You’re autistic, you say?
Well that’s on you.
You chose medication,
Rather than meditation,
Take some accountability!
You don’t like wearing jeans?
Well don’t just blame your genes!
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
More like Attention-Desperate Human-Disease.
Don’t get upset,
I’m just trying to help you!
You might not know as much as me,
But that’s okay!
Anyway,
Have you tried drinking water?
Mike Bayles
Get Well Card from a Writers’ Group to a Friend in a Physical Rehab Unit
What is important is what we lay on the table.
Poems and stories we write find new life
on the third floor of the library in Muscatine.
We read our works, listen and make suggestions.
We argue and laugh, but we’re just trying to help
every writer make their work better.
each night
We are working or retired, poets and novelists
sharing our lives and points of view. We have
driven highways and city streets to be there.
Every third Tuesday of the month we sit at the table.
in quiet skies
You are the eldest, many books written
and every meeting we look to you.
We look for revelations and for how
the pieces speak to us. Works shared
bring us together.
a shining star
*Braided Haibun Form
I can deal with people asking about the cliff about the mindset I was in.
But how dare they ask me about the scars that run along my body from the fall.
Because suddenly the conversation always seems to turn into an evaluation.
And the dynamic changes you become the doctor I become the unwilling patient.
You say your just trying to help me but I don’t remember asking for anything from you.
I'm not insane.
I swear to God, I just wanted to help her.
To reach out and save her.
I grabbed her, to urge her to move.
That's when I recognized the terror on her face.
She was scared, just like me. I didn't like that.
Don't be scared.
I'm just trying to help.
"P-please...don't."
I sighed as she stammered out those words when I held her hand gently.
I know.
I'm not going to hurt you. Stop begging.
I hate it.
A few moments later, I calmed her down, hugging her body as I lulled her to sleep.
She must be so exhausted from all that running she did.
Poor little thing.
As I pulled her close, to warm her cold body, I felt a bit uncomfortable, as I felt something sharp against my chest.
So, I pulled the knife out of her heart and wiped off the blood.
She'll be able to relax now.
Such a common smell
Used in places all over
Restaurants to grocery stores to schools to bathrooms
a smell this clean cant make me feel so gross
Kills 99.9% of viruses & bacteria
Kills the germs left from my stomach surrendering its contents
Huddled over and in pain
a smell this clean cant make me feel so gross
I was always sick as a kid
Never eating yet losing my lunch
Peppermint oil that never worked to keep my stomach at bay
All the home remedies and medical ones yet it still happened
I had my own friend, Ralph, my own bucket
My only friend in my time of need
Forever stained by the clean, slightly medicinal smell
It hits me like a slap
Cold and biting against my senses
The clean, too clean, aroma
a smell this clean cant make me feel so gross
I smell it all the time
Away from the small cluttered bathroom
Away from the hands holding my hair and rubbing my back
All away from my longest friend
A reminder for all i've overcome
A smell, haunting me, just trying to help others
It did not meant to live in my senses yet here it is
a smell this clean makes me feel so gross
The piano music is quieter now
He barely hears the tune
His mother’s right beside him
He wonders if she'll ever know
He was just trying to help
Trying to protect his father
Trying so hard
Just trying
He chokes out one last line
The light is dimming now
He wonders how it is,
To die
He counts one last time
With his mother
Like they used to
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
seven
Dont rush to come to my side, I know your busy with your own life,
Dont worry about my feelings, they dont matter anymore,
I just take up space, my words are silenced once and for all,
I will be o.k, nothing new to me, Im used to it after all.
I used to reach out to people, not anymore, I will be here waiting,
I feel like I"m just a fly flying around waiting for someone to hit me dead,
I will be here waiting for someone to come and talk with me, no hurry though,
I know every one has their own troubles, crosses to bear,
I should have known that it wouldn't happen, I wasn't aware.
