Build us up

Knock us down

Define us

I hate every inch of it 

Says Alice

Licking brick dust from her fingers

Throw stones at our window 

Set fire to the door

Knock three times

Are we there

Neat

Tidy

Smiling

Tearful

Dusty

Dying

Look the jelly beans

Are princess pink

I would rather be a queen

She says

Twirling a lock of greasy hair

Off with their heads

She falls from the bed 

My head is unsteady

Wedged on the floor

In the dark place 

The kind lady 

Lifted me up

I wanted to cry

Silent tears hurt 

Scour

Scar

Abrade

Inside

Where are we 

Alice

Where are we 

The windows creak the wind away

The exit rests

In trousers and drawers

Bibles and books

For when we are ready

Of course

I hate spinning says Alice

Let's leave that to Dorothy 

We are butchered like pork chops

She giggles

They unmade us

Destroyed us

Saved us

Where are we Alice 

We are home

We are home.

Flare

April falls early this year

She likes a tumble

We giggle

Huddled together

Holding the pain

Singing the spell

We are warm

Not burning

We get lost like this for hours

Toffee moulding to the roof of our mouth

A sugar steeple

Sure and strong

Full of spare little blessings 

I found a pin 

I say 

A propos of nothing

It grew big as the moon 

On the bridge of my nose

I pressed and debated

Swooped and swirled

Then like a riddle

I pulled it right out 

She shrugs

She can do that

Cut me down to size

Quick sticks

Drink up tight

They spilt the milk

We cried

All night

Are we following the signs 

I am bored says Alice

Let’s leave town

Skip trip

Rise and shine

Grab our coats

Comb the goat

There are things we need to remember 

You are a strange little girl

She pokes her tongue out

The bandages ooze like melting ice

It makes me shiver

Why did you choose a rose

Because it is strong

And red

And pretty

Like blood

Or ruby slippers

I try and sound easy

Distressed

With flair 

Not flare

I know

She says

Let's colour ourselves in

My hands are curled 

Stuck frigid

As plans go 

It's not so bad

She grabs the pencils

Lines them up

There is order in everything she says

Hours

Stars

Cakes

And sugar

Twelve little pennies

On a zodiac wheel

We get lost like this for hours

Falling through the floor

Slipping through the lines.

Held

The snow falls down

Like kisses 

I lick them up

Taste you

It's on the television silly

You're eating the carpet again

There is a lot to forget

Nothing to remember 

Part worn

Part tired

Silent

Sad

Reduced

I want to be held

I think 

A propos of nothing

At least he left before the storm came 

The world works like that

Sometimes

We are treading water

Spilling flies

Small stones of reality 

Dragging us down

The fall

Pathetic

Ridiculous

Seamless

Not as engaged in the game as we once were

Not brave enough to leave

Not brave enough to be

You know what our problem is

Only one I think

We have no normality markers

That’s why nobody understands

She has a point

She usually does 

I want it so badly Alice

It never goes away

Because you won’t let it silly

Just like you hang onto me

I respect your courage
The good lady said

The blue ballon

Falls down

On the string is tied a golden key

I reach for it

My wish radical

I think
Waiting to be held.

Bound

The journey starts with an iron and a pin

There is no witness

Look my eyes are dead

Says Alice

Drawing circles on the ground

We push the trolley

Like an anchor

Round and round

Stronger than granite

Tied to the ground

Powder hangs fiercely 

In our hair

Fact and fiction 

Blended in night

Butterflies blue

All wrapped up tight

We are dead all over

I sway

Nailed in a box

Fighting the fix

Searching for light 

Woe is me 

She trembles

Eyes glinting

True freedom only comes when you reject all help 

She states

A propos of nothing

I pull the panels

Take one for the team

Bad grinds bones in the tree

It's really quite nice she says

Like disappearing

Sinking in moss

Or flying our kites

I could hit my head for hours

Hush

Rush

Go 

Away

Actions speak louder than words

Shame your hands are too heavy then

The journey starts with an iron and a pin

There is no witness

No praise 

No guilt

No sin

She draws circles on the ground

Start 

Stop 

End

Begin

Take a risk she whispers

Are you out or in.

Stock

Let's take stock

Stir the soup

Climb the mountain

It's quiet up here

No roaring 

She giggles

Just so

She swings on the stars

Like playground bars

Look at me

I am peaking and troughing

I am below

Looking up madly

Scattered

Battered

Frayed and splattered

New lows expected at midday tomorrow 

She sings 

Beep beep beep

Four o’clock chimes

Its nocturnal omen

Over and over and over

We are all

Tricks and smiles

Coins and curtsies 

Prayers pinned on walls

Likely to fall

Colour hidden

Smiles forbidden

Look at me I am flying

She squeals

The stars bend and bough

Sugar drips down

I catch spider in my hand

Her legs are soft 

Her belly round

I wish we were a story 

She says

Coming down

With a frown

I drop the spoon in the sink

It clatters 

Batters

Rattles 

Hatter 

When I was little 

I was not afraid

I broke the spine

Stirred the soup

Climbed the mountain

Plugged the roars

Now I am old

Looking up madly

Scattered

Battered

Frayed and splattered.