Strip

We have survived long enough to tell our story
It comes out in fits and starts
Part conscious
Part dream
We trust a few people now
Grant them a door in
Share a little of our knowledge
There aren't many people left now
They have waved goodbye
Carried on their journeys
We still make lists of names
People from the magic time
It was all just a trap
One that stripped us bare
We would not change time
It helped us see
Believe
Be
We took off our clothes and danced
Sang sweet songs
And songs full of sorrow
We felt strong
Indestructible
How quickly that feeling fades
How fierce the memory
It has been a year of learning and forgetting
We have days yet to come
Maybe there will be peace and comfort
If we choose
She says quietly
I hold her hand
Continue spilling words
Unravel the tangle of our story.

Alive

The world is falling down
But we are still alive now
Brick dust under our finger nails
Cobwebs in our hair
Sometimes it feels as if every day is a battle
Like our mind will never stop running
Our lips silent
Quiet as a fallen chick
We would like to sing and dance
Age slows us
Makes our bones ache
Like damp wood
Deep inside
Almost chipping our heart
We are still alive now
Alice will stay for another year
I feel she will always be with me
Loud or soft
I mumble names in my sleep
Past adventures
She smooths my hair
Makes me cool
The windows are open to the night
We hear the birds
The swaying of the trees
We are still alive now
Perhaps our battles will be played outside
Perhaps one day we will be still
There are so many hopes and dreams
If you look carefully enough
We lift our head
Open our eyes
We are still alive now.

Imagine

Imagine if we could fly little cricket
We could visit the moon and stars
Sail over a thousand seas
The idea is sweet as candy
Delicious as lemon drops
We have left the red bed
Ventured outside
It makes our back and feet ache
And our head is sore
But it is better she whispers
Not to sleep your day away
To try and enjoy each moment
Or at least be present in it
Imagination is a good tool to own
We are not sure if it guides us
We find it hard to think outside ourselves
We are firmly fixed in our craniums
Sometimes that makes us happy
Other times it makes us feel sad
Distant from the world
We have never really belonged
When we were small that was good
Now we are big the distance feels greater
Just imagine if we could really fly
How magical it would be.

New Year

A new year is coming
Sweep the chimney
Polish the floor
How quickly the days have turned
Wasted time
Some bad dreams
And hallucinations
Some of the days have been good
The ones where we sleep
We will be a year older
Well me
Not Alice
She will always stay the same
She keeps me young
Keeps me dreaming
The weather is cold and brittle
We huddle under the blankets
Wait for you to warm my feet
We have spent so much time alone
That to have you with me will be a shock
But a good shock she whispers
You spend too much time in your head
The safest place I think
Sometimes even talking is too much
Perhaps next year will be better
It could not be much worse
We can only hope little cricket
We can only hope.

Western Stars

Tonight the western stars are shining bright again
We look up to the moon
It glows like a cloud
We dance underneath
Too tired to talk
Too tired to dream
But we are together again
It is good to be with Alice
She makes my world shine
When all is dark and bleak
She has on a new pressed dress
New shoes
That shine
Hair soft and clean
I will try and follow her lead
I smell of alcohol fermenting
That makes me ashamed
I wish I could smell of sweet peas and lavender
Tomorrow she is coming
It will be a change
No more lying in bed all day
No more drinking myself sick
That is a good thing
She whispers
We look up to the stars
They shine just for us.

Glitter

We are going on a road trip
There will be dirt and kisses
Scuffed shoes and bruised toes
The winter moon glitters in the morning sky
We love its stillness
The Earth shuffling through time
For a brief moment we worship the bliss
It is frosty and bleak
Our cheeks are pink
Steam permeates the house
A churning feeling
A surge of power
We know our part
Give the shepherd his milk
The stable is full of lambs
New life moaning and grazing on the hay
There is a new bar of thought
We are moving in reality
Not in our head
We look forward to the kisses most
They glitter and shine too
How we love the moon.

Naked

Our hearts are naked
Laid out bare
You missed the fireworks she says
It is on a loop tape
How many years ago did we do it
Time after time
How close did we come
Who did we ask for
No one asks why
So now we dance
Same old tricks
Same old words
It makes us sad to be awake
We do like to dream
Revel in the silence of our heart beat
Revel in having a heart at all
Our hearts are naked
Laid out bare.

Moment

It all happens in a moment
Slip, trip
Skip, fall
Drink the potion
Nibble the cake
Do you like falling she asks
Only when we land on our feet
That sounds wise
I prefer landing she answers
Catching Rabbit
Singing with the Red Queen
She spoke to us today
It made us happy
She asked me how I was
I said fine
She says good girl
I am a woman I think but girl sits fine
We are both little girls
Stuck in time
Waiting for our blooming
We look out of the window
It is grey
To suit our mood
She giggles
My special friend
I would be lost without her
All these moments would be lost if not for her voice
We need to crawl back
Lift ourselves up
This is really no place to be stuck
We have crawled out before
And we can do it again
Learn how to live in the moment
Learn how to be.

Window

The light falls in through the window
We are in love but separate
The wind caresses our skin
We let it in
Hatter runs
The Red Queen sings
We are falling down the Rabbit hole again
Days pass
We are half asleep
Content in each others arms
How do we count syllables she asks
We speak them out loud, I reply
Just like we count the steps
Sixteen down
Twenty up
We are uncertain on our feet
The light falls in through the window
We are in love but separate.

Place

There is a place where we go
When the smoke becomes too much
It is a magical place
A place where the fingers can't touch us
Water blossoms here
Sweet peas and sticky pines
Every day seems to be a struggle
Healing comes
But too slowly
Leaves fall
We fear the steps
All our wounds vibrate
Sometimes there is a clearing in our thinking
Mostly it is like an open casket
Every step is evidence
We would like to disappear
But we are already invisible
Playing in Wonderland
Sleeping in liquor dreams
People try to find me
But I am lost
Walking around in circles
Hoping for the ultimate connection
She taps her feet
Anxious to leave this place
I am too scared to leave
Perhaps she will give me the courage to change
Perhaps we will stay like this forever
Somehow I do not care
I hunker down
Hibernate and sleep
Wishing for that special place.

Peaceful

The fish fly
The lighthouse shines
We are pacified
Peaceful as children looking at the moon
It is all so magical she says
You have to look up to see
The world turns whether you want it to or not
Shall we take tea?
That sounds good
Rich, sweet and filling
We have cakes and sweet meats
No Hatter or dormouse
The Red Queen did not speak today
It hurt us
We like when she waves and smiles
She said she watches me
Even if she does not speak
I search her out
Look for her distinctive hair
Her lithe body
She has an accent
We notice that
We have not spoken today
Unsure if we like the silence or not
The lighthouse hums
The flying fish flap
Life has its signs and rhythms
Long may we wonder its course.

Change

These changes fall upon us
Fresh skin
No scars
No story
In our dreams our skin is unmarked
We peel the scars off
That is love
Her wishes
We dare not share our pain
We dare not speak
The Red Queen listened
She checks her hair with a mirror
I love her
She is alive
She sees things no one else does
I would like to spend the day with her
But she doesn't speak
Not today
I walk to and fro
To see her
Our feet get tired
Our head more so
We would like a normal body
We would like not to see our history
Every time we wash
But we are still here
Scars or not
Perhaps that is a miracle
An adventure
We have so much to say
But remain silent
We let the changes wash over us
At peace for a second
A second is enough.

Love

Her words run through us like butter
Warm and thick
And nourishing
She is made of words
But real to touch
We listen to her every word
Love her for her quips and questions
The logic of a child
The wisdom of an old woman
How did we come to be
It seems unreal
Special
How many adventures have we had
All without leaving the house
Imagination is the key
We can think of any place
And be there
We do not understand why people talk
It is just air
The fear of silence
We love the silence
It gives us room to think
We are not afraid of being alone
We are afraid of people
We sip our tea
Nod politely
Scream inside
We really should say something
She says
Why do people not notice when we fall silent
Because we are special
She whispers
And all her words fall through me
Rich as butter
Sweet as tea.

