#7 You Don't Know Nancy

(Josie Sayz: This is seventh poem I wrote for my ‘Checkmate’ anthology. ‘Nancy’ is referring to Nancy Spungen – and I you don’t know who she is… how can we be? – on a serious note, just type her name into a search engine. I loved a line in ‘The Dollyrots’ song ‘New College’: “You’ll be my Sid again/And I’ll be Nancy Spungen,” and the poem kind of sprang from there. I even referenced ‘The Dollyrots’ towards the end of my poem, “Can’t you be the Luis to my Kelly?/‘Cause I’d be the peanut butter to your jelly.” This was just a whole lot of fun to write.)

You, you're into all those video-games,
Things that explode, fast cars and aeroplanes.
I see you dancing to that hip-hop beat,
You can really sing and you're smooth on your feet.
And you really love the car that you drive,
Speeding down country lanes makes you feel you're alive.
You always act like you don't care,
But secretly I know you style your hair.
There are so many things that I know about you,
I just wish you knew about me too...
I like taking long walks in the rain,
Gazing at stars under the window pane.
My favourite book is Barrie's 'Peter Pan'
And I really, really, really wanna go to Japan.
My favourite character is Marty McFly
And most days I pretend I'm a spy.
You like the day,
But I come out at night.
Whilst I do some yoga,
You start a fight.
So how can we be
If you don't know Nancy.
Me, I like walking home with you in the dark,
Rainbows, fairy tales and picnics in parks.
I know your secret fear that nobody knows,
Your favourite movies, songs and TV shows.
And when you're nervous you run a hand through your hair,
But it's when you blush I really know that you care.
You make me laugh, but you don't understand,
It's more than a crush when you're touching my hand.
There are so many things that I know about you,
I just wish you knew about me too...
I like taking long walks in the rain,
Gazing at stars under the window pane.
My favourite book is Barrie's 'Peter Pan'
And I really, really, really wanna go to Japan.
My favourite character is Marty McFly
And most days I pretend I'm a spy.
I'm scared of the water,
But you hang out at the dock.
You listen to hip-hop,
But I like punk rock.
So how can we be
When you don't know Nancy.
Sometimes you really make me mad,
But leaving you would make me feel sad.
Sometimes you really can't see
Just how much it is you mean to me.
You give me butterflies whenever you smile,
Even when I haven't seen you in a while.
And I forgive you every single time
When you don't know my favourite movie lines.
We are so different and I just don't know,
How we hang on and don't let go...
'Cause:
You hate being out in the pouring rain,
Gazing at stars drives you insane.
You don't believe in Barrie's 'Peter Pan'
And you said you never wanna go to Japan.
You don't give a hoot about Marty McFly
And you said I'm no good at being a spy.
Can't you be the Luis to my Kelly?
'Cause I'd be the peanut butter to your jelly.
You'd be the rhythm to my rhyme.
We could be together 'til the end of time.
Who am I kidding? Why couldn't I see,
How hopeless this fantasy could be?
Maybe I just need a genie,
As you'll never be my Sidney.
So how can we be,
Because you don't know Nancy.

- Josie -

#6 Isabelle

(Josie Sayz: ‘Isabelle’ is the sixth poem from my ‘Checkmate’ anthology. Inspired by the line, “She thinks I’m psycho ‘cause I like to rhyme her name with things,” from the Taylor Swift song ‘Revenge’.)

 
You ask me if I'm okay
And I tell you that I'm swell.
I know that you'll believe me,
'Cause you can't read me that well.
You lead him by the hand
And make him look into your eyes,
But I'm not scared because I know
He sees through your disguise.
You'd be so surprised to find
I know more than just your name.
Everything you do and say,
You're playing one big game.
You're new in town – oh Isabelle.
You wanna get to know him well.
I kinda wish that you had fell,
Or that I'd pushed you down a well.
You know I'm never gonna tell,
I don't like you that much Isabelle.
You sneak up right behind him
With your skirt so short and tight.
You wrap your arms around him
And you lead him out of sight.
But he won't give in and kiss you,
Not even on the cheek.
He knows he's not your boyfriend, see,
He's taken and not weak.
You'd be so surprised to find
I know more than just your name.
Everything you do and say,
To you it's one big game.
You're new in town – oh Isabelle.
You wanna get to know him well.
I kinda wish that you had fell,
Or that I'd pushed you down a well.
I think I need to cast a spell,
To get rid of you, Isabelle.

- Josie -

#5 Quicksand Indiana

(Josie Sayz: The fifth poem from my ‘Checkmate’ anthology. This was an incredibly fun poem to write.)

