UNDERGROUND VOICES MAGAZINE/J.J. CAMPBELL

J.J.CAMPBELL

the justice system

i explain it like this
to everyone i know who
has been a victim of
a violent crime

the justice system
is for the patient

murder is for those
without it

the choice is yours

my ball of energy

here i am again
draining my bloody tears
into another bottle of truth
as i struggle to cope with
the fruits of my bitter
existence

but i notice as that war rages on
other things come with ease now

such as the bullet finding
the chamber

no more guilt

no more fear
the trembles of anxiety
become my ball of energy
piercing deep into the core
of another stormy night

as for where the bullet ends up
your guess is as good as mine

i don't bother to check
the names anymore

i leave that to god

strike up the band

a sense of urgency is
clenched tightly in my hand

blood has started to crawl
from the corner of my mouth

i think i have just realized
that i don't belong here
nor do i believe i ever did

reload the chamber

strike up the band

my last glass of alcohol
shall be my finest

i'll dance these steps
until i get it right

a death worthy
of your love

J.J. Campbell (b. 1976) lives, writes and dies a little each day in the state
of Ohio. He's widely published in the small press, most recently in Spent
Meat, Zygote In My Coffee, Fearless, Open Wide Magazine and Unlikely Stories.
J.J. also has been included in a number of chapbooks, anthologies and a spoken
word project. You can contact him via email at jcampb4593@aol.com