Weekend

The weekend comes
It bothers us
Makes us fretful
We imagine planting roses
Riding a bicycle
Being free
But we are tethered
To this hole
An endless pit
We swat away the flies
We do not like their looping dance
In another world we are a wife
And mother
In this world
We are alone
Perhaps that suits us better
We like to laze and dream
Drink and forget
We have each other
She whispers
And I reach for her tiny hand
Time is not to be afraid of
We need not run like Rabbit
Or forget it like Hatter
We should pour a glass of tea
Savour every sweet drop
This is where we belong
On the fringes of Wonderland
Behind the mirror
Chasing cats and hoping to meet the Red Queen
She is magic
Don't you know
I remember her
The time after the bridge
Running naked
Nothing mattering any more
But there were people who helped
Stopped the chaos
Eased my head
Such a long time ago
Still so near
What we were informs us
Makes us dizzy
And so another week passes
We are neither better or worse
We just are
Perhaps that is enough.

Bananas

Are we bananas asks Alice
Of course little cricket
Don't you remember what he said
All the best people are
I should like to take tea again
Fancy cakes and hot sweet nectar
What are we now
Poets I think
That seems very grand indeed
Well, we write poems
Scribble down our words
Do we like poetry
Of course
Though stories keep us happy
She ponders
Quite at ease with both definitions of ourselves
It is not a bad life
Neither is it good
But as long as we have words
We will be.

Longing

How we long for the ocean
Sweet salty kisses on our toes
We can feel the tide
Gentle
Lapping
We could stay there forever
Dreaming
Sleeping
It is good to long for something
Even if it is outside our reach
Perhaps we will greet the shore again
Perhaps we won't
But at least we have the memory
The wind rustles our hair
Smells delicious
Like cinnamon
We trail along the tide line
Running
Skipping
Playing
It is good to be free
To have a longing
Is to have the sweetest pearl of thought
We savour every breath
Hope for more
Content for what we have
Our feet get wet
It feels good to feel the ocean
This longing keeps us alive
Far removed from sleep and dreams.

My Story

Her face is soft and yielding
Full of sweet notes
And cadences
We sing together
The sound worth more than the rhyme
Together we walk
A special day
Leaves falling
Sky turning blue
We wish for coldness
To feel huddled up
Our notes trace our steps
A slow kind of tune
We would not know how to dance quickly
We would rather walk slowly
Taking in the air
Absorbing the sights and sounds
Together we sing as one
She has a sweet and tender voice
I caw like a crow
She doesn't mind
As long as we are both singing
We dream of drinking lemonade
We dream of empty fields
Her face will illuminate the air
Sweet cheeks
And bright pink lips
We wish to sing
We wish to feel
We wish to be as one
And so I fall into her face
And sleep peacefully
Full of pink and purple.

Grief

We are born into life
With a contained grief
Crushed
Aching
Once a puzzle
Now a dance
We sit a while
Muffle a scream
Wash our hands
Light the fire
The beam chases up the walls
It is a subtle twilight
A forgotten endurance
We cannot remember what we have stolen
It is all in the past
A common bond
We have found a way forward
A way to balance the grief
We dream of better days
Hope there is more light
Less suffering
Her sweet cheeks glow in the half light
Drowsy and content
I watch her drift off into sleep
And for one tiny moment the world feels right.

Cinnamon

Her hair is sweet like cinnamon
I gulp it up
Like our latest dosage of Risperdone
We plunge into the styx
Knock on the warden's door
He is busy
Watering flowers
Putting up trees
Stocking shelves
Tending carefully
We groan in lemon
Fixed to our bed
Drinking sweet elixir
Wishing we didn't
Such a strong urge to stop from calling
We scrabble in the sticks
Dreaming in onyx
Praying in stars
Today is heavy
We hope that tomorrow is lighter
I hold onto the scent of hair
Snuggle up and sleep
It is sweet
Intoxicating.

Awakening

It is a quiet type of awakening
Eyes bright
Hair smoothed down
We smell poppies and milk
A sweet elixir
We take sips from the copper cup
It is cool and soothing
Days trip into days
We sleep
Dream
Walk
Hope for something better
We wash in warm water
Let the bubbles sink into our skin
It is the small things that make us feel awake
The Red Bed calls
We must decline its offer
Stay awake
Occupy our minds
It is so hard to be
It is never easy
Says Alice
Always so many riddles to solve
Rivers of tears to cross
Each step is a movement forward
And we become
The smell of warm laundry filters through our senses
We are home
Home is safe.

Dallying

We are dallying in the mud
Heavy rain bouncing off the branches
Pounding out its rhythm
We linger under the cracks in the sky
The light catches her eyes
They are bright
Clear as a new dawn
We pick flowers to place in vases
The sap trickles down our fingers
We lick it up like honey
The day passes
Like work we toil to stay awake
Every single moment imminent
That is the risk of being
We set off again
Faces smeared
Rain or tears
We are not sure
Our thoughts feel strained
Sometimes it feels as if our insides fall out
Uncontrollable
Unnoticed
The mud dries
We climb the stairs
Fill a pitcher with water
Place the flowers on the window sill
Crack our bones and try to sleep.

Flash Back

Alice skips trips through the mirror
We are entering a flash back
A river of tears
Hatter and Rabbit
And of course the Red Queen
We drink sweet liquor to keep warm
Wrapped up in the bed
Toes dancing
Always waiting
Today there will be a flood
Tomorrow we will not remember it
Such is the course of things
Do we live in the past
She asks
I doubt we live anywhere
I answer
The cold presses us to the blankets
We dare not sleep
Only dream
We have to be awake up to cross back through the mirror
There are no cats to follow
Only the route set in our heart
We eat sandwiches as the light fades
It fills us up
Stops the liquor from making us sick
I look at the mirror from my bed
Always knowing she will return.

Yield

Winter lays an arm across our shoulder
Her skin is soft
And yielding
We lean into her
She makes us feel safe
High above the storms
Watching the leaves break up under foot
She glows
Like opals on a clear blue night
She has a scent
Fresh
Like a breeze
It turns our cheeks pink
She watches over us
Shields us from the cold and dark
A little bit like a moon
Says Alice
As we huddle under blankets
Toes wiggling to keep warm
Winter will not stay for long
She will disappear when the birds return
We like her emptiness
Her open heart
She is far kinder than the Red Queen
We lie still
Yield to her weight
Happy that her season is here.

Burnished

We polish our stones
Quietly absorbed in our work
We enter into a stubborn grief
The taste bitter on our tongue
Unaware of what we have become
Perhaps we have failed
Perhaps we have triumphed
It is difficult to understand
She leans into me
Tiny breaths whispering on my shoulder
Sweet as honey
We need to choose the best stone
The stone which tells our story
Our fingers are brittle from the scrubbing
But the smoothness makes the pain taste sweet
The stones shine with silver and blue
Just like the sea
Just like our constant movement
We take a sip of water
Let it settle
Place the stones at our feet and rest our head
We are glad to have them
They make us shine.

Authentic

Her smile is authentic
Soft as pearls
Bright as daisies
She rests her head upon my shoulder
Tired and sleepy
There have been lots of riddles to solve today
We are pleased to see the moon
To walk the dark streets
And wonder
We are lucky to find truth in our path
There have been so many lies
Too many games
When I look at her face
Everything is clear and true
We know each other
Sometimes it feels as if we are one
Breathing
Dreaming
Smiling
We float on the pale leaves of the moon.

