——————————————————
stubborn to the core
bleary eyed madness
cleaning up shit
and piss at two
in the morning
procrastination
will kill us all
allergic to grace
stubborn to the core
less than ten hours
of sleep in a week
recipe to be surely
dead by the end
of the year
lawyer comes
in a few days
signatures
are needed
and then time
will be all
that is left
—————————————————-
a steep price
you often don’t
learn until it is
too late in life
that happiness
comes at a steep
price sometimes
the illusion usually
shatters and it breaks
more than just hearts
and here i am
guilty because of
body parts
offering a shoulder,
time, whatever
to ease the pain
rest well beautiful
karma strikes in
remarkable ways
for those that
earn it
—————————————————
a soft hello
a stunning young
beauty and a soft
hello
she reminds me
of a girl i kissed
in high school in
the previous
century
life is a cruel
mistress sometimes
we engaged in some
small talk and part
of me knows she’s
yet another woman
of my dreams that
will never be
she handed me
my receipt and
i wanted to say
something coy
but didn’t have
the nerve to do
so
when they can
take your breath
you know it is
real
———————————————————-
in my new bed
spent the night trying
to find a comfortable
position in my new
bed
only slept for
maybe two hours
my mom was hoping
the new bed would
allow me to sleep
like a normal person
i asked her if she
actually thought
of me as normal
her silence speaks
volumes
she sleeps about
ten hours a day
out in her recliner
i often joke with
her that she’s going
to be cremated
you might as well
get the sleep now
———————————————–
better prepared
she told me i looked
like i was going to cry
and wanted to give me
a hug
i gladly accepted the
hug although, i wasn’t
about to cry watching
my mother sign her
new will and final
testament
i’m under no illusion
that she’s going to live
forever or die before
christmas
at least we are
now better prepared
whenever i suddenly
have a house and car
in my name
J.J. Campbell (1976 – ?) is a 3 time Best of the Net nominee and a 2 time Pushcart Prize nominee. He’s been widely published over the years, most recently at Lothlorien Poetry Journal, The Beatnik Cowboy, Drinkers Only, Mad Swirl and Yellow Mama. His most recent book, to live your dreams, published by Whiskey City Press, is available at Amazon by going here: https://a.co/d/0e1t07Wp