track 2 - Not so void

Both sides of the road are lined with row after row of sickeningly perfect houses with identical hedges flawlessly trimmed out-front. It's at that hour in time when it is neither day nor night and she asks herself, “is the sun setting or is the moon rising?”
The slight chill of autumn permeates her little red anorak, and she pulls it tightly against her small frame hoping that it will shield her from the harsh reality of life.

She stares at her black patent leather shoes as a lone teardrop bounces off their shiny surface, and in that single moment she is reminded of how alone she is.
This realisation reverberates through her like the echo of crashing cymbals; numbing all emotion, slowly anaesthetising all feeling.
Her mind is at war with her heart and she struggles to decide who is right. Logic tells her to face the truth and move on; instinct tells her to run and hide.

As she approaches the cemetery, red autumn leaves begin to mournfully float down around her, as if to console and prepare her for the burial.
Dejected familiar figures clothed in black give way, allowing her to pay her final respects. And as they lower her mother’s casket eight feet into the earth, a cool soothing breeze drifts by, assuring her that although things weren’t going to be easy, they would somehow be ok.

Room in New York

Clarence: Penelope?

Penelope: hmmm?

Clarence: I’ve been meaning to ask you this for some time now…

Penelope: (gulps deeply and refuses to look him in the eye) wh-what?

Faces her and Gets down on one knee pulling out a small velvet box from his pocket

Clarence: Will you do me the honour of making me the happiest man alive by becoming my wife?

Penelope’s eyes widen in shock as she physically recoils

Penelope: clearance, please don’t do this

Clarence: why not? I’ve never felt this way about anybody before; you make me so happy-

Penelope: it wasn’t suppose to happen like this, I -

Clarence: Is it that you need more time? Because I can wait

Penelope: No it’s just... You were the only one I had left and-

Clarence: I know, the fact that we both lost all of our family members proves that we’re supposed to be together… don’t you love me?

Penelope: I-I do, but there’s something you should know abo-

Clarence: then what’s the problem? Do you want me to-

Penelope: Listen! I can’t marry you because I’m your cousin! (Begins to sob)

(Pause)

Clarence: n-no, this can’t be happening, we-

Penelope: the day we met I knew that I had finally found you, I just wanted to get to know you a little better; I had no one to turn to

Clarence: but we… and we…

Penelope: Clarence I’m so sorry

Clarence walks to the window and sits precariously on the ledge

Penelope: (walks slowly towards him) I didn’t mean for this to happen

Penelope tries to take his hand

Clarence: don’t touch me! (Clarence violently snatches his hand back and in doing so he falls to his death)

happily ever after

Prince has just rescued his beloved princess from an evil sorceress

Prince: [Embraces princess] from this point on we shall live happily ever after [clears his throat] my love

Princess: I suppose so d-darling

Prince: [steps out of embrace] I’m sorry; I can’t go on with this façade any longer

Princess: You too?

Prince: [sighs] ever since I was a little boy all I’ve ever known is sword fighting and slaying dragons, in hopes that one day I’d rescue my one true love … my princess

Princess: I can relate; balancing books on my head and wearing tiaras practically summarises my life.

Prince: but hasn’t this cliché run a bit past it’s sell by date? Princess is in danger, prince rescues her, and they live happily ever after, the end

Princess: [nods in agreement] why do our parents find it so difficult to understand that the method our ancestors used to get engaged just doesn’t work these days, we’re perfectly capable of finding someone we want to marry by ourselves

Prince: I agree but who are we to change a tradition that’s been going on for hundreds of years; I don’t know about you, but last time I tried to rebel my father banished me to the dungeon of doom [shudders]

Princess: [chuckles] if I ever tried to rebel I think my mum would lock me in a chastity belt and throw away the key

Prince: [winces] why don't we try and confront our parents together?

Princess: erm... I don’t think I’m that brave

Prince: We’d have to convince them that we’re capable of finding our own partners; all we need is a chance

Princess: Or… we could give them an ultimatum – 12 months to get engaged or we marry each other

Prince: [Smirks] yeah, I think that might work because no offence but your not my type… now Cinderella, I’d slay a thousand dragons for her

Princess: [shoves him then shakes her head] idiot

The least suspected: Prudence & Patience

Two sisters attend a funeral – they talk privately about the deceased

Prudence: So [pause] what do we do now?

