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J a c k   t h e   R i p p e r ,  
A K A ,  
T h e   L e a t h e r   A p r o n
r o a m s   t h i s   p l a c e .
A n d   h e r e ' s   a    g e n t  
d e a r   S i r   o r   M a ' a m  
w i t h   w h o m   y o u  
w o n ' t   w a n t  " f a c e   t o   f a c e " .

T o   m e e t   o r   g r e e t  
o n  a  q u i e t   s t r e e t  
m a y   n o t   b e  
s u c h   a   w i s e   i n t a k e .
F o r  i f   y o u   s h o u l d  
I  t h i n k  t h a t  y o u    
w i l l   r e a l i s e   a   b i g   m i s t a k e .

H e  i s   w e l l   r e n o w n  
b y   S c o t l a n d   Y a r d  
f o r   b e i n g   q u i t e  
a   d a n g e r o u s   l a d .
F o r   s u r e l y   h e ' l l  
m a r k   y o u r   c a r d  
a n d   o n c e   h e   h a s  
y o u   w o n t   b e   g l a d .

H e   w a l k s   t h e   t o w n  
b e f o r e   y o u r   e y e s ,  
n o - o n e   l i v i n g  
k n o w s   h i s   f a c e .
P e r h a p s   h e   i s  
o n e   o f   t h e   b o y s  
o r   s e l l s   f r u i t  
i n   t h e   M a r k e t   P l a c e .

H e   m a y  h a v e   m e a s u r e d  
y o u   f o r   a   s u i t .  
C u t   y o u r   h a i r  
o r   s h a v e d   y o u r   c h i n .
O r   t a u g h t   y o u r   c h i l d  
t o   p l a y   t h e   f l u t e .  
O r   l i s t e n e d  
a s   y o u   c o n f e s s   a   s i n .  

B u r i e d   a   m e m b e r  
o f   y o u r   c l a n .  
O r   b a k e d   y o u r   b r e a d .  
A   f a m i l y   m a n .  
T h e   s h o p   k e e p e r  
w h o   s e r v e s   y o u r   n e e d
b y   s e l l i n g   y o u  
y o u r   f a m i l y   f e e d .  

Y o u r   B r o t h e r   i n   l a w  
o r   U n c l e   s u c h .  
T h e   h u s b a n d  
t h a t   y o u   l o v e   s o   m u c h .
T h e   l o c a l   b o b b y  
o n   t h e   b e a t .  
H e   c o u l d   b e  
a n y o n e  y o u   m e e t .

P e r h a p s   i t s   s a f e r  
t o   s t a y   h o m e ,  
h a v e   n o - o n e   t h e r e
j u s t   b e   a l o n e .  
H o l d   y o u r   b r e a t h  
w h e n   d o o r   d o e s   k n o c k .  
K e e p i n g  y o u r s e l f  s a f e  
b e h i n d   t h e   l o c k .

N e v e r   l e a v i n g ,  
s e c u r e     i n s i d e ,  
w i t h   e v e r y   n o i s e  
j u s t   r u n   a n d   h i d e .
O r   t a k e   y o u r   c h a n c e
o u t   o n   t h e   s t r e e t  
b u t   f e a r   o f   e v e r y o n e   y o u   m e e t .

S o   k e e p   y o u r   e y e s  
a n d   e a r s   a w a r e .  
A n   a w k w a r d   l o o k  
a   w e a r y   s t a r e .
F o r   a l l   c o u l d   b e  
s e t   i n   h i s   s i g h t  
w h e n   w e   w a l k   o u t  
  i n t o   t h e   n i g h t .

