BIRMINGHAM HYPODERMIC

Poetry - written by you





Cashed up and Private

by Chris

You sit over there unruffled and cool
And you look over here and think I'm a fool,
But there's something I think you should know -
If i don't get a 'script i ain't gonna go

Every week you sting me for 3o odd quid
to get it you don't give a fuck what i did.
your only concern is your poxy fee,
how would you really like to be me?

Doctor, Doctor i only need a few,
ritalin, diconal, benzos' too
doctor, doctor it's all up to you,
i need this script - well you know i do

All that you are is a legalised dealer
up in your head you know you're no healer,
But you really don't care, all you want is the bread,
do you wonder how long before i am dead?
do you get off on the power games you play?
tell me doc, you've only to say
do they amuse you, the stories i tell?
or do you just think to yourself - 'oh well'

Doctor, doctor i need only a few
ritalin, diconal, benzos too,
doctor, doctor it's well overdue -
gimme the script and lively too

how long before they get on your case?
do you have enough time or is it a race?
to get all your money safely in hand,
before they stick you up on the stand.
can you escape with your ticket in tact?
you know that disbarment could be a fact.
you keep on selling your ethics for pay
when you fuckin' well know you should call it a day.



Crack ‘n’ Smack
By Sue

By the Cat in the Hat (Based on the poem ‘Green Eggs and Ham’, with huge apologies to the late, great Dr Seuss.

I walked through Brixton late on night
A man stopped me to get a light
He had a face just like a cat
With crazy eyes and a stripy hat
He smiled and said his name was Sam
I am Sam and Sam -I- am
Then softly as i turned my back,
He whispered to me ‘Crack ‘n’ smack?’


Oh no, I thought, oh no, no, no!
I have to run, I have to go!
But no I stayed to make it clear
Why this was such a bad idea.

Chorus:
I do not like that crack ‘n’ smack
I do not like that smack ‘n’crack
I would not, could not serious man
I do not like them Sam- I- am.
I do not like it when I’m sick
I do not like it down the nick
I do not like it when I’m pale
I do not like it in the jail
I do not like it in the gutter
I do not like being a nutter
I do not like it that I sold
My house, my car, my jewels, my gold
I do not like that crack ‘n’ smack
I do not like that smack ‘n’crack
I would not, could not serious man
I do not like them Sam - I - am.

But Sam just stared into the air
And acted like he didn’t care
So I resolved to try again
To make him see my inner pain
I do not - ok - I admit
I really do love that first hit
The creamy rock all set alight
The smoke a perfect shining white
That slowly, slowly thins and clears
Til magically it disappears!
Those ringing bells, that gasping breath
That feeling of impending death
Then a subtle smoke of brown
To slowly, gently bring you down
And then...And then you’re simply there
Nothing ever could compare
BUT...


I do not like that screaming head
That feeling that I’m almost dead
That follows on the mad all-nighter
I do not like it that the lighter
Burns a hole in thumb and fingers
I do not like it that there lingers
In my mouth this cat food taste
I do not like the tragic waste
Of money, money down the drain
Again, again AGAIN, AGAIN!

Repeat Chorus

But Sam just smiled in disbelief
And rolled his eyes and sucked his teeth
And so I tried to make him see
How very hard this was for meI do not like - OK, OK!
I love them more than I could say
Could sit and smoke and chase all day
Could smoke and chase my life away
In total peace, in total bliss
I could not ask for more than this.
BUT...

I do not like the lies, the grief
That croaking voice, those rotting teeth
I do not like my shrunken size
Those missing days, my sunken eyes
I do not like behind that door
Day one, day two, day three, day four
As half asleep and half awake
With skin that crawls and limbs that ache
I try to quell my rising fear
That while I’m lying sick in here
The world’s entire supply of gear
Will suddenly just disappear!


Repeat Chorus

But Sam- I- am just stood and smiled
As I so carefully compiled
Inside my head each pro and con
Then said ‘Oh fuck it, yeah, go on..!’