Mother

How we wish for a mothers love
Strong arms to hold us
Soft eyes to watch us sleep
A warmth we barely know
An ache so hollow it makes us bleed
We dream of her
The mother of our wishes
She is strong
Big enough to hold our sadness
Old enough to teach us the way
We tread the forest path alone
Stumble
Fall
Find our own way
It is clumsy but we know no different
We wonder who we would be
With the love of our dream mother
Perhaps if she were real
We would not need words
Or each other
Perhaps our journey would have been less scary
In her absence we have to learn to love ourselves
Some days we can
Others we can't
Such is light and dark
Awake and dreaming
All the mothers in the world
Watch over us
Maybe one day they will reach out and embrace us.

Willow

The willows sway
Like autumn breath
They are stooped
Like ungainly ancestors
Swinging and moving
Breaking their solitude
Following songs only they can hear
Another year passes
What we don't say is our absence
We are used to silence
It carries us into dreams
The rain beats on the window
A steady rhythm
A darkening day
We lie together in the red bed
Wondering
Keeping each other warm
Perhaps the wind will bring in new words
A different song
Perhaps tomorrow will be different
Although the repetition brings us peace
A solidity we cannot name
Do we have wishes
She asks
No more than a willow tree
I think
Water
Air
Earth
Leaves through which to breathe
Autumn wraps us up
Holds us steady
Carries our wishes on the breeze.

Howl

A million years howl
When voices whisper among the trees
We are on the forest floor
Looking up
The leaves are crisp and brown
Spidery veins patterned from root to tip
We collect them up
They are like ancient paper in our hands
Stories unfolding
Wishes scattered
Our feet ache from the wooded path
We imagine taking off our shoes and socks
Let the moss cushion our steps
The damp ground moisten our blisters
But we decide to keep walking
Following the path
Listening to the trees
It is as if it has always been
And will continue to be
An owl hoots in the distance
We would like to see his wings unfold
As he flies off to the moon
But he is too quick for us
All we can feel is his song
The trees are full of life
They breathe and dance
They have borne witness to many a traveller
And dreamer
They are a guide and a light
They understand the whispers
Absorb up all the howls
We are glad to tread this path
It will lead us to morning
And carry us home.

Cosmos

Our room has steel windows
When the sun shines
It bounces off the steel and bursts in
Like a cosmic rainbow
Inside we sing the truth
Outside we listen patiently
We do not like to talk
People spill words as if they mean nothing
We like to make each word count
We prefer to think
To dream
To travel in our mind
It feels strange that the world does not rotate in synch
With our thoughts
It is like a counter angle
Twisting and turning of its own accord
We can only watch
Dumb struck
But full of thoughts
We step around the rooms
We know every inch and corner
We feel it with our toes
Sense it with our hands
The world seeps in
But we have our hand upon the door
We can judge what comes in
And what goes out
Our own private Wonderland
A magic place
A private place
We hope the sun rainbow lingers
Perhaps at the end is another dream
We would like to find it if we dare.

Release

The horse and fox drink at the waters edge
Necks bristling
Noses smelling deep into the earth
Probing, rooting out salt and ashes
They are not owned
They have no fear
They are free to run and jump
Walk and trot
They move as one
Like a pair of hands
Silently conducting
Two creatures under the light of the sun
Far away
Close in mind
Sending out signals
Replying in kind
They release breaths in the wind
Heavy sighs
And thankful whinnies
When they are refreshed they move on
Leaves under foot
Trails in the mud
Signs that will be washed away when the rains come
We are glad to spend a moment with them
Watching quietly
Still as stone
We like these quiet days
When life is hyper real
And dreams are bright as apples
We ask for nothing more than water too
It flows through us
Travels through veins and vessels
Makes us steady and sure
Perhaps the green man still watches us
Perhaps he is gone
We remember that time
Clear as day
It lies under our skin
Inside us
Rides on the back of horse and fox
Gets washed away in passing days
We would not trade those struggles for a dime
Without them we would be a little less
Inside us they are crimes which chime
We let the memories wash over us like water
Cool and thankful
It paints a colourful design.  

Ruby

The wolves wait in the bushes
Eyes aglow
Shining red like rubies in the smoke
Alice stole the red coat
From the little girl who got lost
It flows gently around her shoulders
I carry the basket
Make a trail with petals and branches
We know not to go in the house
The trees and leaves will be our roof tonight
If we get hungry we will eat berries
Quench our thirst with water from the crystal blue stream
The forest holds many secrets
Perhaps we need an axe to see them
She squeals
The rain gently brushes our face
Alice lifts the hood of the cape
I let my hair get wet
It is soothing
Like a tear slowly falling
The wolves do not frighten us
Their eyes light a path
Follow us
Keep us safe
There is no surer thing than to be hunted
This is a magic land
A tumble through the pages of a dusty story
When it gets dark we can turn back home
Take off the red cloak
Make a note of our adventure
Try to explain how we travelled in our mind
But stayed still in our bodies
I think I would have preferred the red shoes
She says
If we pluck the eyes from the wolves
Maybe we can make a pair
But that's a different story
Another adventure
Another lost girl
We find our feet
Walk in the door
Sleep peacefully in the red bed
The dark forest and wolves behind us.

Forgiveness

Our feet have tread many a path
Through holes and cupboards
Doors and floors
We have met many strange people
Some happy
Some mad
Just like us
We drank the potions
Ate the cake
Made it back in time for tea
Now we are in a loop hole
Having a new adventure
One with more light than shade
We have vanquished many demons
Got up from the floor
Looked out the windows
Wondered at the sky
Perhaps one day we will make it to the shoreline
Take in the salty air
Let our toes brush through sand
And our head fly away in the clouds
Sup up the wind like nectar
It was a long fall
But we got back up
Shrinking and growing
Learning our lessons as we went
Without thinking we hold hands
We are both warm
Alive
Here
It could have been a different story
One with a darker end
We got very close to the edge
She whispers
Life is so much better
I think
Now we have learnt to forgive ourselves.

Beescape

The flowers bloom along the beescape
Reds and violets and blue
They smell like summer
Sticky pollen coating our fingers
Like a paper trail
Tiny letters dripping onto the verge
We gather them up
Like poesies
Keep them in our pockets
Safely wrapped up to make tomorrow's stories
The colours are rich
Like the finest food
They fill us up
Make our heart and mind glow
The humming of the bees
Steady and constant
The swaying of the petals
Hypnotic
We are lost
Just for a moment
But what a wonderful moment it is
Perhaps there will be honey
Perhaps there will be birds
We will have to wait and see
When the sun falls
The flowers still glow
Deep inside us
Like a wish
We will visit the beescape on winter days
Keep our spirits warm
And our fingers sweet and rosy.

Grit

The grit falls on our face like confetti
Our tears wash it off
We are not sure why we are crying
But our smile dwindles to ashes
We have come to bear witness to the sun
It hides under shelves
In cupboards and mirrors
We bring it small offerings
Brass trinkets
Spotless linens
It is not enough
Nothing measures up to its warmth
And shine
We are minus the right gifts
Lost in a whirl
Alice brushes down her skirt
Eyes shining like sapphires
It seems as if we have always been travelling
And yet the walls hold us in
And the roofs hold us down
No need to fight any more
Our fingers brush each others cheeks
Cool and steady
Skin as pretty as candy
Like sugar stars
She squeals
Good enough to savour
When the tears end and the confetti dries
We feel at ease
Flushed and clean
We never cried when it hurt
We never cried when they hurt us
Maybe the tears are a good thing
I think they would be a worthy gift to the sun.

Astonishment

It really is amazing
She declares
It's as if the moon is bending like a spoon
Full of milk and honey
Replete and bathing in cool white light
Every day throws up some kind of wonder
You just have to look
The rain pours down
We walk until we are fully drenched
Past the point of caring to keep dry
It makes us giggle
Hopping in puddles
Waving our umbrella
As if we could fly
We wouldn't go far
Maybe just above the red bed and the mirror
Watch ourselves coming down
But not with a bump
She delights
That would be silly
The bells ring in the night
The grass is being swept away
I fear that the tree will be chopped down but thankfully it stays
Its big green arms
Welcome in another day
We have seen it blossom and fade
For many years now
It is our sky line
Our connection to the earth
Below the ground are tiny bones
Marked by flowers
Faded with time
For a fleeting moment everything feels in balance
And within that moment we feel fine.  

