stuck in constant fear
another day in isolation,
escaping a world stuck
in constant fear
a 24/7 news cycle on overdrive
pour one out for the gambler
the voice of my youth that taught
a young boy all he ever needed
to know about poker
it feels like this is as good a time
as any to collect on the old debts
let that elusive angel out west
know i could never love another
and just like a crisp wind
disappear into the ethereal realm
of the lost world we were promised
as children
J.J. Campbell
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one way or another
the neon queen nailed me to a cross
one friday night outside of reno, nevada
i never asked why, i figured i earned it
one way or another
i could hear her laughter as she drove
off into the early morning sun
eventually, the birds would peck out
my eyes until some future racist decided
to set the cross on fire
thankfully, i never believed in the need
for a resurrection
my shift was finally over
J.J. Campbell
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
old man winter
these old bones
can feel old man
winter starting
up his engine
i remember as
a child how i
loved snow
days
sledding down
the little hill in
our front yard
but then i always
had to shovel
every inch of
the sidewalks
and the driveway
my father would
check and punish
me when i didn't
do it correctly
even after the
divorce and his
death
winter has never
been the same
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under the legal age
parents get nervous
when they see me
around their children
that makes me laugh
i have no interest
in anyone under
the legal age
people that look
like me go to jail
for those thoughts
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
J.J. Campbell
