solstice came

a flaccid flame

the sticky fevered

beast of blame

limp and lame

with crop to claim

the singularity

of shame

a man was made

of such brocade

within its gut

a child was laid

prayers conveyed

lust displayed

they'd sing the sun

a serenade

they danced, entwined

left sense behind

a sensual tango

depth defined

fates consigned

ye gods, be kind

the torch came forth

their faith outlined

burn, they said

the air turned red

fire cleanses

all that's dead

with ashes spread

where raindrops tread

the moon's platoon

put down its head

solstice went

a summer spent

praying for

what's heaven sent

such torment

such deep descent

such sacrifice

for nothing's scent...

he had spent all his life in the darkness

chained to the wall of a hole

they'd broken his sickening spirit

and nearly, but not quite, his soul

he knew there were others just like him

he'd heard them all scream in the night

they'd been there so long, and the binds were too strong

not worth what was left of their fight

pulled out at half four in the morning

so started his drudge of a day

smacked in the mouth, as a warning

no work, no food. (his 'pay')

he'd clean until even dirt sparkled

and hope it would be good enough

his hands were so raw; and he'd welcome the floor

if his hessian shirt weren't so rough

he dreaded the coming of weekends

he'd wish he had never been born

friday was 'anything goes' night

and his asshole would bleed until dawn

sometimes he'd try to remember

the life that he once might have led

his family and friends were just living loose ends

there were only those chains in his head

one day, he slept for far longer

than these bastards would cruelly allow

he woke up to the chiming of sirens

and the time to cry freedom was now

the police gently led him to safety

away from this torturous nest

past ma; stinking bad from a friday she'd had

and pa in his stringed sunday best

he had twenty five million questions

but he simply broke down and cried

when told of the seventeen others

how in the last hour; they had died

how, like him, they'd been taken

committed to their filth and clutch

he warmed to cop's talk, but he'd shiver and baulk

at what's known as the gentle touch

sometimes he'd see them in prison

to spit at their still smiling faces

and when he was done with destruction

he'd return to the blackest of places

he could find his way back through the darkness

push the doors of his displeasuredome

and here, he would weep, and eventually sleep

for they say you can never go home...

When the dust settles

and decomposes

Stinging nettles

choke the roses

Then corrosion takes

and won't give back

The skin it rakes

is bruised to black

When battles lost

are laid to rest

The mounting cost

is sent to test

Then wars you've won

are a memory

Hindsight's fun

but your enemy

When water cascades

down your face

And braveness fades

without disgrace

Then all you'll know

is how to cry

With nought to show

for asking why

When the rainbow ends

on your way home

Time twists, transcends

in monochrome

Then all your gods

are in your hand

You'll be at odds

but they'll understand...

i took a shit on his copy of the book

somewhere between apostles and acts

man, did he give me a dirty look

but i told him to face the facts

saints and angels alive, he said

fuckwit, i replied, you should know

that they're decidedly disco dead

martyrs to the afterglow

he asked me to make it clean

but it was dirty before i got there

told him it's a mark of where i've been

and how it feels to breathe his holy air

i quietly questioned his regal role

while living as loudly as i could

don't you know i'd salve your soul?

rub me up the wrong way, if you would

what say i take you up to heaven?

give you the gilded guided tour?

tried it once when i was about eleven

those church seats made my backside sore

and anyway, i quipped, talking of arses

who'd nail up their only son?

make him the king of foisted farces

is that to be how infanticide's spun?

i don't think you like me very much

i don't see why, when I've done nothing to you

and you've done nothing for me either, as such

my god, you really don't have a clue

with that, he shut his mouth and shop

not that they were ever open at all

keep selling your sweet smelling shit; don't stop

with whom else could i have such a ball?

love's not lost, nor missing; it's there within our reach

it's a lesson to be learnt, and if it could only teach

there'd be respect upon the street, which would stretch to every man

'til hate is obsolete, and the human race is ran

love's regained through trusting in the things we're born to not

that black and white can mix, if you just stir the melting pot

that man is quite the monster only when there's others too

that simply shaking hands is an easy thing to do

love's not lost, we hold it in our palm and on our sleeve

you feel it in the everyday, the patterns we all weave

splash it all around or keep it locked in jealous heart

it is quite the serial chiller and will never need depart

love's regained through taking its simplicity on board

it's important to us all; and it should come underscored

but you won't see any signposts when direction's not the need

it's planted in the air, so breathe it in and sow its seed...

to know a kiss

to feel its bliss

lips will speak

or not at all

when comes the peak

the rise and fall

to know what you'd miss

is to know a kiss

to know a touch

to feel as much

electricity

in a fingertip

simplicity

and a lost grip

to be in its clutch

is to know a touch

to know a heart

right from the start

its chambered lust

its pumping beat

it's forged and fussed

when two souls meet

to know its part

is to know a heart

to know someone

to set to stun

is all you need

the best of things

take note; take heed

of angels' wings

the magic's spun

when you know someone...

With how many cities should I stand

Before a peace descends?

Would the pure dove ever deign to land

If this is how life ends?

When all that's left is wickedness

To take the place of good

Will the race we're running then transgress?

Maybe we all just should

If it's god's good grace to know our place

Then show me what it's for

Is it love that we can all embrace

Or the chance to gear for war?

'I heard the news today; oh boy'

And it's just not a pretty thing

To know the vileness we employ

From underneath His wing...

Underneath the stars, we'll meet

At the dark end of the street

Where there's no one but you and I

Wrapped in the velvet of the night sky

Underneath the stars, we'll learn

While lamplights gently burn

That high above; nebulae form

Cold can sometimes be so warm

Underneath the stars, we'll find

Two deeper peaceful states of mind

A dizzy orbit, planetwide

Once our touch has been applied

Underneath the stars, we'll meet

The jealousy of gods complete

Their universe wheels overhead

I'll stargaze at you instead...

i keep him deep

and sound asleep

counting cold and dead black sheep

his flirty wings

are dirty things

tightly strapped by my heartstrings

he's good as gold

if proof be sold

but he's been known to be quite bold

and when upfront

calls me a cunt

it's just a sticks and sharp stones stunt

i'd let him loose

complete with noose

and watch him hang our flag of truce

his skin is red

and mainly dead

he walks where angels fear to tread

when he's awake

things will break

the given gift; the goodness sake

for now, he's tired

not worldly wired

but take good care; some guns get fired...

There's nothing else to do, so just throw it into first; then let it steer itself, just as previously rehearsed

Even though you're English, it is only by your birth; Islam knows your value and your place beyond this Earth

Rally your belief and don't forget to hear our voice; a looky-loo will always do but a cop's the better choice

Reasoning is ours; for they will never understand that to be the prophets harbinger's to enter hallowed land

Of all the glories written, this chapter's solely yours; a lesson to the lightless and a settler of scores

Remember, you're a hero, just know this before you've died; I advise a good disguise so they will never know you cried...