The Bunsen burner’s gas flames blue –
    a searing blaze, the hottest hue –
          that heating an alembic ***
              distils the oil from bergamot.
A fruity smell imbues the room
    with floral scents of citrus bloom
          from blazing orange acid fruits
              with aromatic attributes.
The cooled condensing droplets form
        an ointment that can stop a storm.

The halls swallow me
Luckily I don't notice
Thanks to my music

The atmosphere
tense and tangible
her face evoked an attraction
it spoke of smoke
dark thoughts and calamity
after action-satisfaction
according to lore
she hails from Lexington.

The Holy Spirit descended
Upon the ****** Mary's chamber
It was the 24th of march

"Oh hi H!" Said Mary
"Gabe',said you be comin round
But I'm not sure what we doin
His clues thin on the ground.
He seemed a bit flustered
So what is it you want?
He made it sound important
Kept staring at his feet"
H S stroked his chin
Dropped his kecks
Asked
"Do you know what this is?"
She said
" I cannot conceive "
He bade her hold that thought
He would make her believe.

Floating high above the skies
               wearing
                                nothing but a pair of wings  
I untie all emotions
                                  and let my hair loose;    
Gliding gently *
                          o'er clouds
                   I soar like the birds of the sky do,
  
           and when the sun begins to die,
                           Oh, I just fly !

Bertha stared motionless through the TV.
Thoughts of times past filled her mind...

"Happy birthday, darling! Here you go."
Dad and his appearances. Yep, never fooled me.

He only saw me on my birthdays—normally an hour or two, tops.
A quick ice cream and a gift, then boom, see you next year.

I don't remember Mum and Dad being together; why would I?
I was only a few months old when they split.

Growing up, it was different men all the time coming into the house. Eventually, I came to realize that when they visited, in the next few days that followed, I would be treated to a day out or spoiled rotten with gifts.
Yeah, she was a lady of the night, a Tom, a brass—a *******.

Dad was an ex-client, I found out years later. He died on my 13th birthday—a day I'll never forget.

Mum told me in the morning that Dad had been killed in a car crash.
I didn't know how to feel. I mean, he was just a guy I saw once a year.

That evening, after a cake and a few friends came around for a party, I was alone in the lounge.
There was a tap on the window.
I looked out and saw one of Mum's regular male visitors.

I shouted for Mum. Assuming she was coming, I opened the front door to let him in.

"You're a pretty one," he kept saying to me, complimenting my looks, my dress, my body.

After he violated me, I was once again left alone.

Mum eventually came home; she had popped to the shops, thinking I was here with friends. That's her story—she knew full well they had already left.

They caught the man. He got two years in prison—TWO YEARS. After that, I ate and ate and ate. I craved love and affection but always looked in the wrong places.

Mum died a couple of years ago—drugs, yep.

So, here I am, the last one standing.

Life... oh, what a life.

            -  -  -

Bertha refocused on the TV, releasing a heavy sigh.

She noticed a message flash up on her phone.
It was the boyfriend saying he was on his way round.

Rummaging through her handbag, Bertha grabbed some mascara and lipstick.
A swift makeover followed, then, standing up, she shook herself down and placed a smile upon her face.

The doorbell rang.

"Hello, Babe, you **** *******. Get ya **** in here.."

Alone I sit as my memory fades,
together we were a couple set adrift;
At first everything seemed so right,
then anger and hurt disrupted our ship.

We floated along the sea in our sailboat,
not a care in the world, nor even one regret;
As the wind blew carelessly all around,
our smiles and kisses were sweet and sound


After our trip we drank a toast to love,
a satisfied feeling from the stars above;
And when we hugged as we left the skiff,
no one could have expected an explosive rift.

In the early morning I realized he had gone,
his sudden outburst exploded as he rambled on;
I didn't know he would change his ways,
when our spirits were high and romance remained.

So long, summer friend, you fooled my heart,
bereft I sat wondering why we were swept apart;
Summer sun and ocean's waves can tantalize,
but the ending could lead to an unhappy surprise.