Monday, June 5, 2017

the evils of the world
 
a mom shot
two of her
kids in the
head and
dragged
them out
to the front
yard naked
 
neighbors
couldn't
believe
what they
were seeing
 
she told the
police she
wanted to
keep her kids
from the evils
of the world
 
too bad no
one cared
to keep her
kids away
from the
evil at
home

like a burning cigarette
 
the pain on those
dark eyes
 
two lost souls left
on the side of the
highway
 
discarded like a
burning cigarette
meant to burn half
the world
 
we're not all evil
fucks out here to
get the better of
you
 
sure, not all of us
are not going to
try to fuck you
without asking
first
 
but never hesitate
to remember the
ones that open a
door or bring you
flowers
 
some of these
diseased creatures
even believe in
some wild concepts
like love at first
sight

closer to your soul
 
wipe your ass until you see blood
 
that's a sign you are closer to your
soul
 
put on some coltrane and smoke
those funny cigarettes
 
have a glass of something that
could double as paint thinner
 
stare at the empty room and
then imagine all the friends that
left you behind
 
there is no joy in being the victim
 
and if you keep believing that a
hero is going to come along one
day
 
i have this bridge to sell you...
 
strike before being struck and
maintain a somewhat pure heart
 
there will always be trouble
 
that's called life
 
you always have the option to
say no

it feels like years
 
a beautiful
woman says
hello
 
while you're
replying with
hello, you're
mentally noting
the day and just
how long it has
been since such
an occasion has
happened
 
it feels like
years although
it's probably
only been a
month or so
 
it's so much
easier to wallow
than just get on
with life
 
our fathers could
have taught us
this
 
but they were too
busy figuring out
all the shit their
fathers forgot to
teach them

the envy of something
 
dreaming of a better life
 
a beach off on the other
side of the world
 
a beautiful woman and
some how you're
allowed to exist
 
dreaming of being rich
and fulfilled
 
drop dead gorgeous
and the envy of
something
 
i suppose all my good
dreams died when i
got older
 
now i dream of not
feeling pain when it
rains
 
i dream of better
sales at the grocery
store
 
of fat that mysteriously
disappears anytime
i wish
 
i dream of someone
else doing the hard
work for me

5539
 
sitting here
listening to
my mother
snore in her
hospital room
after her hip
replacement
surgery
 
part of me
happy that
everything
went well
 
and the other
part of me
wondering
how many
more years
until i'm
sitting here
in a hospital
room like this
listening for
her final
breath
 
and will my
sister still be
in the hallway
trying to get
her steps for
the day
 
J.J. Campbell

Helpless I do not know if good intentions prevail among the elected, among the appointed, leaving me apprehensive that the fate ...