Divorce

My life began when I was four,

My daddy left, walked out the door.

I packed my games and dolls away,

It’s hard to laugh and smile and play

When mum is crying all the time.

Who cares for toys, or treats of sweets

When dad is gone, and mummy weeps?

I have to brush my hair myself,

And hide the wine on the top shelf

When mum is crying all the time.

At night, asleep, I can still hear

The fighting, howling in my ear.

I dream of playing in the park -

Those happy visions black and dark

When mum is crying all the time.

A Taste of Love

I hunger for a taste of love

But find the cupboard bare,

I lick my lips for lingering crumbs

But love has none to spare.

Fill me up with sweet emotion

Ease the rumblings of my heart,

Fatten me with pure devotion;

Let pastry arms encrust my tart.

Clog my veins with sultry sighs

And ice my cake with kisses;

Don’t poison me with covert lies

Or flavourless dismisses.

Though starving now, I do admit –

I’ve tasted love before;

In gluttony I gorged on it

‘Till I was sick and sore.

The secret truth of food and love

Is found in moderation,

Excess is reminiscent of

The painful deprivation.

So take love with a pinch of salt

And switch to low-fat cream,

A healthy, balanced heart exalts

In love’s delicious dream.

Billie Dee