'I was no longer sure he was joking –
all these faces appearing on the air,
held at the tipping point where the dim light
strung them up like photographs
above a ground that continued to refuse them ... '

iambapoet.com/wave/24-tom...

'Her mother’s moods swim, slow carp.
Her mother’s blue scarf hangs from a hook.
The girl’s fingers curl round the handle

of the back door. She carries two deer,
sand in their joints.'

iambapoet.com/wave/24-sop...

' ... seven years ago my little pony had an infected molar
witness to bodily extraction on the other end of the rope
held it slack, the pony he stayed more still when he
knew he could run ... '

iambapoet.com/wave/24-rac...

'One more blot
to bloat the image

of a boy’s tobacco
touch improvising
on my ten

year old fanny
as if it was a junk
yard flute.'

iambapoet.com/wave/24-pra...

'When I attempt
to atomise, when
I’m a ball of spine
and flinging small
dogs from my throat
across bathroom
tile, figure womb
before as a light
membrane
of a forgotten
sock ... '

iambapoet.com/wave/24-pho...

'There was a rocking horse, badged school blazers,
savings in the bank, unwrinkled
plastic smiles of vigilance, always ready
for sudden hands descending through the ceiling

or random soldiers at the breakfast table.'

iambapoet.com/wave/24-mor...

' ... thrusting hips low,
working the beat, the strap of my cami
slipping off my shoulder as I loll on the bonnet
of Zoe’s dad’s car – Zoe’s dad’s eyes
glued to the tarmac as he fumbles
for his keys – I said watch me.
Just watch me.'

iambapoet.com/wave/24-lau...

'Something gefährlich about his stiffened
finger clasp, fists grasping at oval bone
no shimmer space between your split shapes
your swirls boldly blocked by black, silver, gold.'

iambapoet.com/wave/24-kat...

'The entirety of what you say after Daughter drops.

Was it I’m sorry?

forget-me-nots bloom
wild grasses lay down their blades
westerly clouds drift away'

iambapoet.com/wave/24-kar...

'I’ll match your inward quiet, breath for breath.
What else do we have but words and their absences

to bind and unfasten the knotwork of the heart;
to remind us how mutual and alone we are ... '

iambapoet.com/wave/24-joh...

'Even our blood is noisy,
itching with wishes and achievement
because we’re seventeen,
bright and brilliant
in this beautiful snow blanket
we dress ourselves in
for a night; kiss and talk,
fuck forever.'

iambapoet.com/wave/24-hol...

'And eyes glittery glassy angry and arty
doe eyes duck eyes don’t give a f*ck eyes
eyes that are troubled and muddy as puddles
or shiny as stars translucent as bubbles ... '

iambapoet.com/wave/24-gil...

'At the funeral,
they stand straight-armed,
unmoved. Thousands of souls
have taken their last journey
on these round shoulders,
their breath like shire horses
in the frosty sunlight.'

iambapoet.com/wave/24-ewa...

'The current trend is wild animals, lots of green. It is gender-neutral,
which is welcome, but I worry that the fondant tigers are judging me.'

iambapoet.com/wave/24-eli...