P e r h a p s   a   c h a n c e  
w e   h a v e   t o   t a k e  
i f   f r e e d o m   i s  
t h e   c h o i c e  y o u   m a k e .
J u s t   h o p e  
a s   y o u r   l i f e   d r a g s   a l o n g   ,  
t h a t  M r   R i g h t ' s
n o t   M r   W r o n g .
24th March 2015
© Copyright Christopher K Bayliss 2014
I am from the starless sky.
From comforting blankets and warm cups of tea.
I am from the warm and quiet, the sometimes cold and stiff.
From the always filled with laughter.
The memory filled air, bright colors fuse.
It was dark silk, that I could not see.
I am from the form of a willow tree, perhaps the scent of a pine tree; the gentleness of a daffodil and the elegance of a tulips petals.
Wallowy branches of the willow tree, ***** scent of it's bark, the wiltedness of its form.
I'm from the gathering of family, greeting as if we were strangers, where sometimes we are separated
From Sharon and Covington, and the Hills'.
I'm from the bright flames in our chests.
From you are your own, and you hold the power.
I'm from the thought of something bigger, but never weighing my heart down.
I'm from mixed races, ones of different traditions. From the hardworking Africans, the dignified Caucasian, the intelligence of Asians. And many more
I am from life lessons, influences, bad memories, and the joy that some days have.
I am from what I dream to be, what I build myself to be.
I am me.
Dr Zik Mar 2015
In side you!
Outside you!
Upside you!
Are downside you?
Where everyone trodden....!
by a few....!
Here and there! Everywhere you!
Who are you?
You for all!
All for you!
Is it fair? everywhere you!
Where Am I?
Who am I?
Here and there! Everywhere you!
Dr Zik Mar 2015
Go where you want
Leave when you want
Say what you want
But when you’ll able to feel
You will find me in your heart
Alys Grey Mar 2015
People tried to listen, cheered me up
Telling me it’s okay and I shouldn't give up
But they will never understand my situation
For a young heart, I felt this kind of desolation

Where were you during the times I feel sad?
When I had a problem and needed a dad.
You didn't find me during the days I'm in lost.
You weren't there when I needed you the most.

Where were you during the times I’m very happy?
When I wanted to hug you and say: “I got an A, daddy!”
I always wanted a man to share my smiles with
But I’m all alone here in this huge labyrinth

Where were you when darkness filled my sight?
When I needed you to be my source of light.
I've been longing in your arms since I was a child,
I waited years for you to be with me in my side.


Until I got tired of waiting for you
Now I know, your promises aren't true
I learned to stand alone wearing only one shoe on my feet,
Yes I could walk, I could run, yet I feel so incomplete

Where were you during the nights I couldn't sleep?
And all I could do is to sulk and to weep.
It flashes through my mind, our old midnight memories
When I was a kid, you were reading me bedtime stories

Where were you during the times I feel in pain?
When I got sick after I played in the rain.
I’m not feeling well and wished for a father's care,
Yet I didn't see you. You were not there.

Where were you during the times I cry?
When everything's not fine and I wanted to die
All you did was to turn my hopes down,
When my only wish is to have you around

Where were you when I compose this poem tonight?
I bet you don’t have any idea that I could even write
I looked at the old photograph of us
It’s sad to know that this picture will be the last.

I've been asking and asking myself always,
Why didn't you return when there was still a space?
Now it's too late and no amount of embrace,
Can take away the sadness and tears on my face.
This one's for you. Tears were falling down when I wrote this crap.
Megan Hoagland Mar 2015
Do you know who I am outside of church?
There's life amidst death after all.
I'm not a scholar.
I'm not a saint.
And I'll admit
I've professed stupid things,
All in your name.
Questioning my beliefs.
With all my insecurities
Faults and failures
How could anyone love me?

With all my past mistakes
***** deeds and regrets
Why would someone care for me?

With all my angry shouts
Suspicions and paranoias
What is there to love about me?

With all these scars
Curves and stretch marks
Who could possibly want me?

With all these little dark thoughts
Depressive words and suicidal stanzas
Where is that one to love me?



*And finally set me free?
Hayley Feb 2015
When I smell dandruff shampoo, I think of my father

I guess my nose remembers him better than my head

When I smell a ***** shirt, I think of my grandmother

I guess my nose remembers her, even though she's practically dead

When I smell my old perfume, I think of him

I guess my nose remembers him, and everything he said
Every time I smell it, I get dizzy and sorta wanna puke
What am I today?
Am I sadness?
Am I longing?
Am I regret?
Who am I today?
Am I a lover?
Am I a mistake?
Am I everything?
Where am I today?
Am I with you?
Am I on your mind?
Am I running?
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