Larkin 25 - Once Bitten, Twice You Die! By Bronwyn Ellis

It'll be fine, He said with drink in hand, As his silent mousy lover, Looked helpless at her man, And as he contemplated where to sip another beer, His misses wondered if tomorrow she would still be here. She eyeballed the knuckles that tightly gripped his glass, And glimpsed them later hurtling towards her broken face, Another set of lies to explain those dirty bruises, But her heart was scarred the most despite what anybody says. It'll be fine, He said with drink in hand, He couldn't tell a soul the truth, They wouldn't understand, And as he tried to kid himself it wouldn't end in tears, He dug the wife her grave, and bought another round of beers. His eyes met with hers and he witnessed the panic, Then later they met again before he punched them closed, Another set of lies to explain those purple circles, But despite his guilty conscience, it was her who hurt the most. It'll be fine, He reassured his friends, Even though he knew, That he would never make amends, And though he hated what he'd done he couldn't find the tears, He'd purged himself from crying with a punch bag through the years. He never could see through the eyes that once feared him, He blinded his sight, though he thought he knew best, Another set of lies to explain the rose-wood coffin, The gentle heart he'd broken now in everlasting rest.

Copyright ©2010  Bronwyn Ellis

Poetry Bring It On! By Mike Watts

I cracked open Two double-yolkers Sent them sliding Across the pan Then I began to butter Some bread cakes To the left of me Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Pigeon By Terry Ireland

I am one of the pigeons that live on wilberforce's head which in pigeon meritocracy puts me near the top between those on the city and guildhalls and those on the better type of shop. I got this position by birthright we've been here since 19 and 10 in spite of attempts to remove us Read more...

Poetry - Somewhere In Between By Jody McKenna

In the darkness of the room I feel the melancholy gloom. I'm just a loner in a tomb Making a bold step on the moon But no-one gets me. Whereas, the light beneath the sun That makes the rest of us become The mundane workers on a run Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 - Scatter Me (for TFG) By Pamela Scobie

Oh, scatter me over the umber Humber Under a hurrying sky, On a dark day in December Or a turbulent July. For longer than I can remember I've been preparing to die. I want to go back to wherever it was I came from in 'forty-nine. Read more...

Poetry Unblinking Moon By John Horsley

There are tears in the eyes of the man in the moon For he fears he may lose his loved one soon - She is Earth, his only friend in space, And for millions of years he has looked on her face. How plain and ordinary he feels As round Earth's horizons the sunrise steals, And floods his beloved in dazzling light Read more...

Poetry M.S By Charlotte Bartle

It was your smile I noticed first, Drawing me in To unchartered territory - Unknown to not only me, But I think To you as well. I said Read more...

Poetry - The Liver Poem By Joe Hakim

C'mon mate, why do you treat me so bad? I mean, look at the state of you, how many have you had? And what's the plan tonight - ten pints, twenty fags, a kebab? If you keep this up, we'll both end up in rehab. Why are you being like this? We're supposed to be friends, I'm one of the things on which your life depends, Read more...

Poetry - Hull By Laurenceaux.

Hull is not a rat-race. Hull is a nice place. Hull is not chav-town Hull has thrice a crown: a king's town. Kingston Upon Hull; Larkin land, full or Tigers, Robins and Airlie birds, Read more...

Poetry - I Love You in that Jumper By Catherine Scott

I love you in that jumper The fitting is just right It's not too long and it's not too tight And the colour's not too bright. I love you in that jumper You look so snug and huggable So gorgeous, warm and lovable Read more...

Poetry - Dandelion Wins! By Cathie McCarthy

I, the dandelion Blowing in the gentle winds Floating seeds Cascading on the spring air Finding pastures new Settled on April's wet soil Waiting to start anew Read more...

Poetry - Matriarchy, or Suitable Male Heir Lacking By Ruth

Just a girl running home after school. Bounding up stairs in sensible shoes. Responsibilities few: Be seen and not heard! Wrestling Elders' expectations; Not comprehending 'cultivation'. Read more...

Poetry A Yellow Ball By Mike Watts

Kneeling beside him On the tiled floor, My throat tightened. This was it. Whispering stuff, I buried my face Into his neck. That smell - Old, arthritic loyalty: Read more...

Poetry - Dying Forests By Dayne Coyne
	Dying Tree Dying forest Dying planet No life upon it There are no futures for this world Sorry Dying trees Dying forest Read more...

Poetry - Lining Rhymes in Hell By Paul England

Back in 96 damn I lost my head shit I fell apart when I found a brother dead Friends they sold me out while fools they sold me short well tell them fools I'm back cos the devil won't be taught Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 -The Hands of Time By Malcolm Wilson Bucknall

Etched and wrinkled by the winds, Tormenting as they drift. Elements of time have scarred Faces of granite cliffs. Whipped and lashed by angry crests That leap up from the sea, Faces of gaunt granite rocks Grimace their misery. Read more...

Poetry Squid By Christy Hall

The hook still snagged in its alien-like gob, I gut the squid, slob, laid to rest: a rubbery slab, quick-death, done-job. A squabble of tentacles, its own busy head crest. Arrow-shaped head cut from hood cavity. Next the beak, squid-man incommunicado. His sea-words and song left to me, Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Love's Vigil By Brian Hodgins

Little old lady standing there Eyes of blue and silvery hair Pavement glistens with winter's frost A vigil kept for the love you lost He sailed away one early dawn To break your heart, left to mourn Dark curly hair, a smiling face A lover's kiss, a last embrace Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Help for the Heroes By Patricia Gray

Come on help the Heroes, give your fifty pences When will the government come to its senses? They're sent into battle and give of their blood In a war far away, does it do any good? Blindness, deafness, serious amputations Limitless gratitude owed by the nations They're sent into a war and they give of their best Read more...

Poetry - All Because of Him By Katelyn Langston

	There's pain, there's hurt, and there's suffering All because of him There's habits that can't be broken, and heartache All because of him There's been friendships broken, and memories demolished All because of him There's been tears of joy, and tears of sorrow All because of him Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Girls Night Out By Liz Healey

It's girl's night out Rita gave me the shout, We're off on a crawl down road It's always all right On a Saturday night With a dry white wine and soda. Sheree's a bit down, She shops around town Since her job went bust at Croda. Read more...

Poetry - Events and Things By Terry Ireland

This took place in gentler times As one of my age knows When folks actually smoked at work Before our Nanny State arose That bird in the short, short skirt Leans over the copying machine As I try to tear my Eyes Away Read more...