The Dragon Tree - James Willis

In fertile fired fissures grown
The weirdest wonders ever known,
But the strangest single sight to see
Is the rare Canarian Dragon Tree.

This agricultural aged delight
Spreads its limbs to heaven’s height,
Its ariel arteries grow, but slow,
To root, again, in the ground below.

A branch is born and grows, intact,
Another sprouts, to counteract,
Balance and ballast and buttress combine
In an Archimedean spiral design.

The sap that oozes from broken bark
Is rusty red, to leave its mark.
Medicinal remedy lore is rife
Of Dragon ‘blood’ enhancing life.

Disputed dates, debated wide,
Rumour oft retains its pride.
The sight emits emotion, strong,
The centuries seem to roll along.

Tales are told, of time and size,
Of great gatherings of the wise,
Who met and massed within the girth
Of the amazing oldest tree on Earth!

James Willis

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - Alec Jackson

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are;
A million light-years from my sky,
Your flame still burning when mine must die.

But greater yet I incandesce,
A glow more potent than you possess,
For though my span of years is few,
My life, each day, is made anew.

And constant; giving; you may be,
My heart shall feel, my eyes shall see,
The love I pass, for whom I care,
I hold them close, a rare sweet fare

So glower, star, from your distant space,
Your beams across the darkness race,
To where I stood eons ago,
Looking up at you, that you might know.

Alec Jackson

Owl - Stephen A. Roberts

Face like a radar
You swoop from above
Your target the vole
Anagram of love

Stephen A. Roberts

Sweet Pain - Karen Allaway

Sharp fine metal,
Attached to vessel,
Pierces the skin.
The thumb goes down and the vessel empties.
Exquisite pain is plunged into my back and travels down the nerve to my toe.
Who could imagine that this pain would feel so sweet but me?
The nerve bulges waiting to explode but no, wait.
Numbness envelopes my leg like millions of tiny tentacles.
The pain recedes apart from point of entry.
Not once but thrice this has to be endured.
And now lie in wait.
I wait for the shots to take their effect

Karen Allaway

Loving Mother - Alec Jackson.

The leggy blonde stands outside the pub,
Her glistening peroxide perm quivers, slightly,
A breeze strokes her thighs, a shiver.
She begins, strutting her stuff,
Forward, back,
Back, forward.

Virginal white lace smooths her body, pulled tight; a wonder bra.
Leggings cling, the chalice awaits,
The dowry, dry pleasure,
You know, love stuff,
Forward, back,
Back, forward.

Handbag bulges, a purse, make-up case,
hand mirror, fags, condoms, soap,
A few intimate things,
Photo of her kid,
Strut stuff,
Forward, back,
Back, forward.

Home; she checks her kid, caresses his brow,
hair out of eyes while sleep engulfs,
Purse full of cash, till her pimp comes,
Love, strut your stuff,
Stuff your strut, love.
Forward, back,
Back, forward.

Alec Jackson