I should become a monarch butterfly, and fly away, so I can fly high above,
and see everyone's faces, when they see my grace, beauty, so I can really see what they think of me,
I will be here waiting, don't hurry on m y account, I was just trying to help,
Like a butterfly, if you get too close, I will fly away and go elsewhere, to show them my beauty,
And maybe then someone will take me in.
Until then, I will be here waiting.....
yea I’m in high school living daily by the rules while the others are
doing stuff that they think is cool they always claim the teachers are
cruel but really they are just trying to help us young ones make it
through some kids run from the truth due to the life they have been put
through some parents don’t give a crap or two but some blessed
deny the fact that parents are there to see you through I’m writing
this verse from me to you some kids raised in the ghetto have a
place where morals don’t fit in their schedule all you have to do is
is fight to strive for anything you believe and be wiling to achieve
willing to succeed you just have to believe you can whoever you
want to be we shouldn’t play with our grades like it’s a game but
wanting our education to build into a career one day some of yall
are focused on the wrong thing the ig and twitter names are nothing
but a game yall talk 24/7 about money, dope, and fame but yall need
to focus on the right thing just put your mind to it and you can be
anything once again I say yea I’m just the average kid in high school
just trying to find my way
I've noticed that when it comes to anchor weather women,
as they point out on their weather map whatever weather is occurring,
they rarely turn their back to the camera and display their rear region.
If you want to increase your male audience while you are on the air,
take this advice from me
and turn around occasionally
and give everybody a rare glimpse of that derrière.
*
Save all of your "All Men Are Pigs" comments ladies.
I'm just trying to help these poor women increase their ratings.
*
To all my friends here on the soup,
I just won the state lottery and here’s the scoop.
With all the millions that I won today,
They said I could pay all the taxes in various ways.
It seems somehow the money I won,
Wasn’t quite enough when they were done.
I can make monthly payments on what I owe.
How come if I won I don’t get no dough?
He said it’s like this, the man was slick.
Try not to win, now that’s the trick.
If you had all that money you’d be just like us.
We’re just trying to help you so what’s the fuss.
Well now I guess I’m really confused, this is the only game you win to lose.
But wasn’t it fun the numbers you pick they let you choose.
P.S. I really didn’t win.
I just made this up I fibbed again.
Shame on me, but what the hey.
It’s something to read any old way.
It'll be all right,
just hold on tight,
it's always the same damn thing,
don't give up,
hold on, you'll make it,
I'm sick of it,
all the worry,
don't worry about me,
I haven't done anything yet have I,
I wish they would all just leave me alone,
do they think I want them to worry,
especially over me?
Just shut up,
I'm fine,
for real,
I can't take all this,
it's overwhelming,
and I hate it,
leave me alone,
stop saying I'll be fine,
I won't and you know it,
so just shut up and leave me alone,
I can take care of myself,
really I can.
It's okay,
things will get better,
just shut up damn it,
I can't take this,
Do you think that badly of me,
or do you think I'm irresponsible,
though deep inside,
I know you're just trying to help,
But I don't appreciate it,
so please don't try,
I can't take it,
please, just leave me alone.
I know U got another corner to bend
So I’m gonna tell U what I know
It’s my ear I’m about to lend
I’ll share my experiences with U
That I have lived along the way
From the bottom of the barrel
To the bright sunshine’s rays
Just trying to help U
So U don’t fall and can see brighter days
So journey short, journey long
I can’t guarantee I will be there
But for U I will stay strong
Just as long as U continue to fight for urself
Listen to others but don’t let it affect ur health
U’ll make it ur way
Ur reason
Ur rhyme
Weather or not U make it
With a lot of money or a dime
U’ll still have a place here
No matter how long ure gone
Could be a day or year
Remember, this place ure always accepted
Never be turned away
No matter how humble of place I have to stay
I’ll always here what U have to say
So if ure there and I’m here, if ure in trouble
U can always look this way
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