Two O’Clock in the Morning

T. Bateman

It’s two o’clock in the fucking morning
I’ve had no gear and I’m feeling poorly
There’s no way I’ll last till the break of dawning
Looks like I’m going be going grafting.
But as I said I’m rattling and sweat is dripping
But out I go at two in the morning
Stumbling along don’t know where I’m going
I call it mooching.
Quietly creeping while you are sleeping
I’m so close i can hear you snoring
I’m in your jeans pockets and now I’m off scoring
But there’s no dealers on at two in the morning.
Well it’s nearly three but there’s no harm in trying
I’m feeling worse now my legs are aching
Oi you!! Someone shouts
He’s heard me break in
Aching or not I’m off running.
I’ve got this far I’m not just gonna give in
Through these gardens but the bastards gaining
I’m sprinting, smashing into everything
Behind this wall
Yes, i’ve lost him
I’m breathing heavy and silently praying
How did I get here?
What am I doing at two in the morning,
Behind the wall praying
While I’m violently withdrawing?
From my evil partner, she’s called heroin.
I’ve been waiting for ages now
The do gooder must of done one
I hope he has for both our sakes.
I tell myself he deserved to get robbed
Coz of the money he makes
By the way I’m still running
And got a stitch
Holding my sides coz it’s fucking killing
Nothing’s worth this.
I wish I was dead coz I feel like I’m dying
But I know I’ll soon be cured coz my dealers I’m still trying -
An hour of my life I’ve just read to you
And it goes on and on
Until something in you starts changing
You don’t do it for the buzz no more
Just to feel normal
But I don’t think that’s normal at all
Not anymore.

Pretty Like Drugs
The bellhop
broke mirrors for tears
on a raspy two dollar bill
seeping smoke through
glitter and pearls
of slut dyed rainbows
with star linings.

We tried to
fade heartache like any
Hollywood's starlets sucking
pills for thinness and
model our scars for a
movie calmly flashing
crystal commercials in
retro pupils.

The radio
growls of grinding
hips into a man who cares
with the enlightenment of
cigarettes and glamour
drifting stale candy like
onto our dolled up eyes.

The needles
stuck thick like
rebellious frosting
on our bruises, and we
bled the chemicals
into shot glasses.

Spared
By Randy Edwards
I sometimes wonder why I was spared.
Spared the monster of the detox
Why there was no coma, no death
I wonder how I said I am done, and did for love
Then I realize I was not spared
The devil left me to pick up the ruins I had caused while in his grasp
I was left here for the black hole, and thoughts I could not go on
To sit and wonder who had it worse?
Me to fight or those who perished
I pray for mercy, for the things I did
I pray for peace in my heart again
I realize I was not spared
The monster leaves some of us to feel the pain of the ruin we have left
Or is it God that sent his angels to save me
I ask why me
I know only one answer
To help, to help save the innocent
Innocent like I once was
Before I lost my halo
So I do God’s work, but the monster gets pleasure in my pain
The pain of lost love, beat up friendships, and relationships that detached from me
I ask for mercy, and forgiveness, but I think this is a long ride

From: samwise@twain.oit.umass.edu (shadrach)
newsgroups: rec.arts.poems
summary: written 12-7

I wrote this last week, and I haven't quite decided my feelings about
it. ANy suggestions you have would be great.


Poem:


Pray this marijuana
will sing a little longer.
I hope this toilet paper will
spin will spindle
will creep up up up
I hope this marijuana will impress me until
The comb is exquisitely
expressed in dreams or in issue.
I hope this valium will soothe
the excitability of your colour.
I hope this is a satchel of earth
this is a satchel of
marijuana
of pasta.
I hope this is the lost heroin of
desire
smoking by my bedtable. I hope I am
engulfed by the breakup.
I hope this marijuana will sing a little while
longer.

Cocaine
Cocaine is pretty
It glints in the light
Just like soap powder
Cocaine is pretty, clean
It glints in the
Light
Light, light, light
Heavy

Cocaine has ugly cousins
They feed on the unloved
Feast on the desperate
Showing them in a pretty, pretty
Mirror
Cracked happiness

Punish, punish the unloved
Lock them in soap boxes
Chain morally superior stones to their ankles
Banish them from the light
Light, light, light
Heavy
Unjust like…