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J.J. Campbell

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before giving me the news
 
fading lights
 
and the hope
that tomorrow
will be better
dies with the
sun
 
i laughed on
the day my
father died
 
a woman told
me i got her
pregnant but
had the abortion
before giving
me the news
 
i congratulated
her on making
the best decision
possible
 
i have enough
people that hate
me already



punish myself for existing
 
i succumb to
my demons
late at night
 
it's usually
alcohol and
porn
 
sometimes
i'm eating
my emotions
 
or on the
fun nights
 
i punish
myself
for
existing
 
they tell
me they
have pills
that could
help me
 
i explain to
them i don't
mind being
the martyr
 
besides, my
insurance
won't cover
anything that
actually works

J.J. Campbell (1976 - ?) is old enough to know better. He's been widely published over the years, most recently at Record Magazine, The Dope Fiend Daily, Misfit Magazine. Yellow Mama and The Beatnik Cowboy. You can find him most days on his mildly entertaining blog, evil delights. (https://evildelights.blogspot.com)
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