Food

We take the food we eat for granted
Sweet pies and golden apples
Food fit for a feast
A carefully decorated table
Golden syrup tea
Lace cloths
Fine blue china that rings when you touch it
It has not always been so
There was a time
Before Hatter
When we had no pennies to barter
No gifts to exchange
And the table lay empty
Chairs abandoned
Tea pot drained
No strange conversations
Or riddles to solve
Our stomachs growled like tigers
But we never felt hungry
We filled ourselves up with different things
Words
Dreams
Hopes
Fears
We ran like Rabbit
Quick as the ticking watch
All needs suspended in time
There was no room to stop for potions and cakes
It is different now
We are learning to enjoy the food we have
We eat slowly
Savour the flavours and smells
Feel like we deserve them
Day by day we learn
Not to take our plates for granted.

Prairie

There's a prairie in the sky, she says
I look up 
Mouth agape
Eyes bright and wide
It is daylight
The sun filters through the clouds
The leaves fall from the trees
If we listen carefully we can hear them fall
The world is bigger than this room
Bigger than Wonderland
But there are just as many tricks and turns
We keep a plant
It reminds us not to look back
We tend her leaves and spray water on her thirsty soil
She is colour in a world of black and white
An oasis in a desert of thoughts
It is warm inside
We have the windows ajar
We can smell the fresh wind as it passes us by
Like a horse set on its track
Running for home
We lift our head
Enjoy the feeling of movement
The way the weather makes our skin smell
Buttery and sweet
This desert is rich
Full of dreams and sleepy nights
The sun a warm and heavy hand laid gently on our shoulder
I think I like the prairie sky she says
And I agree
We will stay here for a while
Taking in the warmth and light
Growing quietly like our plant.

Keyhole

We press our ear to the keyhole
Try not to disturb the sleeping menace
Phantoms swaying in the night
Rustling like freshly pressed cotton
We pull the bell rope
Make it chime and sing
A warm creeping cheer
All that we can hear
A million little winks
Blushed in the quiet of the dark
Poured quietly over skin
A gentle stream which foams and welters

The cats lick up the salt
Dry tongues colliding with rocks
We follow the light
Shy and free
Forge our way forward with busy fingers
A style all yours and mine

We knock on wood
Listen for an answer
Slowly turn the key

Mirrors and claws twist in our eyes

We shut the door quickly
Ever watchful of the night.

Dynamite

We explode quietly
Like dynamite wet and useless
Lying at the bottom of a river
We dare not speak out loud
We dare not let them hear our breaths
We must be quiet
Otherwise we will spill out all our secrets
It is dark inside
The fire dwindles
The sky caves in
But still we have each other
In the morning we will tell stories
They will blow our mind
Stronger than potions or cake
I wonder if anyone knows we are here
We hide like rabbits deep in our burrow
Feet quick and dancing
Fingers nimble as we close windows
And open doors
We do not explode through fear
We are not enraged or frightened
More like a balloon fit to burst
Well past the party and the cheers
So many thoughts
Twirling and turning
Enough to leave us giddy
Maybe an explosion is over due
It would be good to empty out some thoughts
Make room for others
But how do you light the dynamite after all these years of silence
Easy says Alice
You just let go
Her words echo like birdsong in the night
For a fleeting moment I feel I can
And when I do
The sky will sparkle like a million golden planets
Falling head first into the sun.

---------------------------------------

'my heartbeat quickens at the thought 

of birthing poems

which is why I will never stop opening myself up

to conceive them'

Every Day

We fold paper napkins everyday
Line them on the table
Pretty as pies
Cherry, almond, sweet potatoes
All steaming in the air
They make us giddy
It's like a little dance
Unthinking movements
Ingrained in our muscles
Welcomed in our brain
Actions well rehearsed
Sweep the floor
Shine the mirror
Try not to think
Try not to think
Drink the potions if you dare
Nibble on the cake
Cast sweeping glances at the fields outside
In summer we skip trip through them
In winter we slide down the greasy banks
We can't catch time like Rabbit
Or forget it like Hatter
It's as if we hold our own watch in our hands
A shining globe
We are slowly ageing
Getting slower
Less nimble
When we are finished the table looks a treat
Fit for a feast she giggles excitedly
We are the only two here but it feels like family
Home
We smooth out the napkins
Ready to be folded again
Fill our stomachs
Quench our thirst
Find peace in knowing that tomorrow won't be very different from today.

Hymn

We sing our hymn for the weekend
Autumn brushes against the window pane
Browns and yellows
Flashing with sparks
Trilling with musical notes
We try and catch the electricity in our hands
A little ray of light to make the morning brighter
To hear our song
Amplified like birds cawing on the window sill
It is slippery under foot
Alice skips and twirls in the puddles
I grip my toes
Scared of falling
There's nothing to be afraid of she giggles
But I am
My fears fill my head
Like candles in a pumpkin head
In that case I will blow the candles out she squeals
It is good to open the door
To step foot upon the ground
But there is nothing better than coming home
To fill our stomachs with water and sugar
To fill our minds with dreaming thoughts
We stick memories in books
Like crisp fallen leaves
Ones that hold a thousand memories
One day we will sit and look back on them
Like a good song replayed in time
Our hymn for the weekend
Passed on and treasured in rhyme.

The Green Man

Follow the green man he said
And so we did
Until our feet bled
His coat was rough
Like moss
He carried pebbles in his pocket
They rattled and chimed as he walked
The light hit the cedar trees
Everything felt right
Clearer than we had ever known
Clearer than childhood
Just a glimpse of fairies on the horizon
We really did lose our mind
She chuckles and sings like a wayfarer
I keep looking at her so she won't disappear
We tripped through concrete
Thick like woodlands
Took water from a pipe
Sat in houses that weren't ours
We ran until our chest burst
Stealing things like magpies
Happy
Really
Happy
Just ask Hatter
Madness is a gift
It should not be feared or avoided.
--------------------------------------------
October comes
Granite heat which trickles through our soul
We scratch our skin at the finish line 
Safe and sound
Green man found 
The oil sears our thoughts 
It has been a year at sea 
All aboard the sinking ship
A single line discount
Burnt brown leaves
Falling pumpkins
Painted faces 
We welcome the dark nights.

The Black Cat

We paint in black and white
Sure strokes that douse the page
The black cat scampers through our fingers
Leaves a tail print in our scrawls
We keep going until the page is full
A dizzying splatter of thought and time
It absorbs us
We get lost
Busy making inky patterns
Shapes which morph when we shake them
It's a bit like a map she squeals
If we look closely enough we will learn the key
Find our way out
Or in
She complains that I don't use colour
Not even blue
These lines need to be permanent I say
To last though rain storms
And windy nights
They will hang on our walls
Banners and tails
Signs and symbols we once followed
Until we found our way
Used our instinct not our eyes
The paint goes dry as the sun falls
We huddle up in bed
Fit for dreaming
Ready for sleep
The black cat scratches in the dark
Perhaps it is heading for the mirror
That's where all good adventures start.

Truth and Honour

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win"

We sleep a thousand dreams
Stories of far off lands and long lost people
People who have changed the world
Quietly
Wisely
We will not change the world
But the world has changed us
We huddle under the stars
Lost in thought
Quietly breathing
There will come a day when this is difficult
That thought scares us
We must find Rabbit and stop that watch
You could be just like me she squeals
Young forever
I do not like to tell her that she is older than me
Worn and tarnished by the potions and poisoned cake
Tired by the endless cups of tea
She looks at me warily
She does not like secrets
I try not to keep them from her
She knows all my adventures
All my battles
She was always there with me after all
Perhaps she is like all those silent revolutionaries
She came to me when I needed her
When I was lost
I wonder why she stays
If there will be a day when I wake up and she is not there
Perhaps I still need her
To help me
To keep me safe
We have plenty of time she whispers
There is no need to rush
She always says the right thing
What I need to hear
It is a great truth
And the highest honour.

