Lilith's Daughter

Mummy's entertaining uncle. I can hear her through the wall. I've never
seen my latest uncle, but I draw pictures of them all. Turn them into
little models, line them up along the hall - stick a pin in (Hear him
scream behind the wall!) That's how mummy gets her kicks, she showed me
all the tricks. She knows the symbols, says the nicest things... Now i'm
plunging pins while uncle plunges in.

Eye Contact

Toothpaste on his collar, there were creases in his shirt. And someone
stabbed a fag out on his coat. It made a hole. It didn't hurt. He never
noticed, squashed inside the train, the elbows in his ribs. Complaints
and smells of garlic perspiration, as the stations flew. No-one talked,
no-one looked.

His face turned china blue, he tried to push, he couldn't move. He tried
to scream no sound came through. Was heaving, bleeding from the inside.
He died... still standing. No-one noticed, no-one cared.

They'd steal a glance, but never stare. It never pays to stare.

Lady Sunshine

Tears appear, and lines are showing. China Doll is alone. The TV
screams, the candle's glowing - he disconnects the phone.

Maybe sometime, he'll be happy. Troubles drift away. Lady Sunshine on
Strawberry Sundays. He even knows her name.

Throws a clock, there's time to kill. He hears the doorbell ring. And
though they shout, he's sitting still. Pretends he isn't in.

Maybe sometime, he'll be happy. Troubles drift away. Lady Sunshine on
Strawberry Sundays. He even knows her name.

Find The Lady

Free dominoes and poison darts piled in a cart. Your lucky day! you
choose your game, you pick a card, you find the lady, chase the ace.
It's double spades. She's staring straight at you and you know she knows
something you're not aware of, sees the shadow blocking out the sun.
Sees the column in the paper. In memorium. In your name. Sees you
sliding in the pit as preacher spits the blood out, hears the rats run
in the crypt. The congregation getting smaller - crosses stretch for
miles. A consecrated camp, a marble zoo and Anne Boleyn is shouting Boo!
(Because a ghost cannot applaud). The Lord is calling names. It's
Judgement Day. They're throwing garbage from the stalls, they're jeering
from the galleries as victims drop through trapdoors into hell.

Smell the burning, turning cards and spades are trumps, the trumpet's
playing as you're born again (you found your lady).

Requiem

Before I leave I thought I'd write you one last note.
Because the promise that I made was not a joke.
You simply humoured me, then walked out on me.
Hope you like the colour of the rope.

I know I've said it all before but never dared.
But on this occasion, everything's prepared.
I tidied up the flat, and I fed the cat.
Even took the time to comb my hair.

And will I see my wretched life flash past my eyes?
Will a trace of what I did be left behind?
Or will they find a cave, dig an unmarked grave?
Perhaps I'll only see a thin blue line...

'Where were you when you were really needed?
You knew that I was bleeding.
I'd plead for some affection.
You reached for the rejection slip...
I slip away. Affectionately yours!'

Suicide Pact

Pick a straw, or spin the bottle. Spin the barrel. Draw. You're quicker
from the hip. And the trigger never sticks. But will you take it
further? Taste the metal, squeeze again, complete the bargain. Hold my
hand, as cities burn away. And children turn to ash in charcoal
gardens... will you pardon my concern? I think I'll catch the bullet in
my teeth, join the circus with the freaks. The bearded ladies, the
babies with a dozen heads, the jelly legs and the green albinos.
They're queuing at the door. So many more to choose from since the
world went up in flames. Forget the names, we're only faces in the
fire...