Patience: nothing

Prudence: what do you mean “nothing”; we can’t just leave things as they are

Patience: Why not? Alice always told us to leave well enough alone right? [Pause]

Prudence: I’m not sure, I mean, do you think we did the right thing?

Patience: You’re not having second thoughts are you? [pause] Listen, we did what we had to; think of it as survival of the fittest - It was either her or us

Prudence: but …

Patience: but what?

Prudence: she was our…our sister [pause]

Patience: that doesn’t make what she did any less malicious

Prudence: but that didn’t give us the right to do this - She made a mistake!

Patience: Yeah, a mistake that cost her her life

Prudence: Are you really going to be able to live with yourself?

Patience: I clearly recall that you were a willing participant at the time, why the sudden change of heart

Prudence: Alice didn’t deserve this, it was a mistake… she made a mistake [pause] and so did we

Patience: All we can do now is face the facts and move on

Prudence: Move on! We killed our sister and you want me to “face the facts and move on”! [Pause] Who are you?

Patience: [sigh] where do we go from here then - what do we do now? [Pause]

Prudence: Nothing

sixth sense ?

23 year old male slumped in a solitary armchair in the middle of a dim lighted room; his face remains in the shadows.

I have this thing you know, you can’t pull the wool over my eyes, doesn’t matter how infectious your fake smiles and personality are - I’m immune to it all. I can easily suss out any shady character, there’ll just be something about you that doesn’t sit right with me - it could be a slight expression, a look in your eyes and I’ll just know, trust me I’m never wrong .

(Sinks further back into the chair and crosses one leg over the other while forming a steeple with his hands)

One person that I continually had a problem with was my twin brother; it was all in his eyes you see.

There was always this creeping suspicion where he was concerned. I remember when we were in our teens; he thought it’d be cool to experiment with smoking, the next thing you know I’m “accidentally” locked in my room where a cigarette my brother had supposedly “stomped out” managed to set fire to my carpet - I barely escaped with my life but I’ll never forget the look in his eyes when he came to visit me at the hospital - it was then that I knew. That experience was just one of many to come; I survived them all and they only made me stronger but the scars still remain.

The last straw was when he forced himself on my fiancée, I knew what he was trying to do - he’d failed in getting to me so he got to the person closest to me – the bastard.

Like I said there was always something fishy about him

(He leans into the light revealing a mangled mass of twisted scar tissue eclipsing his left cheek)

I think it’s rather fitting that he’s presently swimming with the fishes in the river Thames – or should I say floating.

(He chuckles deeply)

don’t you?

Almost Broken

Your Deadly Needle Punctures violently
My heart absorbs the pain; ingests the lies
Its Venom spreads afar, consuming me
Apparently you do enjoy my cries
The veil is gone and all I see is trash
I wish I could escape this shrinking cage
If only I could burn your lies to ash
I’m sure I could move on and turn the page
Although I’m doomed forever by your curse
I won’t give you a chance to view my strife
I’m ill, my heart is torn and there’s no nurse
But still I’m quite relieved that I have life
I can’t believe I thought our love was pure?
But Through the pain and hurt I will endure

confessions of a broken heart

Exercise 1: iambic pentameters

I’m glad I could escape your clingy web
The truth was found beneath a shield of lies
I hate the fact that I was so naïve

Exercise 2: trochaic tetrameters

Brainwashed; you were my obsession
Tempted by your male charisma
Blinded; couldn’t see the damage

Exercise 3: dactylic trimeters

I’ll never make the same misjudgment
Cautious and scared to trust anyone
You left my heart clothed in scars and burns

Exercise 4: Anapestic Dimeters

Now I’m free of your spell
I can live my own life
My whole world’s looking bright

Exercise 5: Quatrain; abab; iambic pentameters

Although I’m free from your abusive grip
I can’t forget the hell you put me through
That’s why sometimes I let a few tears slip
No pill can cure this pain induced by you


Exercise 6: Quatrain; abab; anapestic tetrameter/anapestic trimeter/anapestic tetrameter/anapestic trimeter.

