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Adversity climbs aboard when least we can afford it
The gremlins of the fools of fate are primed to raid the ship,
Murphy's Law adds substance to the soup's interpretation
And the parasites engage with glee when first, they take a sip.

Resistance at its lowest in the darkest throes of struggle
Endurance at its lowest ebb when caste against the tide,
The secret's in the stance and stare which moulds the way to combat
Determined by the grit and heart and fibre deep inside.

Bad enough to buckle in initial ****** and parry
Bad enough to give concession well before it's due,
Hard enough to muster the support of all and sundry
When corrosion from within is unraveling the glue.

Sleep eludes the tired mind and worry lines occur
The Bank you've used for 30 years has fled,
Your dependents you supported in their time of dire need
Will no longer meet your gaze or keep you fed.

And the crowning factor crushing you is not the battle waged
It is not the lack of energy or will,
The crushing blow which flattens you and leaves you destitute
Is that FAMILY leads the charge to wish you ill!


Marshalg
In support of my dearest, dearest Sister.
12 August 2013
I love you
And I'm human
Despite the fact
That I use to say
I was born
In venus
So yeah
I make mistakes
And no I'm not perfect
Even if in your eyes I am
I'm not
I love you
And even when I cry
I love you
And I know I don't always
Act like I do
But I do
And you mean more to me
Than anything
And I'm sorry
For every time I hurt you
And I wish each night
You were here to tuck me in
But I'm patient
We've lived a miserable life apart
And I hope we never have to bare that again
I love you
And darling
You've always had my heart.
When fire crackles I think of you

When fireworks glow in the night sky I think of you

When the water ripples reflect the sky I think of you

When I breathe I think of you

For you are the life in everything that I see and do

And I am always thinking of you.
Tonight, I am afraid.
I am afraid because I had a piece of toast 13 hours ago, and there's nothing left in the fridge except some horrible strawberry liqueur, which I am drinking despite the fact that it feels like acid in my empty stomach. Me, I'm 5 feet 11 inches, 112 pounds, blue-eyed with longish blonde hair. I'm hungry, but it appears that New York doesn't feed outsiders. So I'm listening to Leonard Cohen on Leonard Street because that's the only thing I can think of that makes sense right now. Smoking in bed, my small luxury. I had a neighbor who leaves me toast and coffee in the morning, except I haven't seen him in a while and I'm too proud to knock on the door and ask for food. It's strange, leaving a perfectly ordinary life for this desperation, this skinny **** that I thought was important but now just makes it hard to climb the stairs. I'll make it, though, right? It's almost September and that's when I'm supposed to make money. Money. I just wanted to go to Italy again, feel the life I should never have left again. So okay I’ll be their clothes hanger, their one-man show, walk a pretty walk for them, and then go somewhere else. Except right now I'm considering the hospital, that sweet IV that will keep me nourished. I can't afford a taxi though, and I don't know what is I’d tell them- “Hi I'm 20 years old, broke, starving, alone, and afraid to sleep because I don't know if I'll see another day”- I think they would send me to the psych ward instead. I don't know, I am supposed to be a hybrid of girlish innocence and feminine mystique, but all I really want is someone to put me to bed and watch me sleep so I know I'll be safe.   It's 3:26 am. I have no one to call. It's just Leonard Cohen and I on Leonard Street, singing through dry lips and fading into the white of the sheets. If I called for help, I doubt they'd find me in the bed. I'm here, though, I'm here.
 Aug 2013 Oli Nejad
brooke
Untitled
 Aug 2013 Oli Nejad
brooke
i suppose that is the end of that.
(c) Brooke Otto

I love you.
 Aug 2013 Oli Nejad
Terry Collett
Carole was one
of the shortest girls
in class;
she had blonde

short cropped hair
and sat next to Miss Pretty,
and was always yakking,
always giving her opinion

on  something or other,
her voice was high
( as if someone had
grabbed her ****

Reynard said),
her eyes blue,
her compact body
(seen from behind)

was clothed in the cardigan
and skirt and blouse
of the uniform of the school.
You watched her

as she put a hand
to the side of her mouth
and whispered to Miss Pretty.
Her thin small hand

hid her mouth;
just the whispering sound
hung on the air.
Can you be quiet, Carole,

Miss Graham, the teacher said.
Reynard whispered,
fancy being married to her;
she'd wear your ears away,

with her non-stop tongue.
And looked at her backside,
imagine that lying next
to you in bed each morning,

he added.
You tried not to,
imagine that is,
not that at least,

Miss Pretty maybe,
you thought,
taking in her thin frame
beside short ***  Carole

sitting next to her.
Miss Graham put on
the Mozart LP
on the record player

and the class sat
bemused or bored,
except Miss Pretty
whose head nodded slowly,

whose foot tapped
a silent beat
and shorty Carole
whose mouth was sealed,

arms crossed,
elbows on the desk,
sat with eyes fixed
on the record player.

While Reynard muttered comments
about both the girls,
debating in whispered voice,
who had the biggest backside,

or smallest *******,
who he would least like
to kiss, while you,
wondering how long

it took for the Mozart guy
to compose the stuff,
noticing Miss Pretty's
pointing finger

conducting,
some imagined orchestra,
her long wrist moving
like a moving swan,

her head to one side,
stirring momentarily,
an odd feeling within you,
which you had to hide.
 Jan 2013 Oli Nejad
Amber Rush
It's still you.
And the days feel like years when i'm alone.
Even the leaves fall for you.
 Jan 2013 Oli Nejad
Michael Ryan
Never afraid to leave
because I know you'll always be here
sad to think that you'll never leave
happy to know I will rely on you
***** to know that I will abuse you
glad to know that I will try my best because of you
my oh my
You've given up nothing, because you gave it all to me
I'm carrying on a torch and without, I'm not much
so thank you for giving me so much of your life
thank you for giving me meaning
thanks so much
my oh my
I can never give as much as you did
nor will I try, evil may I be
instead I will live, happily, to bring a better tomorrow
granting you the greatest pleasure of life
to see your torch move and explore the world unseen
my oh my
you were always afraid for me to leave
always know that I will be there
don't be sad that I will leave
be happy that I rely on you for my strength
know that sometimes my decisions will hurt you
let those decisions remind you, that I will try to make the best
This is for my family once I leave for college, again, I will be leaving this as a surprise for them.
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