Paradise Then

She prayed but got the ansaphone, said 'God's not home, try later....'
Heard the tone, a trumpet call. Down came the walls and smashed her
skull. The lady strolled to Heaven, but the golden gates were locked.
The drains were blocked, the fountains wrecked, a ragged queue stretched
round the fence. And tents pitched, angels wearing leather - burning
broken harps. The ghetto blasters blasting Rimsky-Korsakov, distorted.
Waltzing naked to the pool, and casting lines and shooting pool on
plastic barges. Flashin g sign says 'Make a fortune! Take your time!' A
wine was free, the bar was busy, ladies easy - gave receipts. And angel
police would take a bribe, just quote the Bible, chapter, verse. And
curse the devil, curse his wife - the mice are playing, the cat's away!
Can let their hair down for a day - she prayed again and joined the
party!

Lisa's Funeral

Lisa lifted up the carpet, looking for cathedrals. Feeling evil. Watched
the crass glow on the wall, fixed the crossbow at the apple on his head.
China Christ was crying 'Mummy'. Ma Donna smiled and tugged the string a
second time.... Outside, the guide was filing tourists, following the
star. Took the money in a jar, blessed it twice, it turned to dust for
angels. Dipping straws and keeping scores as halos soared towards the
steeple. People cheered, the sponsors cleared a path and handed out
cigars which ticked and then exploded. Lisa caught a toe between her
teeth, pulled faces in the mirror. Shivered as the ghosts grinned back,
then wrapped her in a sack, and tipped her in the grave! Writhing,
shouting, turning grey and the devil whispered anagrams but Lisa
understood!

Atomic Roses

Fingers flex, and eyelash flickered. Someone's wicked joke. Could hear
him choking on his laughter as the limbs twitched in the smoke. But it
was just a spasm jive, because the only sign of life was in the cruel
and icy light of atomic roses.

Metal petals of a dozen beacons, beaming in the dark - to mark the last
resistance, the final protest (didn't leave a spark). Even pilgrims kept
their distance, vizors clamped, itching blisters. Shrank in lead suits
from the kiss of atomic roses.

And a figure cut the wire, padded barefoot through the field. Kneeled as
klaxons barked in anger. Guards appeared at windowsills. Tore their hair
in disbelief as a young girl danced beneath, bouquet clutched between
her teeth of atomic roses.

She laughed as thorns grew from her finger, pollen gathered in her hair.
And when she sang the bees responded, perfume lingered in her hair.
Sprinkled seeds, summoned thunder, drank the rain and watched in wonder
as around her sprang a hundred atomic roses.

And scented parcels rode on breezes. Dropped in deserts, dripped on
lawns. Lost in cities, laced the rivers. Brought a new light to the
dawn. With it, sickness flowed - crept insidious and slow, leaving just
the afterglow of atomic roses.

Moments

Watching stormclouds gather, from the beach - hands clutched tight together. Hear the siren howl for the last retreat to caverns underground. Bolt the doors ; Keep the sound away with pillows. Swallow pills. Heads are clutched between the knees. It only lasts a moment... Shall we do it here? Leave our clothes, tiptoe down the pier. And just the butler's peering, but he won't say what he saw. No-one's paying anymore, only us - we'll use our change. We'll play the rifle range, the space invaders. We'll steal a lemonade and sip it for just a moment. If it's really finished ; if the horror story is true and distant figures play with buttons ...well, I still have you. We'll lie her til the end. Let them send what they like. I have a feeling we'll survive for more than just a moment. For eternity. Our love can move a mountain, turn the ocean into wine, turn the sky into kaleidoscopes ; twist time. Going backwards 'til the first time. Let's live it once again -for more than just a moment...For eternity

Even Now

Mistakes were made and prices paid - The scars across your wrists. The twist inside - I know you're hiding. Even now. Have you changed? Do you forget? you still regret the day you met me - even now? You feel the bandage itching as you're sweating in the white light - feel the tethescope press down, even now? (Don't you think I feel it too, even now?) It had to be, and now I'm missing you and want to start again - we'll start with flowers and a row, even now! We'll never settle down... No never... even now...But still the fire's burning. It's burning just for you. Is it burning for me too, even now? We're locked-up for eternity.. locked together, even now...