Barber-pole off-cut

by Jack Ohms

“ - survival
just
seems like writhing
in a pit
of starving adders,
these days”,

I said,..

but everyone looked away
or took a sip,
fingered a rolled
cigarette.

me and my
big mouth

but I feel it

here

and it’s real

and the personally-executed
death sentence seems
too good for me
sometimes.

I know,

that’s why I’m still around

and something to do
with mercy

for the Hell balance of it all;

hence the white-wall backdrop;
the €12-a-day per patient
seven days-a-week.

quite cheap.


*(€ -- Euros)