Everything

The storm water floods the park
The grass is awash
The bridge strains at the seams
Winter creeps in slowly
Leaves fall
Conkers line my pockets
Little treasures to play with when I'm home
Drill a hole
Pull the cord
See who will win
The days gather like gems in a sparkle jar
The nights arrive earlier
The stars hide behind rain clouds
The moon glimpses briefly as she may
Perhaps there is a song to usher in time
I would like to sing it
But I am quiet and still
I remember the difficult times
All the precious things discarded
All the days spent under lock and key
They helped inform me
They separated me from her
(But only in my dreams)
Would I choose a different path
If I did
I would not be me
As I am today
If it was not for the dark times
Curious I think
To not want for better
Perhaps I learnt that all the bad days
Make the moon shine brighter now
Now I have the keys
A door
A light switch
I am in control
I can leave when I want
I can stay if I choose
Such a simple act
Walking through a door
I do not take it for granted
I would not wish the dark days back upon myself
And so I sit underneath the grey sky
Wait for the waters to recede
Time passes
Memories fade
I will still be me.

Stitch

The begonias sit in careful rows
They line the porch
Soft as the purr of automobiles
A reassuring stitch in time
A quiet passing by
The doilies are dirty
We wipe them with water
All the better for serving tea
They suit the tablecloth
All blue and swirling tea pots
We work like assistants
Absorbed in our work and phobias
With a flash the candle puffs out
We grunt
Turn the key
The wind wails around our ears
Like gun shots
We stamp our feet to hide the sound
Stroke each others hair
Find a level rail on which to see each others eyes
The mass of people fades
We are back on the porch
Busy dreaming
Happy watering the flowers.

Maladroit

She can be a little maladroit in social situations
Socks slipping
Hems breaking
Voice singing like a kettle
I forget she is awkward
Or is that me
I sit silently
Listening to voices
Following signs and signals
Smiling to myself
The world is as big as you make it
I choose a shoe box room
Line it with paper
Fill our hands with ink
Then the shoe box grows into a house
And the house has a mirror
To fall through
And a window
To look through
And that is just fine
No need to be troubled by other people
No need to imagine anything more
I pull up her socks
Tidy her hems
With a little tincture and tea her voice lowers
Calm and crisp
Like a little jay bird singing on my shoulder
We count the charms
Measure the letters
And at once we are at ease again.

Honey Bee

The honey bees hug to stay warm in the winter
Clustering in a ball around the queen
We can hear them buzz and hum
Anticipate with relish the sweet honey that will come
Endless trips from flowers to hive
Routes engrained in memories
Flight patterns crystal clear
Like webs spinning and turning in the sun
They have a job
Purpose
We lie still and watch
Our hands idle
Our brains ticking as furiously as the old clock
Summer is slipping by
The skies puff up with rain clouds
We hide ourselves away
Keep stock of paper and pencils
Just like the worker bees
We fill tiny spaces of time
It is all a pattern
A vague design
A future we half know
Half welcome
Half dread
Always present in our thoughts
We will make sweet tinctures to last us through the winter
We too will hug in the cold
Fill the empty jars
Dip our fingers in the golden delight
Wait for the flowers to bloom
Feel the warmth soak through us like a warm shower
We will pollinate letters
Let them fall on the page
Maybe even take them to the Queen
That would make her happy
Perhaps we have a purpose after all.

Thursday

We sing in black and white
Wait for Thursday when it will turn blue
Her shoes will sparkle
Her hair will shine
We will dance for all of time
We feel blue
Just like the music
It seeps through our skin
A song as neat as pennies
We look at our face
A pattern of pink
All swirling and turning in the mirror
We can no longer travel to Wonderland
The hole has been filled with flowers
Rabbit checks his watch
No time to dig a fall
We sip our tincture
Giggle at his bouncing tail
We are above ground
Looking out not in
Plucking words in our own rhythm
Tapping our feet
Clapping and marking time
Really not a bad day she whispers
We certainly have had worse
I touch my skin
It hums like an electric current
I pass it onto her
In this electricity is life
Every cell bouncing and skipping
It will only last a few minutes
But it is a gift
A wonderful noise
A joyful feeling
We cannot wait until Thursday comes.

Orange

Her tiny hands lie in mine
We are rolled up
Sheltered from the wind
The sun falls like pressed oranges
Summer disappears
The blue sky is nourishing and vivid
We sip it up
Bones grifting
Thoughts whirring
Leaves swirling like tangled hair
There is a constant motion
We are always at the mercy of the potter's wheel
Painting pictures
Following all the routes
Tracing tracks and trails
Our finger tips are muddied
Creating stories
Wandering guiltily
Small particles sucked up like lemonade through a straw
Feet of clay
Evil trumped
Colluding and denying
We saw the end
Doubled back
Happy to sleep through another day.

Kitchen

Grandma's kitchen is warm and well
Sweet potatoes roast gently in the oven
Pies line the shelves
Their sugar crust coatings glistening in the sunlight
Her hands move deftly
Fingers crooked at the bone
Each tin and bowl moved gently
Prised open
Gifting treats to be savoured
Love to be shared
Our mouths water at the thought of her food
The table is old and lined
Like her face
There have been many stories told there
Many forgotten
The cups are chipped
The saucers fragile
The tea poured piping hot from the pot
We are captivated by its thick steaming flow
There must be noise
The sound of gentle working
But we do not hear
There is an unconscious flow
A place and time that exists beyond us
That's because Grandma's kitchen is a dream she whispers
I let the words drift over me
I like it in this place
I will quietly drink tea and graze on the pies
I will feel loved
I will have this person even if I can't touch her
If you can think of it, it exists somewhere
We find it in our words
Nothing better declares Alice
A film of sugar around her lips
A rosy glow in her cheeks
We did well to come here
To wait for the baking
To see this woman who welcomes us with open arms
Perhaps she will kiss my cheek
Perhaps we can come back whenever we want to
The door is always open
The fire always warm
We cosy down
Stomachs full
Grandma smiles at us
We are home.

Vigilance

We have to remain vigilant little cricket
Who knows if the clouds might fall
Or the sky turn black above us
It has always been like this
Running
Never still
Always chasing Rabbit
Tumbling through mirrors
Struggling with stairs
We are lying down beneath the stars
Silent but together
It really has been a journey
Perhaps we feel a little more safe
It is inevitable
The shock can't help but fade with passing years
And how quickly those years seem to pass
The toll painted on my body
My head crushed like brittle candy
Amidst the chaos it is hard to dream
There was a time when we didn't dream at all
Now they drift in and out like baby breaths
Perhaps there will be a day when we do not need to lock the door
Or worry about being found
Fear makes the wolf look bigger she chuckles
Her presence makes me believe there will be a day when we can walk barefoot
No longer dressed up and ready to flee
Tired and braced for danger
Today is slipping away
I hold her hand
We are another step forward
A little less scared.

Bunker

The walls are a muddied white
Cool to touch
Soothing to lean against
There is one window
It is covered with a black cloth
We would like to pull the cloth aside
See what is left out there
There was a time when we ignored the outside
We wanted nothing more than to be in
Now outside is not a given
We want to be there
Touch the soil
Smell the breeze
Remember time spent gazing at trees
Feel the rain brushing against our cheeks
We do not know how long we have been in the bunker
Time stopped on the day the door was locked
We have cake and tea but it won't last forever
Certainly no tea party or flick of imagination
It's brittle and dusty in our mouths
Black and white
Not colour
We do not know day or night
We sleep when we are scared
We sleep when we are bored
It was different when we could choose to lock ourselves in
When we had the key we were real
Now we are nothing more than a few sinking thoughts
We touch the wall
Cool and soothing
We will survive this bunker
Find a way out
Just like we have done many times before.

