POETRY: KIRBY

I NEVER GOT OVER 60 LIKES

O, darlin’s

When hasn’t life been expendable?

Another train departs

tossed on a heap of disposables

Cell phones plastics mountains

There is no law

Only the monied

This too shall pass

We already know the ending

We’ve seen it

Left before the credits

“I didn’t think it would be such a downer.”

“This sucks, let’s leave.”

“Why did you unfollow me?”

“You unfriended me bitch”

Like that’s the end of the world.

Just one click

In a darkened theatre

We stay to the bitter end

The price of the ticket

To see what might happen

Any surprises plot twists

“I didn’t see that one coming”

“I did.”

The oldies the goodies

The good guys show up

Oft times even only one

To set the captives free

To take down the evil ones

Shot in glorious black and white

Light projected a fresh stream

the cup of one’s hands

When there was free water to drink

“Can I have a glass of water?”

“Water some water please”

“My daughter needs some water.”

You only think you’re tired

The entire tired sick fucking world is

It sucks to be tired

tired of this all of this

Maybe I’ll message Christopher
​
See if they’re tired, too.

KIRBY’s earlier chapbooks include Cock & Soul, Bob’s boy, The World is Fucked and Sometimes Beautiful, and She’s Having A Doris Day. Their full-length debut, This Is Where I Get Off is now in its second printing (Permanent Sleep Press, 2019) and currently being adapted for the stage. Kirby is the owner and publisher of knife | fork | book. www.jeffkirby.ca