I just wish you could feel what it’s like to be slain
By the one that you love and adore
But I know that fate will give you all of the pain
You deserve and a few troubles more

Confessions of a Broken Heart

Exercise 1: iambic pentameters

I’m glad I could escape your clingy web
the truth was found beneath a shield of lies
I hate the fact that I was so naïve

Exercise 2: trochaic tetrameters

Brainwashed; you were my obsession
tempted by your male charisma
blinded; couldn’t see the damage

Exercise 3: dactylic trimeters

I’ll never make the same misjudgement
cautious and scared to trust anyone
you left my heart clothed in scars and burns

Exercise 4: Anapestic Dimeters

Now I’m free of your spell
I can live my own life
my future’s looking bright

Exercise 5: Quatrain; abab; iambic pentameters

Although I’m free from your abusive grip
I can’t forget the hell you put me through
That’s why sometimes I let a few tears slip
Pills won’t cure this heartache induced by you

Exercise 6: Quatrain; abab; anapestic tetrameter/anapestic trimeter/anapestic tetrameter/anapestic trimeter.

I just wish you could feel what it’s like to be slainby the one that you love and adore
But I know karma will give you all of the pain
You deserve and a few troubles more

crime of no sight

My heart is pumping. Thudding, pounding, beating faster like a bass drum. I’m panting, gasping, struggling to catch my breath. All I can hear is the blood thumping through my ears and the distant sound of sirens fats approaching, the lower part of my body, moving of its own accord, desperately trying to escape. Questions that I have no answers to are bombarding my mind. Why are they after me? What have I done? Where am I going? Who am I? I don’t know why I’m running; I just know that something in my blood is telling me that I need to get as far away from here as possible. Some may call it a sixth sense, but in my case it’s a fifth.

The unmistakeable sound of loud, punishing thunder is instantly followed by a burst of merciless rain. It comes gushing down in sheets upon sheets, soaking through my clothes, and beating down lashes upon my hunched back. At this moment shelter is the one and only thing on my mind.
All thoughts of shelter vanish as I realize that the sirens behind me don’t seem as far away as they had been before. My only two options? Find somewhere to hide and be protected from the abusive rain as well as my captors; or surrender.
The police are in dangerously close range now, tires screeching, engines roaring, voices yelling: “Oi!” “You!” “Stop right there!” before I know it I’m on my hands and knees, crawling as fast as I can manage without getting injured.
Unexpectedly a sharp pain bulldozes its way through my skull, and the sounds of car doors opening, people running and unknown voices fade into nothing.

I’m startled awake by the sound of a door slamming shut and footsteps coming towards me as I lay on the bed. The unknown person crouches down to my level; “we’ll try this again shall we?”
Immediately I am alert due to the putrid smell of tobacco and stale coffee that invades my nostrils.
“What happened on Friday July 13th at number 3 Frockwed road?”
“I’ve told you once and I’ve told you twice, I don’t know! I’ve lost my damn memory!”
“So are you telling me that you don’t know anything about the pen knife found around your neck when you were caught?”
“What part of memory loss don’t you understand?”
“Fine have it your way” he spits in my ear “but believe me when I say you will talk”, “it’s only a matter of time”.
The door snaps shut and I am left alone once again feeling like a helpless caged bird. I’ve been here for two days now; racking my brain for a solution to the odd and confusing predicament I have found myself in. so far I can tell that I’ve been imprisoned in a small room which has one door, one medium sized window, and a bed. The window is my only means of escape, unluckily for me the window is very high up, I sigh as I hear the beeping car horns and faint voices that come from below.

An overwhelming wave of hopelessness and grief washes over me; it drains me of every ounce of energy left remaining my body. I slump back down on the bed and burry my head in the pillows attempting to imagine that it’s all a dream, and it isn’t long before I doze off.
Memories that have eluded me for the last few days come flooding back, a penknife; my penknife, the unforgettable smell of blood on my hands, the gut wrenching screams for help, I remember it all. My name is Naomi Phillips, I’m 16 years old, and I am faced with the unassailable truth that I have killed my mother.
You may think I’m mad for doing it and I don’t care, I’m proud to say that it was most definitely not an accident.
I remember that ill-fated evening as if it were yesterday. It all began when I was walking past my mother’s bedroom and I heard her sobbing on the phone.
“It’s Naomi… she’s not like the other children”
At those words I freeze, my blood starts to boil, and my heart begins an erratic hammer in my chest. “I’ve tried and I’ve tried but I just can’t- I can’t… love her!”
My lips start to tremble uncontrollably and I feel like a dam has burst inside my head as stinging tears pour down my cheeks.
“I knew I should have given her up for adoption the minute I found out about her condition”
“I don’t think I can take...
My mother didn’t get to finish off the sentence because at that moment all the bitterness, hurt and anger that I’d kept bottled up came exploding out of me like a volcano.

