Don’t play games
with my heart
I am really not strong
it will break me apart

How were you to know
this world
would so harsh
on you

I look in the mirror
and I see you.

Perhaps
my soul
is too old
to be sold?

I will block out
the two hundred poems in my head
and write this one
for you
instead.

When we were young
we said let it come
if it rained
we had an umbrella
if it snowed
we had a plough
If it iced
we had a ski
if it stormed
we had shelter
if it darkened
we had light
if it was fire
we had water
if it was old
we were young
if it was too much
we were one.

Let the slow hand of
tomorrow
catch you in the palm of her
hand
because I can’t
anymore

There is nothing I would rather do
right now
than sit right down
beside you
there is nothing than I shouldn’t do
right now
than sit
right down
beside you

You flit lightly
through your life
yet fall heavily
on mine

Little tiny  pieces of yourself
petered out
at will
supposed to be enough
for me
you know
they never will

Remember you said
you would rather be dead
than to live a life
without cause
God, how honourable then
I clung to your every word
like a long lost chalice
All I ever wanted to be was
the perfect daughter
perfect friend
perfect person
but you left
without telling me
how.

We can’t be lovers
We can’t quite be friends
We just flaunt around
Enemies
instead
dressed  up
like clowns
prancing about
dancing
endlessly
effortlessly
entertainingly
betraying
Challanging
the braying
crowd.

With a few good friends
a life that was almost
gone
can be built again
Almost right again
with a few good friends

Leave your words here
scattered across the floor
its late
you’re tired
I will pick them up tomorrow
look at them
in the cold light of day
discard and throw away
the ones that might make you stay.

There is a newness about today
and I welcome it without delay
a brand new sun
of a brand new year
I will hear no bad of it
I will believe in it
I will welcome it
I will savour it
I will believe in it
no matter what
you say
I will believe in it
Today

I think I have fallen in love
with a thousand men
because I could
I think I have fallen in love
with this man
because I could not

the world is on fire
with hurt and pain
bodies are building up
children getting lost in the mire
the world is on fire
with deceit and blame
the world is on fire
not a one amongst us
brave enough
clever enough
wise enough
enough enough
interested enough
to fan the flame.

Nothing
let’s just sit here
and talk about
nothing

I caught you yesterday
when you didn’t realise you were falling
you walked just a step too far
and didn’t hear me calling
but no worries
I caught you
anyway.

I will stand up
Scared
Yet standing
Naked
Exposed
Reaching
Yet reclining
I will stand
I will hold you
If you falter
I will stand up
Scared
Yet standing
Will you?

You slip though my fingers now
like fine sand
although you grew to be you
beneath my hand
you are everyone
I ever wanted you to be
just better
than I hoped you could be
and you wear yourself
so easily
like you are exactly who you
were meant to be
you inhale the day
like it’s here to stay
or not
you make me smile
with pride
by living out loud.

I was asleep
and then you shook me
awoken me
into life

It is dense here
Rummaging around inside your mind
Let’s let a little light in
see what we can find

My words can never be sweet
because
they weep
of intended deceit

sometimes
I regress
to a little sister
desperately
seeking your love
still

Do you ever think that
Poems
are just words
random thoughts
rearranged
everyday words
that people say
and think
casually
everyday
then a few of us
desperately
try to make a grab for them
capture them
and make them
more than they were ever meant
to be

Why
does every word
you say
remind me
of a better day

When did those little boy arms
who depended so much on me
when did those little boy arms
become strong enough
to hold me

Morning makes its entrance
throwing sunlight
on an unslept bed
I stand a few feet away
throwing bouquets
at  an unloved life.

there are
seven wonders of the world
and I am sitting here
eating dinner
trading words
passing time
with three of them.

You already live your life
out loud
don’t stop
it will save you

Let us leave our love here
where it began
where it was pure
where we were sure
that we knew better
let us leave our love here
where it is safe
and untainted
from the people
we have both
become,

Your love
makes me feel safe
enough to sleep
every night
without
locking
the world out

I know nothing
about nothing
but I know
I probably
love you more than
you could ever
love me back
and I am
more than  
all right
with that

And then
there was nothing
and in that nothing
I realised
we could be everything

It’s just another Saturday morn
fading into Sunday
slipping into Monday
cruising into Tuesday
delving into Wednesday
diving into Thursday
dying into Friday
crying into Saturday
It’s just another Saturday mom

I don’t love all of you
all of the time
who
in all honesty could
but sometimes
in our worst of times
I remember
and the remember loves
you still

Let the dust settle
in our heads
let the words
go unsaid
tomorrow
we will meet
again

Love is amazing but
love is waking up the next day
and not feeling quite
so sure  about yourself.

I have too many words
running riot  inside my head
they spill out
unintentionally
at party’s
dinners
and soirées
offend the great
seal my fate.

I believe you are brave enough
to love me
you carry a. weapon
to even up.the score

Hold my hand
before we get too old

In-between  the time
I think the thought
and feel the thought
and write the thought
everything has
changed

Love
is not a big enough
word
for this

I am closed
after being
open all hours
24/7
for twenty years
and more
I am closed
now
Permanently

I have nothing to declare
except
my very bright red
lipstick

Can someone  teach me
how to be
the woman
my mother always said
I should be?

I envy the smile
that sits so easily
upon your face

I will up my game
If you will too
I will  take the blame
Give it a name
I will up the stakes
acknowledge mistakes
I will up my game
If you will too

It was never what
you said
it was just you and me
instead
too much confusion
inside my head