take me out of my head
just for a few hours
a few minutes
anything, really.
stop the racing
thoughts of inadequacy
that constantly badger me.
i guess that’s what drugs are for
but they don’t seem like the answer,
not this time at least.
a temporary solution
to this permanent beast.
Breath in deep and sleep on your back in prairie-grass beneath the Milky Way’s cloudy arms in Wisconsin, and don’t EVER look back East to New Jersey, just keep moving, Running, Hiding in boxcars and rail-road yards, Two tattoos, One for each hand, As I Plunge my way deeper Into the Heartland, Savage Indian screams and axle-grease War-paint, Long hair matted down Over desperate scared face, Taste Blood and fear, and the immeasurable loneliness of sleeping on the side of a Minnesota highway.
So Here’s your American dream, So Don’t you Let it slip away; The Rocky Mountains are much colder When you got no place to stay. There’s a code of the road, for every beaten traveler, But Tonight the Pennsylvania Turnpike is the only thing that matters Escaping West to Ohio’s chest the wandering American will find a way
to Avalon.
Billy walked to his death
and held his head high.
He knew no matter what Judge said
he never told no lie.
He never did shoot that boy,
he wasn’t there that night.
He never did pull the trigger,
he didn’t start no fight.
Now Billy spent the last 4 years
stuck inside a cage.
Barely any sunlight,
only room for rage.
He didn’t let that get him down,
“In my mind I’m free.
I know that I’m innocent,
no matter what they do to me.”
Young Billy walked to his death
and held his head high.
He knew no matter what Judge said
he never told no lie.
Now they tried to say Billy
was a cold and callous killer.
It worried Bill so much,
he could barely eat his dinner.
Billy never hurt no one
he could barely squash a fly,
he was ‘fraid of the charges
and what they could imply.
It was his word against the dead
He knew he stood no chance
They were gonna do away with Billy
without a second glance.
So Billy walked to his death
and held his head high.
He knew no matter what Judge said
he never told no lie.
Billy had one goal today,
to go and die with pride.
He stiffened up that upper lip
and lengthened up his stride.
He walked to the table
and began to shake,
for he knew this was the last time
he’d ever be awake.
So Billy walked to his death
and held his head high.
They killed Billy that day
in the heat of July.
Let’s go down, down
Where the Rats crawl around,
in the forgotten tunnels and dusty places
Let’s go down, down underground
to the lonely concrete holes and rusty spaces
Let’s squeeze in-between
The infrastructure’s cracks,
gnaw at wires with our Teeth
and always watch our backs.
Let’s slide away into the pipes
and I’ll show you a world
you’ve never seen.
Let your hair grow long
and join the pack
of sinister secrecy.
Dark passages and corridors,
with candles to show us the way
Through this light-less world of marauders and mischief
where we don’t know the touch of day.
Off their fear and conformity
We the Few grow putrid and fat;
what they’re really afraid of
is themselves, Because
Everybody Wants
to be a Rat.
Well I never thought I was lonely
until I looked her in the eye
and I never thought I needed her
till she said goodbye
and I never thought I was broken
until she helped me heal
and I never knew comfort
like the way she made me feel
and I never knew scared
until my father died
and I never did cry
I guess I had too much pride
please don’t go
to Florida
Where we can’t hang out every day.
It’s stupid and dumb
in Florida
and I don’t want you to go away.
Get up
Fuck up
7 am
You’re late
Get dressed
Get nervous
Get stressed
downstairs
mom yells
Lucas cries
says he tries
but he’s
been tellin lies
and She’ll deal with it
when we get home.
Hot tears
cheeks still stinging
wet
outside
Freezing air
burns lungs
Nic drives
Music on
but we have to wait,
Amir’s late, and
We can’t leave home
without him.
Pick up
Justin K
on the way,
Silent car ride,
Lucas
is afraid
7:40
we arrive
mean stares
teacher glares
Marco’s got
Gay long hair
Sleeps in class
doesn’t pass
any of his tests.
Where’s your homework
phone-call home,
FUCK
knots in stomach
swimming head
when mom gets home
I’m fucking dead.
11:00 cafeteria
Faggot
pussy
fucking gay-ass
bitch
Lunch tastes like
nervousness
Sit with friends
and chew the food,
watch the clock
hear what’s new
Then back to class
filled with dread
go tear up
and breath
in bathroom stalls
Walk the halls
for half an hour
talk with Chris
(he makes
me smile)
Then when finally
that last bell rings
over the evening
Announcements,
Walk around
In the town
with Lisa Fitz
for as long as I can
4 o’clock
then she sighs
We both realize
we’ve got to go back home
Mumble words
seeyadumarrow
And then the
parting ways.
In the back door
try to sneak
but mom is waiting
in the kitchen
oh no
Shit
Fuck
FUCK
out of luck
No friends
No going to
the Brehne’s party
Your life
is Over.
Run upstairs
text message
romance
long-distance
girlfriend on
the telephone
7:00
Dad is home
uncomfortable dinner,
Mimi cooked
(always seems to be
pea-soup and ham
on nights like tonight.)
Long shower
almost an hour
then go and sit
in Lucas’ room.
11:30 out the window,
Rooftop vigil
sit and think
and watch the cars roll by
Maybe cry
Those high-school days
sure were savage,
but when the weekend came,
and it was finally over,
we
Ruled the World.
Somebody please
Take me back
to the Garden State,
cause it’s gettin
late And I really wanna
get outta this place.
cause Life’s so nice
when you got long hair
and you smile,
cause then nobody thinks
you’re sad
and you’re scared
or that you’re runnin away like a child.
They say, Hey
That Marco’s got it
all figured out,
he’s full with love
and fulla laughs.
he don’t get bothered
by the shit he sees,
he runs up and down
the West coast
makin friends
and huggin trees.
Then they say
O wouldn’t it be easier
If I could just be him?
then Marco can smile
for a little while
and say Boy
where do we begin?
Original Poetry 