Spanner, by Carolyn Batcheler

In the tool box of life
Most hammer home their own point
Relentless pounding of a selfish agenda
Smiling to drive home their own nail

Drilling down their issues
Only surface visible
Deep within,well hidden
Making truth a smokescreen

Cutting out the unnecessary
Sharp rapier blade slices through
Climbing to a selfish goal
Slicing their dead wood

Hard to find the correct one
Where did that measure go?
Make do and devalue self
Never ends well, just more pain

Occasionally a spanner fits
Supportive and close by
Creating the right change
With the smallest effortless twist

Aspiring, by Carolyn Batcheler

I had a dream
Except I don’t often
Only aspirations and hope
Things to achieve

A child terrified
By their situation
Dreams of a revolving door
With no way out

Or never getting where you want
Waking up to break the fright
Of the thing that you want
Being a fingertip away

Smell of lavender
Fresh sheets and warm
A good book, then darkness
Add a cat for good measure

Dream of a whole nights sleep

Sat clock watching
Sat people watching
Avoiding sneezes
Avoiding gaze and gesture

Waiting for the call
Waiting for the sign to change
Who’s next, how much longer
Wasted time, wasted life

Shall I go and ask?
Miss my turn
What shall I say?
Will they believe?

Child screams and vomits
Parent panics, gets in early
Then it’s me
Three minute consultation

Never got to say
Never really listened to
Piece of paper in my hand
For the pills I did not want

She shot up as I pissed
I paid 30 pence for the privilege
She paid with her life story
It was motivation need for us both

I didn’t expect to see her
She didn’t give a flying fuck about me
We stood by the sinks
I dropped a tissue, she dropped a needle

Bound by our femininity
Drawn to the lady on the door
Smells of used tampons and cheap disinfectant
I left, turned, never saw her again

Her choices were limited
I ran for the suburbs
I put 50 pence in the charity tin
She begged for the next fix