Flamingo

The electric pink flamingoes flank the apartment stairs
We are borrowed in the basil garden
Drawing out maps
Plucking ourselves from the smoke-filled mirror
It's as if we have fallen through again
All swaying and upbeat
Ready for a game of croquet with the Red Queen
Our sorrows are buried in the kitchen
Our dreams asleep in the bedroom
We draw a map from place to place
Just until we know what to do
The lines are thin as spiders
The sun shines
Reality burns our skin
We cruise through days
Alice rests sleepily on my shoulder
I pluck the cork from the bottle
Take delicate sips
It is empowering
A jazz and a jive of thoughts
Tumbling down like water beating on the mountainside
Shall we play she asks
Of course little cricket
Nothing better than a good game
You know I really do like Wonderland
It is good to be back
Not falling
Not running
Just sitting still and taking in the magic
Knowing that at the snap of fingers we can be back home
That really is a miracle
We smile and bubble
Sway and skip
Happy in both worlds
Gathering stories
Enjoying the view.

Looking At Stars

We lie on the ground and look up at the stars
They sparkle and shine
Bright as sugar sprinkled on cinnamon buns
Good enough to eat she squeals
I imagine if we swallow them our hearts will glow
It is quite a nice idea
A distant dream
We glide through days like hands through water
Time passes
The wind picks up
We measure time through light and dark
Perhaps we like the morning better
When it is crisp and blue
But then the night wraps us up in glorious dark
And we sleep under the magic of a thousand faraway places
We like that too
Sleeping is peaceful and we breathe slowly
No more chasing Rabbit
No more broken tea cups with Hatter
No more visions from the Red Queen
We just disappear simply into ourselves
Like a star imploding never to glow again
Let's pick a star and call it a name
She giggles full of sugar and shine
Everything good needs a name
We crunch the sugar and think
No word quite measures up to the task
The sky grows darker and the stars fade
We close our eyes
The sparkle drifting through our thoughts
Tomorrow will bring a different sky to marvel under
A million stars to name.

Green

We lie in the river bed
Arms tangled
Weaving in and out of each others skin
It is warm
The water sweet as acid
We listen to our breath
Like a small burn grazing our lips
It rolls fast and slow
Our bed is a thick layer of moss
It is green
Soft and calm
Thick enough to absorb our dreams
A safe place that cannot be tampered with
Funny she says
The world outside is bigger than the white room
The sky reaches on for miles
A cool breeze lifts our hair
Hides our eyes
The air seems endless and empty
We listen intently
As if messages will fall into our ears
Stick together like leaves gathering in a puddle
Everything feels like a blur
An act we don't quite know
We burrow into each other
Dizzy and intoxicated
Wondering if the hail will scratch our skin
Hack beautiful little lines into our flesh
Nature's justice
Perhaps this will be the final time we speak
Never she declares
There are far too many stories to tell.

Literacy

We dine on syllables
Crunch on vowels
Letters and numbers spilling from our fingers
Spreading like rainbow dust
Falling on the paper with a splish and a splash
Just like dinner served up on a plate
Perfectly cooked and ready to eat
It's all about making patterns
Finding a thread from beginning to end
Playing
Deliberating over sentences and letters
Remembering our lessons
Wondering how there can be a wrong way and a right way
We have gathered words
Filled a book with crumpled papers
Tiny ink filled lines
Savouring some moments
Dispelling others
Always learning
Never stopping
Happy with some rhymes
Angry at others
It's all a story
One without a beginning or an end
One we write as we breathe
Chapters we forget
Paragraphs that disappear
Shed like skin
Move on
Swallow down
Ready for the next page
Clean empty and burning bright.

Fold

We fold shirts in the candlelit room
Two scrawny women standing
Hands busy
As if nothing really matters at all
We watch the poems fall like pills
Try and devour them
Sweet as sugar drops
We never get tired of watching
Waiting
A silent scream brews inside
Remember when we almost died
We were tired then
Full of exotic changes
Somewhere where all of life is over and done
If we run out of steam that moment may creep upon us again
Well we won't let it she says watching my eyes
The light fills my senses
Brings something magical to each fold and crisp line
There have been many twists and turns
But we always come back to this room
Settle under the window
Sleep in the red bed
I blow out the candle
The dark wraps around us like a friendly arm
I hear her breathing softly and marvel at her being
I don't shut my eyes
Not yet
When the moon falls I will
In the morning we will wear the neatly folded shirts
Try another day
As the clock ticks I drift off happily
Perhaps tonight there will be dreams
Sweet as sugar drops
Far better than pills.

Glory

She stands in glory in the night
Pale arms lifted under a shimmering moon
The air is sharp
Like a bitter apple
The stars make her eyes shine
Her fragile little body shivers and shakes
But she is happy
I can tell because it creeps upon me too
The world falls upon us like a bad dream
We shake it off with words and pictures
Coat the paper in thick black ink
Large so we can read it in the half light
What does it say she whispers
Nothing I reply
There are shapes and letters but they fall out wrong somehow
Perhaps we will dance
Bathe our bodies in sweet music
Or maybe lie still and count our breaths
Either sounds good
A tiny revelation
We have walked a long way to reach this place
There have been many fights
Some we lost
Some we won
But together we come to rest
Stand in glory under the crisp moonlight.

Water

We wash our face in the water current
It is cool
A welcome ease from the raging fire
The escalating climate around us
We sip a little
Quench our thirst
The days are shorter
The crisis has ended
No more pursuit of tricks and lies
No more chasing Rabbit
We gather our thoughts
A pretty collection of pebbles that we can hold firmly in our hand
From a distance we watch the ocean breathe in and out
The waves make little impact upon the rocks
A mere kiss arriving softly on the craggy lines
A tender touch
We count them
Add up the numbers greedily
If we don't they will disappear
It is a welcome break from our fate
A light cast upon our ignorance
Turning full circle into knowledge
The arrival of another source that seizes our soul
Lifts us up
One way or another we will gather ourselves together
Just like we always do.

Museum

A row of shiny pennies lie behind the glass
They glint and gleam
Draw us in
Thick and glowing like the moon in a clear sky
We sit in the guard's chair
He is walking in quiet circles
At peace with his charges
We breathe in the smell of old wood
Run our shoes along the lines of the worn down floor
All the feet that must have passed
All the hands that must have made those pennies shine
So many stories
The pennies sit beside broken bones and butterflies
A pin holds their black bellies to the velvet
So fragile they look as if they will crumble
Time stands still in this place
Arrested
Just like their flight
A clock on the wall tick-tocks
Soon it will be time to leave
The guard will lock the doors
Switch off the lights
We will come back another day
There is a kind of magic
A sense of time both passing and standing still
A museum of curiosity.

Entry

The entry is fragile
Fragments of light stream through the garden
Catch on the flowers
Crash to the ground
The air is clear
The spokes of the bicycle wheel whirr gently in the wind
The fragrance of roses passes us by
I can feel the weight of her hand wrapped around mine
It is a bizarre type of love
It gives me strength
A fighting chance
Her breathing is shallow
Pretty
I doubt we know how much time we have spent together
In the distance is the call of birds
We both hear them
They make a bid for their prey
Small worms and other tiny things
I offer up my eyes to their flight
Alice makes a telescope out of an old tube
Giggles quietly to herself
It is good to see the world
There are so many colours and sounds
A rich perfume of days passing
They go so quickly
Faster than Rabbit
It doesn't pay to chase them
Far better to let them flow through us like water
Sometimes it is hard to know if we are awake or asleep
Perhaps it doesn't matter
We will firm up the door
Leave the key in the lock
It feels safe to have a way in and out
The light fades and the wind dies down
All is quiet
Just as we like.

