The tiniest gift
wrapped in wrinkled skin
eyes closed, softly breathing.

Fragile fingers grasp mine tightly, forming bonds and sealing pacts.

My heart leaps at the sight of your button nose.Your blossom cheeks, velvet soft, draw kisses from my lips with ease.

I gaze at your brow and wonder at your dreams.
There is no purer love than this.

Here I belong
amongst the rugged greys and guillemots
my heart in league with the furious sea
as it lashes the desolate shore.

Cries, mournful in their lament
soar through smothered skies
bearing tales of wrecks and lost lobster pots
empty now of precious cargo
ghostly on the ocean floor.

Salt air swirls and dips above the churning foam,
bringing stinging cold to ruddy cheeks and numbed hands.
A distant bell chimes as tides caress barnacled bows
lost at once within the swirling mists
that lay their sheen upon the dusk.

Love tore my throat in moment fleeting
as crimson heralded the dawn
a pretty penny paid his choosing,
then left my little ones to mourn.

My mind recalls his treasured whispers
while here I lay in sweet decay
cursed by the nature of my Mister,
now hidden from the light of day.

Though worms they feed upon my beauty
and soil has caked my raven hair
my soul remains in chains beside him,
on darkest nights he feels me there.

In terror now he wakes from dreaming
my name a scream that fills the room
his eyes meet mine and sweetly smiling
I pull him down to meet his doom.

Would you sell your soul for smiling
count my worth in copper coins
lay in darkness everlasting
trapped within these mortal *****

Push against the pins of daylight
lest their glory guide your eyes
away from me until the twilight
brings the pain of dark desire.

Tear at flesh and mark your longing
there upon my yearning breast
rid my heart of others wanting
until you are all that's left.

I fell in love with The Smiths
before anything else.
Ever since,
all affection is met with
sheer inadequacy,
and a near insufferable sadness.

Free flow the waters
of the river passing by,
though we thought
we'd caught her sleeping
when we heard their lullaby,
and though
with a thousand bridges
we bound her where she lay
still her waters pass like lifetimes
and we watch them slip away.