Justin Whittington
Hands
The cold mechanical hands constantly shove us forward,
No time to stop and ponder the voyeurs cell.
For Time is not something to build up or be stored.
Only bouquets varying of plastic and metal, no roses here to smell.
Just the Click, click, click, of their tick, tick, tick.
Up with sun,
All moving to our assigned place.
Another 24 hours done,
Can anyone live through this pace?
Just the click, click, click of their tick, tick, tick.
Always circling in place with the earth’s spin,
all trying to find our place in the universe.
Still like ants we run races we can’t win.
We come bubbling atop one another trying to be diverse.
Just the click, click, click, of their tick, tick, tick.
Factory formed pressed, part of the same gear’s teeth.
Only briefly getting rest,
'Till once again, spun beneath.
Just the click, click, click, of their tick, tick, tick.
Trying in vein to be set apart,
Piercing flesh and breaking bone,
Bad decisions pad our résumé’s like fine art.
Regrets and hard worn wisdom could fill a tome.
Still the click, click, click, of their tick, tick, tick.
Every click closer to death,
Every movement trying to leave our mark.
The hands slowly steal our breath,
Fighting against the hands that slowly tear us apart.
With the click, click, click,
Of their tick, tick, tick.
Just the click, click, click,
Trying to find our tick, tick, tick.
A Song For You, or A Few
(a found poem)
“I’ve Seen Fire and I’ve Seen Rain,”
“Sometimes I think I “Get Off On the Pain.””
“When there’s “No One Left to Blame,”
“For “Life in the Fast Lane.””
“Behind Blue Eyes,”
“ Sometimes, “Sometimes I cry,””
“With these “Hungry Eyes,””
“This is what it sounds like “When Doves Cry.””
“Together forever, we’ll “Never Say Goodbye.””
“Sometimes She Cries.”
“My, my, my, “Once Bitten Twice Shy.””
“Don’t Close Your Eyes!”
“What a shame, What happened to Jane.”
“It sure would be easy to blame all these “Songs About Rain.””
“Through the ages I remember, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,””
“So for better or worse, he’s going down to the “Lynville Train.””
“Cross every “t” and dot every”i” of that “pretty little lie,””
“I keep moving on, “Only God knows why,”
“There’s “nothing Good About “Goodbye,”””
“When I lay me down to die, I’m going up to the “Spirit In The Sky,””
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I'm Watching
Walk a little straighter
For my eyes are upon you,
For whose impression can be greater?
There is no reason to tread softly, for I only see what you do,
What way will your steps point to?
Just walk a little straighter.
Are you a lover or a hater?
I just may walk a mile in your shoes,
For whose impressions can be greater?
Do you rush through life or its tastes will you savor?
Will you stand tall or drown in booze?
Walk a little straighter.
What path will you choose?
Will you show me the don’ts and do’s?
For whose impressions can be greater?
Sooner is always better than later,
Remember I may follow in your shoes.
Walk a little straighter,
For whose impressions can be greater?