Not having any control over myself I grab the penknife from around my neck and slit her throat, I’m not fazed by her screams of agony or her blood splattering across my face.
I wait until there is silence and as I stand above her lifeless body my shuddering legs give way beneath me as I faint.

I awaken abruptly and sit up on the bed; instantly I am aware that I’m not alone.
“You remember don’t you” growls a gruff voice from the corner of the room, I reluctantly nod my head.
“Why did you do it?”
“Do you have any idea of what it’s like to be blind?”
“Do you know what it’s like to hear about clear blue skies and rainbows but never see them?”
“I’ve learnt to live with it, after all I had no choice, and somewhere deep inside me I think I always knew that my mother couldn’t handle my blindness; I simply decided to put her out of her misery and I have no regrets”.

part of me

Part of me is always bright – the darkness never shown
Part of me’s a floating kite – I fly but I’m alone
Part of me is winter’s frost – the ice runs through my veins
Part of me’s fading, I’m lost – nothing inside remains
Part of me is teary – I let the river flow
Part of me is theory – there’s nothing I don’t know
Part of me is oh so sweet – your favourite dessert
Part of me’s unbreakable,
But most of me is hurt.

Part of me is a charade – all things aren’t what they seem
Part of me is a façade – my surface falsely gleams
Part of me you’ll never know – you see me in disguise
Part of me is all for show – It seems like I am wise
Part of me is bound in chains – I try, but can’t break free
Part of me has no real aims – can some one please help me?
Part of me’s oh so charming – some say that I’m a flirt
Part of me’s rather vengeful
But most of me is hurt.

Family Warfare

The ear shattering silence is suspiciously unnerving, and there is no doubt about the obvious volcanic currents brewing beneath its immaculate surface. The grandfather clock is idly ticking away, totally oblivious to the bloody battle that inexorably draws nearer with every little jerk of its hands.
The clock chimes eight and I wince as my heart violently convulses; the peal reminiscent of a bell before a boxing match, I stare on in dread as my father takes his corner and my mother reluctantly takes hers.
My little sibling is gazing at me with his bottom lip trembling in terror; he is too young to fully understand why my father and my mother can’t help but to partake in this daily sparring match.

The fear and panic swirling in the depths of my mother’s eyes are apparent, as my father opens his mouth and fires sharp bullets of verbal abuse and expletives at her with palpable force.
She bears the hit like that of a true soldier and fires back with her own damaging grenades full of corrosive wounding words coming from her heart.
Seeing the challenge in my mother’s eyes my father seems surprised at her boldness, but he immediately recovers from the shock and prepares to bombard her with his biggest attack yet.
My mother doesn’t give him a chance as she lays her own nuclear mine in his path; the explosion that comes from this confrontation results in the instant destruction of the happy family image that we had all strived to achieve.
They both cease fire acutely aware of the devastating wreck that they have caused.
I glance at my brother who is clinging to my side with tears rolling down his pudgy cheeks, and I know that the damage done here today is irreversible.

My father and my mother stand still, both panting and both glaring accusingly into the eyes of the other.
My father is the first to break the stare realising that my mother has become just as tough as him in battle.
He turns stiffly on his heal and retreats.

Rafta Rafta haiku's

Atul
Boy not yet a man
Cannot give my wife the gift
I’m incompetent

Eeshwar
Respect is my right
Dilute worries with strong drink
Will not be beaten

Lopa
Can’t escape my past
Eeshwar is my husband now
Trying to move on

Jai
I’ll never have her
Forced to love her from afar
She wants atul why?

Vina
My husband, my love
Wish I could get through to him
He just won’t listen

Laxman
I’m so proud of her
She’s still my little daughter
Oh I’m so lonely

Lata
he just cares for her
The love between us is lost
Where did things go wrong

I know you, I need you & I love you

I know you like a mother knows her child
I know you like a lion knows the wild
I know you like green peppers know they’re mild
I know you
Just like I know the back of my hand
And, I need you
I know you like the blossoms know its spring
I know you like royalty knows a king
I know you like Kate Nash knows how to sing
I know you
Nearly as much as you know me,
You were meant to be, with me
Because you see
I need you

I need you like an arrow needs a bow
I need you like all flowers need to grow
I need you like a strong wind needs to blow
I need you
Almost as much as I need food
Or when I’m in a bad mood, I turn to you
And it’s because I love you
I need you like a padlock needs a key
I need you like biscuits and cake need tea
I need you like a bird needs to be free
To soar and glide through the sky
Not stopping till it gets way high
I need you
Simply because I love you

I love you like a toddler loves to play
I love you like blue cheese loves to decay
I love you like my mum loves a buffet
I love you
And it’s true
I cannot live my life without you
I love you like a bat loves the night-time
I love you like a snail loves to leave slime
I love you like all thieves and thugs love crime
I love you
And the best part of it is
You know, need, and love me too.

stress is

Stress is a vice that continues to tighten
Stress is a stain that refuses to lighten
Stress is a beast; always ready to frighten
Stress is …

Stress is a voice that’s relentlessly hounding
Stress is a black hole; there is no rebounding
Stress is a drum that is constantly pounding
Stress is ….

