J.J. Campbell

bent spoons on the floor

i hear laughter when i cry at night

when the pain gets to the point
where life no longer feels like
something i want to partake in

nails on the chalkboard
as these old bones get up
to go piss

shotgun in the corner

bent spoons on the floor

another scar for these
old hands

they tell me a good woman
could fix all of this

i explain to them that i don’t
have that kind of money

unless you know some idiot
that wants all these baseball
cards from the junk wax era

pretty soon they will make
for good kindling

i’ll save the rookies, so
someone thinks they have
hit it big

before the night gets going

dark eyes, a smoky room
one more scotch before
the night gets going

she glances in my direction and
i flash what i believe to be a grin

she saunters over and asks my name

i asked if i was being arrested

she laughed and gave me the look
that she doesn’t mind playing some
role play

i ordered her a drink and we got to
know each other

she told me about the exes and
the kids

i told her about a torrid love affair
with a lesbian

she showed me a scar on her arm

suicide? no, caught my man fucking
my sister

i’d hate to see where he got cut

she laughed

gave me her number and kissed
me on the cheek

leaving so soon?

no babysitter

i told her goodbye and found out
two days later the number was
for her sister

 

 

J.J. Campbell (1976 - ?) is old enough to know better. He's been widely published over the years, most recently at Synchronized Chaos, Horror Sleaze Trash, The Dope Fiend Daily, The Beatnik Cowboy and Yellow Mama. Rumor has it he may have a new book coming out soon. You can find him most days on his mildly entertaining blog, evil delights. (https://evildelights.blogspot.com)