In eighth grade, I started writing poetry with my friend, David Zimmer. I wrote through my freshmen year of college, but haven’t since. I’ve dug up some of the old stuff and thought it would be good to share. It has been good to go back and read of what was on my heart and mind. I didn’t journal at the time, so my poems have helped discern what I was thinking about. Read and enjoy.

Disguised Entrapment

The gates open, the people flock,
Mindlessly traversing the streets.
The children appear happy, always wanting more,
The parents spending money on every whim.
Employees man their stations, put on their masks
And start the machines that control masses.
Hour by hour hearts and minds are conformed
To the ways of the money-hungry tyrant.

Tired feet, weary wallets, strife is in the air,
Children begging, parents reluctantly submitting;
And arguments arise pulling families apart.
Stained shirt, dirty diaper, a hat is lost.
The children restlessly squirm and complain;
Operators biting in reply, only to send them around once more;
Getting dark, all smile for finale;
They turn and go, for the day has finally ended.

The gates close, the people flee
With only dollar in hand,
For they have experienced
The unspoken terror of Disneyland

To A Murderous Mother

The choice to give life or take it away;
You all but think that the baby will pay.
This precious child is now going to die,
Because you believed this wretched evil lie.
You’ll never see the portraits in crayon and paint;
You’ll never hear the “I love you”s soft and faint;
You’ll never tuck in the child warm and snug,
Or feel the little arms give great big hugs.
The sounds of laughter shall never be heard at all,
As you chase the child down the hall.
Your house and heart are quiet, empty, and still
For one small boy or girl will never fill.
The baby has a request, so simple and so bleak-
To forgive his mommy and kiss her on the cheek.