Cursed Ghost

Photo by Fatt Diaz

The trains pass underneath my heavy feet

As I stand on the bridge in the summer heat.

I’ve stood here for months, observing the seasons,

Listening to strangers and their endless reasons.

They pass me, they stop, they never leave.

I wish I had a single moment to breathe.

But the trains keep flying by like the time,

And I only have this bridge, so I call it mine.

Soft conversations slip by my pale ears,

The kind that only a cursed ghost hears.

Yet, it’s never silent, and I find it sweet,

Even when the snow is louder than the streets.

The wheels keep singing their endless songs.

I stand on my tiptoes, righting my wrongs.

The trains pass underneath my heavy feet,

And I’m stuck between death and simple defeat.

-Jackie

Shapeshifter

Photo by David Tandilashvili

My body transcends through time and matter,

I morph into creatures no one can imagine.

Every new form feels more broken and scattered,

But I cannot stop.

My ego’s too fragile.

Bones turn to mush and warm skin hardens.

Suddenly I fear that my pain will find me.

If I quit it now, will my soul be pardoned?

Will my crucifixion be brutal and timely?

-Jackie

Playing Pretend

Photo by Duané Viljoen

I lie because everyone around me is smiling

And I must smile too.

Imitations upon imitations arguing over timing,

But I’m here too.

I’m smiling too.

Why do they believe me when I do?

Do I seem like an impressionable fool?

I get headaches when my face forgets how to be true

And my pupils use irises as their pools.

I pretend because the others seem happy

And I must have joy too.

One day the web of lies will trap me.

It will trap you too.

-Jackie

Hunger Pangs

Photo by Faizi Ali

Time bares its teeth,

Growling from the trees,

But I do not slow down,

I do not bandage my heels.

The seconds trickle,

Lose their value like nickels.

I don’t have much,

Just a dozen nibbles.

The hunger grows,

My starving pride growls.

Three hours to midnight,

Then I’ll lose the crowds.

I run on empty

In this city of plenty.

Can you sense the fury?

I would leave if you let me.

-Jackie

The Two Robbers

Photo by ἐμμανυελ

Honey, save me a seat at the oval table

And keep all those mouths taped for me.

Erase my thoughts through melting cables,

Laugh, but don’t let the public see.

We live like ravenous beasts on Sundays,

Then bow to the gods as the sun implodes.

Time feels like pins and needles on weekdays.

In our heads, we balance the seven globes.

Honey, keep me awake as the moon dances,

Pray while I sleep the greed away.

Do you think this town would give us a chance?

Honey, we are sacred, yet we kill prey.

We cut bare necks like some cut losses,

We crawl through streets on severed limbs.

No matter who our path crosses,

They fear us like they fear cruel kings.

-Jackie

Racing The Rats

Photo by Fidan Nazim qizi

My tepid flesh is failing me,

My bones turn dry and frail.

I reached for visionary peaks,

Now I have a tiger by the tail.

My body took a hundred beatings,

It got used to my betrayals.

Will it survive another week?

Will it return me to the cradle?

I know I must stop the race,

Burn the finish line to dust.

My lungs will give up air

If I keep mixing love and lust.

Is there hope for the restless?

Do I deserve a gram of peace? 

My tired thoughts pull the lever

As I fall to my knees.

-Jackie

From The Edge Of Eternity

Photo by Alexey Demidov

Let the softness of my fingertips

Curse your heart and curse your lips.

How does it feel to lose control,

Watch your lover lose their soul?

I bet you have regrets and excuses,

You hope to call me a deadly muse.

All you have left are faded words,

Swearing to never lift a sword.

But all I can do is let you sleep,

Yell from the edge of eternity.

Let the memories steal your sanity,

Drown in belated apologies.

-Jackie

Perish

Pages turn to ashes,

Words sink into the lashes.

I remember every phrase,

Every break and empty space.

The feeling lingers

Like the touch of your fingers.

Time fades the scars

And the lies in your car.

I know I will forget,

Leave this dark safety net.

Some memories will stay,

Hide in pots and trays.

But the pages will perish

With the words I once cherished.

You will become a story

I tell people who bore me.

-Jackie

Off With The Head

Photo by beyza yurtkuran

I burn incense in my room,

I hide masks under my bed.

When the first rose blooms,

Off with your head.

I switch up my tune daily,

I rewrite all your lines.

Violence does not phase me,

It is just a pantomime.

I drink molten wax,

I turn it into eulogies.

My stories never track,

And neither do your apologies.

I burn incense in my room,

I hide masks under my bed.

When the first rose blooms,

Off with your head.

-Jackie

3AM

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood

The loop will close, and I will drown in my own selfish sorrow.

I fall asleep counting sheep, knowing they will kill me tomorrow.

There are reasons written all over my walls and the ceiling,

But the language is foreign, so I trip and get lost in my feelings.

There is no one waiting for me in the bottom of this well.

Still, I know that some hope my fate will drag me back to hell.

The loop closes, and I let my wishes get mixed with the sand,

Dreaming about a land where someone reaches for my hand.

-Jackie