Exclusive Ink

Tag: a.j.

  • WHEN IT HAPPENED

    by A.J.

    I heard the bone breaking
    in my friend’s arm. As I watch
    him walk bent over away I see his
    disfigured arm dangle away
    bouncing off his side.

  • BREAKFAST

    by A.J.

    Waking up to sizzling bacon on a Saturday
    morning makes me aroused like sunshine burning
    in my eyelids. I can imagine the taste
    of the bacon and the smell the grease and
    the pop of it. My stomach rumbles in anticipation.

  • ONE WORD AT A TIME

    by A.J. & SHAWN

    Great lakes splashing colorful mists below me.
    Boats steaming rapidly smell like oysters,
    fresh from bathtubs where I pass cups of saltwater
    over outstretched lips, chapped, thirsty.
    Forever dry, the pillows floating like capsules of
    aspirin throughout constant prayer, filtering extremely emotional
    fists against specific penitents.
    Bubble pops, reality kicks – you’re contagious with
    your beautifully ugly self-esteem
    leading your unstoppable growth;
    it’s scary with fragile arms broken, bent, and hurt.
    Mood swings dropping lightly like antennae – no signal –
    balanced between fingertips gripping
    yesterday’s throat.
    Crystalline, that’s my fruit punch.
    Emotional dinosaurs soar over the lagoon;
    I stare up –
    brightly colored stars – they’re so beautiful
    that I begin to remember you in harsh memories
    that I try to bury alive but it keeps connecting with the horrible memories.
    Stuffed bunnies, recycled trash, and tough love
    spreads like roaches eating peanut-shaped sweets,
    physical darlings scattering abundantly.
    Clangers clang.
    Kaboom.

  • DROP ZONE

    by A.J.

    I sit down and strap in,
    All I can think is that I cant wait for this to end.
    The carnie tells me, “Keep your hands and feet inside at all times.”

    I see all the kids waiting in lines.
    Not one looks the least bit terrified.
    But me? I’m thinking…I’m out of my freakin’ mind.
    I look to my right and see Jeremiah lookin’ hard as can be,
    but for some reason, he cant stop shakin’ his knees.

    ERRRRR! The right starts up.
    Suddently, I feel as though I might throw up.
    We started ascending and my feet lifted off the ground.
    We start to pass the Ferris Wheel goin’ round and round.

    As we reach the end of our journey all the way up,
    I’m feelin’ breathless from the waist up.
    It felt like something inside me was gonna erupt.
    For a moment…there was no gravity.

    I could see the whole city.
    Everything stopped.
    I could feel my heard beat.
    Then, it began…

    We go down at a speed you couldn’t imagine
    I scream the whole way down.
    Everyone could hear me, even in the town.
    Once I got to the bottom, I thanked God that he let me live <3
    I will never ride the “Drop Zone” again.
    Now I have more life to give.

  • NUMB

    by A.J.

    Where were you last night?
    my wife snaps at me
    as I stumble through the door
    drunk as a lying man could be.

    I stare at her green eyes.
    She can see past my unbelievable lies.
    Her mouth moves as it’s done before,
    spitting, cursing, yelling.

    But her violent words don’t stop the room
    from spinning or me from caring.
    Her hand slaps my numb face
    and tries to put me in my place.

    A door slams.
    Our window shatters.
    I pass out on the couch.
    Nothing matters.

    I finally awake from my deep slumber.
    Boy oh boy what a bummer!
    The house is empty.
    I can’t believe she left me.

    I slowly arise
    and to my surprise
    everything in the house is gone,
    well, her stuff anyway.

    I walk around the house
    looking for clues.
    Where did she go?
    No one knows.