Televised

The television flickers in the corner of the room
Sometimes it feels as if we are still being watched
A slow spool of recording tape
Brown shoes
Green coats
Bags of surveillance
But that was a long time ago
Do you remember the bridge she asks
Of course little cricket
I was scarily alive then
She sighs
Rests her head upon my shoulder
Her hair falls about my face
It smells like coconut
Sweet and silky
You are a good friend Alice
I am not sure she hears
When I look up she is gone
On the screen are faces
Shrill sounds
An intrusion
I just like to sit still now the voices have gone
Perhaps one day they will return
Like old friends
For now they recede
I switch the television off
And the screen turns black.

Film

The bystanders stand by the road
Telling stories
Spilling words
We hold our breath
Wait for news
Alice holds my hand
Watching the scene closely
Taking notes and turning circles
We are a long way from home
But it is an adventure
We find a penny
I bring it up close to my eyes
Wipe the dust off with a corner of a sheet
I wish we had more pennies to count she whispers
Outside is our backdrop
Swaying trees
Swishing clouds
Leaves churned up like butter
We take it all in lightly
Lay a gentle anchor in our location
When the door is shut Alice brings me a shot of tea
It cools gently in a fine china cup
For herself she creates a sweet concoction
I do not ask what it is
I just watch her sip it from the corner of my eye
I like these peaceful days
They run like a film in slow motion
Familiar
Safe
It feels like we have reached a state of acceptance
Of being
Not such a bad deal
My cells buzz with a vague memory of creativity
All the fashion she giggles.

Safety

We don't need to run any more little cricket
We can take off our shoes
Stop hiding under the eaves
She smiles without guilt
Sweet as the finest icing on the cake
I allow myself a silent giggle too
Is this what it means to be safe, she asks
I think so
Will it last forever
If we want it to, I reply
There is a gentle breeze
We walk over the moist grass
Happy watching people go about their day
Everyone with a story and a verse
I could sing, she squeals
I think safety is a very good thing indeed
I smooth her hair
Make sure her headband is sitting pretty
Look, the rain has gone and the sun still shines
The skies a velvety blue
We run our bare toes through water
Sigh contentedly
Our tummies full and our head deliciously empty
It feels good not to run anymore she whispers as the light fades
I agree in silence
We count our treasures
Usher in the moon and fall gently into peaceful sleep.

Morning

We sit in the corner of the cafe
Lift the glass from the table
It is quiet as a library
Silent as our scars
Dawn shimmies through the clouds
We hear the call of birds
Their silver wings cast shadows in the sky
Spray us with light and gentle calls
Bees carry messages
Dance merrily
Wrap sweet honey around our lips
We watch them
Alice wraps her fingers around mine
They are sticky
In her pocket is a tiny collection of shells
She jingles them like pennies
A perfect fit
Be careful not to break them she whispers
Her voice almost choked
Barely audible over the morning sun
In the park figures hunch over chess boards
Playing games
Parked up
All a sham
We have our own games to usher in the day
We close the door
Breathe deeply
The gulls trill and the trees sway
We lie on the floor and think
Savour the light and gentle breeze
Who knows what adventures the rest of the day will bring.

Thimble

She places the silver thimble on her thumb
Threads the needle
Winds the bobbin
Her face a crown of concentration
Totally absorbed in her old fashioned hobby
Her stitches are neat and tidy
All in a perfect row
My fingers shake too much to compare
Look, she says
All pretty and glowing
A new dress for a new day
Still the perfect blue
White crisp apron
She wears it well
I smile at her enthusiasm
Silently encourage her joy
Now I am dressed, what shall we do today
Watch the rain
Play with words
The usual rhythm of time spent wondering
The thimble makes a tiny ring as it slides off her finger onto the wooden table
All finished
The ground smells fresh
The rain quietly splashes the window
We study it quietly
Watching the world is a new hobby in itself.

Branches

The clouds take root in the azure blue skies
Light hits the branches
We are singing
Bright and shy
Like angels
Our thoughts are shapeless
We ask too many questions
Ones without answers she whispers
It is a delicate afternoon
The sun burns the moon
We shift delicately in the half light
Finding our feet
Aching to dance
This moment will pass
As all do
But of course she giggles
She is always right
We knock twice upon the door
No one answers
We are not allowed in
Goose bumps line our flesh in the cool breeze
Just like the lines on the branches
Our flesh is dimpled and marked
We light a flame to warm up
The sun fades and the moon shines
We are settled from our work
Everything feels pure and fertile
We close our eyes weakly and wish for magical dreams
I am sure they will come if we want them.

Dance

The finches land on the rain pipe
The grass is cut
The sky is still
Alice twirls and waltzes in her crisp blue dress
I expect it will rain soon
For now we soak up the sun like cats lolling in the heat
Dreamily
Greedily
Bodies sprawled
Hair clean around our shoulders
Can we think of the time before
So far away
I think we got a little lost, she says
I think we did too little cricket
Let's not go back there
One step forward in a giddy dance
Our hands don't shake any more
Our teeth sparkle
It feels like a whole new world
But in fact all we do is turn in circles
Light on our toes
Until the moon grazes the sky and then we sleep
Behind the curtains we hear the birds
A gentle song
The clocks tick tock
We made it through another day
And another day will come.

Sage

The sage brush drifts in through the window
We are singing poems
Gently
Under our breath
Everything feels dizzy and light
We want to run but the rocks in our shoes halt us
We are quite happy
Lying in the sun
Counting leaves
Everything a blur
A magical dream
It is the simple things which keep us busy
Everything is fine when we think of them
It's so easy to tumble down
But we grip the edge with all our might
As night falls the smoke subsides
Heavy clouds signal a charm
How many wishes will we wait for
We wash the sage from our fingers and lie softly together.

Perfume

She sprinkles sweet lavender on my feet
The air is thick with her love
We dance giddy in the night
Cheeks aglow
Feet aching
We both smile at the moon
Giggle at the stars
All around us is the sweet chime
Tiny bells whispering in the wind
They lull us into a half sleep
Glorious and drowsy
Just on the edges of dreams
Sweet ones I hope
She whispers gently in my ear
The smell of her soft skin is intoxicating
A comfort
Hopes and wishes
Secrets and dreams
My feet are bare and purple
The scent surrounds us like a cloud
We float upon it
Drift slowly into sleep.

String

We have velvet wrinkles on our skull
Too much thinking Alice chuckles
We are on the prowl
Searching for seven stories
We sit and grow
Listen and change
The rain splashes the plate
Pulls fifteen inscrutable strings
It ruffles her skirt
We are doddering daughters
Blathering humility still
Not knowing quite where we are
Relishing the adventure
The wrinkles ease
Our face relaxes
We slip quietly into sleep
Some days are better than others.

News

The finches set a course across the water
Alice looks up
Knuckles greasy and bared
Maybe they are delivering the mail
Little notes of swirling news
I sit still
Shimmer and groan as if I am melting
The wind chime knocks upon the window
Short notes
Like oaths
We have to find the signs
Measure the beats
Short wantings rarely spared
We take a seat on the curb
Look up to the skies
Try and remember the path the finches took
It is good to be outside
We wish for cool air and a steady hand
All the better to write with.

Words

We catch words in the air
Run jump toss our veins to the side
They are there for the taking
We keep score in the darkness
We create a mass of muscles
Taut and dangerous
Impossible to balance
We make a frantic dash to the points
Hang like boys from the tree
Glancing down
Quietly laughing
Alice melts the ends of the rope
Creates a little swing
She will stay there for hours
Lost in the here and now
No match for Rabbits disappearing tail
It's like we're in a tank she squeals
We can look out but no one can look in
I gather our thoughts on scraps of paper
Hope for a sign
Something to say.