Stress is a burden; the weight on your shoulders
Stress is a file, way to massive for folders
Stress is a mountain with stampeding boulders
Stress is…

Stress is a word but for some it’s a sick curse
Stress is an illness and it only gets worse
Stress is a wound, one you surely cannot nurse
Stress is …

Stress is a nuisance; unwanted and painful
Stress is a force that is callous and baneful
Stress is the reason I’m blue (and that’s shameful!)
Stress is …

Debut

I gaze into your eyes perplexed by the cold callous emotion lurking within
You sigh then begin to murmur but stop.
The air between us is thick and heavy with unspoken tension,
I look fixedly into your eyes once again, trying to decipher the message that you refuse to deliver.
My eyes widen in shock because it is instantaneously clear.
I bow my head concealing the acrimonious tears that threaten to spill,
and as I break into a cold sweat, my blood painfully explodes through my arteries.
I feel my chest violently constrict,
And I know my heart is broken.

Debut

My heart beats fast my blood pumps hard I pant I wheeze I need to
Stop…
And breathe.
I can’t go on I need to rest I have no strength I sloooooow dooooooown like a worn old car
Oh but I can’t… if I could just…
Stop…
And think.
Think of the prize think of the end I must go on, go on to win
All eyes are on me I know this is it. I spEEd Up I feel like I’ve been charged
I can see it I’m so close yes I’ve done it at last I can
Stop.

Take heed from my friend who’s no more…

Kate believed she had fat legs and tummy
How I wish I could see through her eyes
She refused to eat food of the choicest cuisines
It’s her mirror that’s telling her lies.

“Please listen to me” I once pleaded
“You must stop this sick bodily harm”
But still she was sure that she was overweight
While my pen was compared to her arm

A few months have now passed and she’s haggard
Her school jumper engulfs her thin frame
She’s grown slimmer and weaker but now she is ill
And the doctor said Kate is to blame

On that Sunday news came from Kate’s mother
The news changed the course of my whole day
All I could do was to lay down and cry, mourning
My best friend Kate has just passed away

So I say to all girls who are out there
Take care of yourself it’s not a chore
Please don’t go down that path it’ll only kill you
And Take heed from my friend who’s no more

Emma & Robert (EDIT)

Robert: I can’t say that I’m shocked you were untrue.
Emma: the love we shared has passed its sell by date.
Robert: you tore my heart and now I’m filled with rue.
Emma: I longed to tell you but it was too late.
Robert: you went behind my back with my best friend!
Emma: he seemed to care more than you ever did.
Robert: for you I would have done a full back bend!
Emma: this pent up love you felt for me, you hid.
Robert: I see you are a cold hard stupid whore.
Emma: how dare you call me names it isn’t fair!
Robert: just pack your bags and walk straight out the door.
Emma: you fail to understand; see if I care.
Robert: please stay away and I will be okay.
Emma: I never wanted it to end this way.

Emma & Robert

Robert: I can’t say that I’m shocked you were untrue.
Emma: the love we had has passed it’s sell by date.
Robert: you tore my heart and now I’m filled with rue.
Emma: I wished to tell you but it was too late.
Robert: you went behind my back with my best friend!
Emma: he seemed to care more than you ever did.
Robert: for you I would have done a full back bend!
Emma: this pent up love you felt for me, you hid.
Robert: I see you are a cold hard stupid whore.
Emma: how dare you call me names it isn’t fare!
Robert: just pack your bags; be gone out of the door.
Emma: you fail to understand, see if I care.
Robert: I won’t be hurt again on from this day.
Emma: I never wanted it to end this way.

you betrayed me but i'm ok

you stole my heart right from my chest
told me you'd cherish it
oh how naive i must have been
for now my heart you've split
we used to be joined at the hip
like two peas in a pod
but now i can't stand to be seen
with such a selfish sod