To Fly

To Fly


to stand on that ledge
toes over the edge
wind whipping in face


arms stretched out wide
to assist with the glide
ready to leave this place


push off with your toes
and over you go
the scenes rush on by


when grin greets the street
leaving but bloodied meat
at least you got to fly

By J. Barrett

Have You Ever

Have You Ever

Have you ever stood in a cell,

your socks sponging up the blood

that pools at your feet as it pours

from the wounds on your body?

But not all that blood is yours.

Your shoes have been taken away,

lest you use the laces.

Your belt has been taken away,

lest it can tighten around your throat.

Your dignity has been taken away,

lest you feel somewhat human;

Ignored.

Alone.

Pacing,

as you try to calm down.

Leaving sticky oval footprints

on the cold unforgiving concrete.

 

Have you ever been arrested

after being attacked?

When retaliation wasn’t a want,

it was a need;

To ensure your survival.

The handcuffs are too tight,

yet the blood flows from your fist,

your arm,

your neck,

your head.

Bundled into a cage on a car,

amongst flashes of blue and red.

You fought back;

You must be guilty.

 

Have you ever had a bottle broken upon your head?

Hearing the pop before feeling the slice,

jagged glass tearing at your soft skin

as it is pulled down

from scalp to neck.

There’s a vital network of veins and arteries there,

but no one seems to care;

Even yourself.

Rage has filled every part of your being;

Rage at being attacked

cowardly from behind.

Rage of the survival instinct kicking in.

 

Have you ever been caught up in a fight,

of which you know not who,

or why,

or what?

But you’re there,

wrong place, wrong time.

It’s nothing to do with you,

but it’s an emotion fuelled frenzy.

You don’t know where to go,

it’s all around you.

There’s nowhere to run and hide.

There’s no reason to stand and fight.

 

Have you ever had a few too many drinks

and made a bad choice?

By J. Barrett

Excess

Excess


In case you haven’t noticed,
I have a problem with excess.
What starts out as a few drinks,
Always ends up as a mess.

By J. Barrett

Two Flowers

Two Flowers

 

I really miss what we briefly had.

It was special,

I hope you know that.

All I’ve been thinking about,

is how we stayed up all night talking;

then we finally kissed.

That amazing night surpassed everything I ever knew.

And then we grew,

like two flowers planted side by side,

but blown by the weather,

to join together,

to curl around each other,

our petals gently caressing,

our leaves touching,

tendrils entwining.

 

And then, out of nowhere,

a fence was put between us,

we could no longer touch,

caress,

feel;

and worst of all we could no longer talk.

There are a field of flowers on my side of the fence,

but I just don’t,

I can’t,

interact,

communicate,

feel with them like I did you.

All I can think about

is that beautiful sunflower on the other side of the fence;

the one that I had such a connection with,

the one that I experienced,

though only briefly,

that intense passion,

that feeling of perfection,

of belonging…

 

I want my sunflower back.

I want you back.

I miss you.

I miss what we had and could have.

 

I’d love to spend just one more night,

just talking with you again,

sharing space,

sharing time,

sharing minds.

I’m laid bare.

By J. Barrett

Pizza Diva

Pizza Diva

I like it when my pizza is perfectly round,

And sliced into sections symmetrically.

I like when the toppings are precisely placed,

And fresh cheese is layered impressively.

I like when the crust is crispy and cracks,

And splinters into a flurry of crumbs.

I like when the base is a little bit soggy,

And that bit of juice that dribbles down thumbs.

I like when the cheese, all stretchy and stringy,

Finally snaps and caresses your grin.

And that little bit of topping that always breaks free,

You can pop it back on with your fin - ger.

I always save those crispy crusts until last,

I should eat it as a spiral from the centre.

Relishing in the goodness of that topping laden disc,

In that meaty, cheesy splendour.

And after it’s done, I’ll nibble on those crusts,

And make chit-chat with my partner in pizza.

If they’re crusty and crisp, I’m smacking my lips,

Yep! I’m a big pizza diva!

By J. Barrett

I Was You

I Was You

I have lived many lives

Packed into this existence

And I think that’s the problem

Because, you see, I was you once

We even had the same name

But she had to die

She could have never lived on

When the time came and she left me

I knew it was right, but it still hurt

And I think that was the problem

I see a lot of you in her, her in you

I’ve worn your shoes

Your clothes

Your hair

I was you once

And I ran away from it all too

By J. Barrett

Killing Bad

Killing Bad

He killed a man tonight

Put a gun to his head

And blew out his thoughts

He killed a man tonight

That somebody lies dead

But he’ll never get caught

He deserved to die tonight

He’d wronged something right

Made someone else’s life hell

He deserved to die tonight

Without the chance to fight

The trigger pulled, farewell

He killed a man tonight

An evil man, a monster

Who raped and hit and tortured

He killed a man tonight

He overcame and conquered

Disregarding the slaughter

He deserved to die tonight

He was nothing if he was bad

Worth only the bullet in his head

He deserved to die tonight

Gotten all that he should had

And now he lies still, dead

He killed a man tonight

And now he was the same

He could feel the evil burning

He killed a man tonight

And he could feel all his pain

Could feel why he was hurting

He deserved to die tonight

Or so he keeps repeating

It’s his mantra, his chant

He deserved to die tonight

Even though precious life is fleeting

He wants to forget; but can’t

By J. Barrett