Cells

She wipes the sugar from her lips
She is wakeful
Full of beans
I'm hungry as a mountain
Restless and sleepy
My cells bubble under my skin
They make me hug the floor
Trip skip fall through the border
I pass her the cup
She holds it in her tiny hands
No need to ask why
The stench of soap permeates the air
Freshens up our cage
Let's us make that evil crossing into sleep
I can't deny how anxious life makes me
We visit the willow tree
Let it cast a shadow
Let us be.

Ammunition

Hatter waves his rainbow umbrella
Are we going on an adventure squeals Alice
I hope so little bean
I hope so
The Red Queen waves us on through the window
My lips are parched
My sense of taste is fried
I stare at my reflection
Despise this new shape of me
She says only I can stop
I am grateful for her words
They sit like apple stew in my stomach
Let's lay the table
Hope for tea
Certain one day they will come
My head swirls
There is a lull in the air
Hatter wears ammunition around his waste
He marches doesn't walk
We try and keep up
Alice scuffs her shoes on the cobble
I wipe the sweat from my head
Play chicken
Same times and places
Stuck in the hole
I'm not sure it's magical any more
Still the rainbow umbrella makes me smile
We lay on the floor and look up at its wonder.

Scoot

The children scoot and swim
A late summers weekend
Swinging without a care
Tumble down the hole
Learn to love
No one sees their tears
Crying in the wind
The best is yet to come
Winter is dead
It loosens its noose
Dancing leaves
Crumpled shoes
Salt like dread of long dark evenings
We bind our ears
Deafen our senses
Noise is too much
All just signs and symbols
We need them to find our way.

Chill

A chill air swirls around our ankles

We are sat at the desk

Pencils sharpened 

Head teeming with ideas we cannot convey

Scraps and snips of paper line the floor 

Inky and thirsty 

All just a sweet dream

Signs and symbols 

No way out 

We are free to drive

But stick close to the windows 

The last beam of light trickles through

We long for the dark

The smallest of three cheers 

We reach for the eraser 

Dab away the words we do not like

Snuggle up against the chill

Await another day, 

Cement

Her fingers clickety clack on the keyboard
Writing obscure tales
Swallowing cement
Her heart is soft
Full of hope
And warfare
A pilgrim walking with a skip and a song
The hall is crowded
We crest the mountain
Take a surprise turn
Follow the road
It's all a shield
Trials and falsehoods
We sit in the booth
Our back to the wall
We sip tea
A sugary surprise
Open the mercy gates
Shake off disdain and reason
I read what she has written and smile.

Siren

We shoot down the alley
Sirens blaring
Skin pulsing
There are clues
Insights
A style of breathing
Thighs and breasts
We were born in the month of June
Breathing and surging
A stain upon the tigers eye
A light body singing down the mountainside
A murmur and a whisper
We live in blocks
Tracks permit us to sing
Time stands still
We are nothing but a stain
Shifting and living
Being and playing
We shoot down the alley
Two little girls lost and breathing.

Words

We sit underneath the tree
Words precious in our hands
Take wing
Fly
Daylight makes us drunk
We fast forward
Look inside
Find our limits
Spray upon the ridge of dreams
If we could go anywhere it would be in poems
Glass and salt
The sight of the park makes us smile
We spring forward like a fire
Sometimes our flight is like a map
Other times it's spacious
Money buys the shack
Thought buys the power
We drag forward towards the hearth
Sit underneath the tree and dream.

Waltz

We catch ourselves waltzing in the dark
Air the room
Pass the ghostly tree
Fire the gun
Lose our way
All just a chime
A strange smell
Billabong shade
A gleeful drink
We want to chatter in fear
Find the words
Make it ring now
Come in order
Shoved alive
All just a story waiting to be told
We want to dance
Not be afraid
Easier said than done
The night wraps its claws around our neck
Draws our breath
We sink into the bed
Dust off the powder
Pour a drink
It is quiet
Deadly
We dream of music and false feet
We catch ourselves waltzing in the dark.

Swell

We sing and pull our spirit
It is pay day
A fine alchemy
A little dust
There is a chill that swells inside us
Pepper in the clouds
Sugar in the stars
Our breath takes the sting out of the moon
Mixing and swirling life
We have debts
Regrets
Secrets we will take to the grave
Maybe the end will be a relief
We clasp and release hands
A poor thing on loan
His finger nails are black
They paint a fine picture
We sit and stare
All the world in front of us
All the dreams behind
What will become of us she whispers
I dare not answer
Silence is our blanket
Our protection
We cuddle up and sleep
Thankful for another day.

Attic

We take our shoes off in the dusty attic
Sing a rosary
Gather our purse
We must go down stream
Rub the window with our stick thin tissue
Find a passage way
Find our legs
Our plan is instinctive
A chain of pace
What do we say when we pass the point
No return
Bags waiting like a caper in the other room
All just a prank in other words
We must bar it from our mind
Clean the attic
Clean our shoes
Rest a while and gather our thoughts
The wind blows the curtains down
We gather them up
Replace them carefully
All just a game of daring and stars.

Mock

Alice takes my hand
We are running down the street
Following Hatter
Avoiding the seedy waitress who traced our calls
Cracked coffee cups
Darkened bones
Rabbit catches us up
Mocks the hope we were born with
Delete the note
Corrupt the files
Jazz sounds
A game that both grows and disintegrates
Quick like smoke
A fire taking hold
We seek the truth
Liars
Smug memos in hand
Alice takes my hand
We are running down the street.

Scraps

We draw a line
Beautiful scraps in the night
A blow drain
A hazy strike
We climb the hill
Slide down the side
Measure the sticks
A high message in water
We draw a line
Beautiful scraps in the night.

Factory

The train moves past the factory
Blue brickwork and dreams
We are sent on a dusky wild scent
Framed like blocks
Composed like a book
Front cover
Middle
End
Turning pages
Sent on a mission
Her eyes move gently
Her hands clasp the paper
Turning pages
Building dreams
The train moves past the factory
We watch and wait
Hope for a whistle and steam
A presence and hope.

Table

We sing and laugh around the kitchen table
Brothers and sisters in arms
Dare we eat
Say what's on our minds
It's a sly darkness
A beautiful well of fear
We shoot apart
Give cadence to our song
Chart and barter
Count the stars
Just a small distance apart
Shining like a beacon in the night
How did we get here
Flying a shy chance
Marring our skin
It barely matters
As long as we are together
Singing quietly
Embracing the stars.

Vanish

It's like you vanished
Turned invisible she giggles
We are standing under the streetlight
Moths fluttering in the night
Glitter on her face
Chasing dreams
She sings a song
Quickly and quietly
It sends ripples across the pond
Like sinking stones
We are off the bat
Sitting trial
A chill swipes across our backs
We curl up
Shy signals and hints
We file and mine them
Collect them
Inhibit a tough time
It's like you vanished she says
I can't disagree.

Hope

The rats tap out a message
Shredded paper and shadows
We are waving not drowning
Hold the stick
Swirl the text
All the letters a jumble
We place candles in a bowl
Shield the light
Soft peach sky
All is gone
A clean slate
We move slowly
Tap out our message
Soak in the bath
We wish for order and peace
What we get is very different
I hold the rats
Their tiny hearts beat
They are love
Nestled in my hair
A new day
A life of hope.

Lost

We are lost for words
It's so easy to skip and fall
Wrap the shoes in paper
Place them in a box
This is a complicated hunger
Pious and demanding
We wave at the exit
The mouth of the hole
Follow Rabbit down
It's about all we can do to survive
Take the bus
Sing hymns under our breath
Alice adores the sugar
I can't deny her the pleasure
Her skin is oily
Too much time spent underground
We need to lick the sun
Feel the stars on our face
Words trickle in
Like magic
We gobble them up
Hold our swollen bellies and smile
It is good to be back she murmurs.