The first time we met you said to me,
“Never met a girl like you before.”
The next thing I know, I’m sat on your knee,
You said you wanna get to know me more.
And since then my whole life
Has been a rollercoaster ride.
Everything you do and say
Is leaving my tongue tied.
Sometimes I think: ‘I wanna marry him someday’.
Sometimes when I see you I just wanna run away.
You’re quicksand Indiana.
Always leaving me whilst you go off
On another adventure.
But when you give that smile,
I find it hard to turn away.
You’re quicksand Indiana.
Already figured this
And I should’ve known better.
The more I try to run
It’s hard to move away.
Because you’re quicksand Indiana.
Yeah, you’re quicksand, Indiana.
On our first date to impress me,
We walked by the pet store.
I thought you’d be brave when the snakes scared me,
But turns out you feared them more.
Sometimes I find you disappear
For weeks and weeks at a time.
But when you suddenly reappear,
You still convince me that you’re mine.
Sometimes I think: ‘I wanna marry him someday’.
Sometimes when I see you I just wanna run away.
You’re quicksand Indiana.
Always leaving me whilst you go off
On another adventure.
But when you give that smile,
I find it hard to turn away.
You’re quicksand Indiana.
Already figured this
And I should’ve known better.
The more I try to run
It’s hard to move away.
Because you’re quicksand Indiana.
Yeah, you’re quicksand, Indiana.
The more I look,
The less I see,
But then you smile,
And I just can’t seem to flee.
Although I know
You’re grips on me,
I’m all alone
And my heart just can’t believe…
You’re quicksand Indiana.
Sometimes I think: ‘I wanna marry him someday’.
Sometimes when I see you I just wanna run away.
You’re quicksand Indiana.
Always leaving me whilst you go off
On another adventure.
But when you give that smile,
I find it hard to turn away.
You’re quicksand Indiana.
Already figured this
And I should’ve known better.
The more I try to run
It’s hard to move away.
Because you’re quicksand Indiana.
Yeah, you’re quicksand, Indiana.
Quicksand Indiana.
Never run. Never hide.
Quicksand Indiana.
Wonder if you made it up and lied.
Quicksand Indiana.
I wanted to believe.
Quicksand Indiana.
I wanna run, but I can’t leave.

- Josie -

#4 Checkmate

(Josie Sayz: This is my fourth anthology poem, which became the anthology title. Like my third poem ‘Chess Piece’, ‘Checkmate’ is something incredibly important to me.)

Everyone’s invited,
The table is all laid.
We’re gonna have a party –
Bet you wish that you’d stayed.
Got my best clothes on, Hatter’s got his hat –
Wouldn’t be one if he’d forgotten that.
Dormouse got in the teapot – oh my!
And our thirty layer cake is piled up high.
If I just go for a wonder in this land…
Marching to the beat of my very own band.
Sit at the top of the treetops and swing.
I’ll let the whole kingdom sing.
You know this is gonna be my thing.
And you’ll never, ever, ever be King.
Now everyone is waiting
And it’s time to take my turn.
There’s no use in chasing rabbits,
Always a lesson left to learn.
But days are hard when I’m feeling blue
My memories come flooding back to you.
But they tell me every day will turn out okay
So longs as your favourite sport is croquette.
If I just go for a wonder in this land…
Marching to the beat of my very own band.
Sit at the top of the treetops and swing.
I’ll let the whole kingdom sing.
You know this is gonna be my thing.
And you’ll never, ever, ever be King.
I’m always climbing up the ladders,
Because you know I can’t be late.
And you, you never bother trying,
Always sliding down the snake.
My world, it keeps on turning
As the castle comes into view.
And every day is a new journey,
Now I’m better off without you.
If I just go for a wonder in this land…
Marching to the beat of my very own band.
Sit at the top of the treetops and swing.
I’ll let the whole kingdom sing.
You know this is gonna be my thing.
And you’ll never, ever, ever be King.
You’ll never, ever, ever be King.
No, you’ll never, ever, ever be Ki-ing.
Oh, no-oh,
You’ll never, ever, ever be King.
Sit at the top of the treetops and swing.
I’ll make the whole kingdom sing.
With them friendship is better,
They’ll stick by me forever
And you’re never, ever coming back.
Sit at the top of the treetops and swing.
At the top of my lungs I’ll sing:
You know, you’ll never, ever, ever,
You’ll never, ever, ever be King.
Checkmate!

- Josie -

#3 Chess Piece

(Josie Sayz: This I my third poem from my ‘Checkmate’ anthology. This is the most personal poem that I have ever written. I have never spoken before of the things that occurred or the emotions that I felt surrounding the events of this poem. It’s the end of the chapter, the final moment, the point to move on and never look back.)

Once upon a time,
Not too long ago…
Trapped inside this castle
With nowhere else to go.
When anyone came near,
I’d run away and hide.
Never really wanted
Another by my side.
I’ve never let anyone near before,
Never knew life needed something more.
I read you like a fairy tale
And let you through the door,
But you played me like a chess piece –
Something I can’t ignore.
You kept my heartbeat racing
And left me wanting more;
But you were only playing
Leaving me insecure.
When you knocked down all the walls,
Planets kept on turning;
But now you left me in the dark,
My heart keeps on burning.
Now all your words are lost.
Your point-of-view is dated.
And now that you are gone
Everything is left tainted.
I’ve never let anyone near before,
Wish you’d never shown me something more.
I read you like a fairy tale
And let you through the door,
But you played me like a chess piece –
Something I can’t ignore.
You kept my heartbeat racing
And left me wanting more;
But you were only playing
Leaving me insecure.
We could have ruled the kingdom, you and I.
Here’s to thinking that love could never die.
You’d be the King and take me as your Queen.
But that life’s now over, because you are so mean.
I’ve never let anyone near before,
Now I know I never needed something more.
I read you like a fairy tale
And let you through the door,
But you played me like a chess piece –
Something I can’t ignore.
You kept my heartbeat racing
And left me wanting more;
But you were only playing
Leaving me insecure.

- Josie -