Crush Crushing

it's like a flutter
the soft brush of a gentle butterfly landing on a little one's button nose
but

but, no -
it's deeper

running, churning
like the waters
carving and twisting
river bends making permanent marks upon the solid landscape
a new glory in an ancient world

a lush, growing environment
it's beauty, unique
everlasting
the wind sways through the wispy leaves of an old oak

endlessly calling, hoping, waiting


yet

an arrow pierces itself through the aging bark
thick, warm sap runs abundantly


my blood spills out from the ruby slash in my chest
he smiles his perfect smile
shining, glowing gorgeously

his delicate fingers twist the metal further into my heart.

i can't describe how much it aches.



- charlie.

It's All In Your head

The walls enclose me,

Nothing to oppose me,

Only the soft echo of white

Even when I’m nothing but polite

People stare,

When it looks like no one’s there.

The mirror is a lie

Because They sit there and watch me die.

No one speaks

But I have their interest peaked.

The notes they write.

Gives their egos more height.

I wonder why,

Why are they shy?

Or maybe they are scared,

Scared of me and the secrets I shared.

The walls enclose them

I oppose them,

My presence echos death,

I say words that leave them without breath.

The walls painted with red

They failed the test, but their results are unsaid.

Because I will be gone,

By the time they find their lives withdrawn.

Smiling, I walk free. No one stares at me

Secrets of the aftermath are safe with a psychopath.

Greyscale

Of such a world I used to ponder,

All of it seen in such vibrant colour,

But naivety‘s light is shrouded by truth,

Those colours becoming but a memory of youth,

Such childish thoughts only ever decay,

All that’s left, the tones of grey.

The Fire

There is a fire burning within us all,

A raging inferno, strong and tall.

It lifts us up, and calls us forth,

To ensure that we all know our worth.

Sometimes our fire may roam and go,

And we may not be able to ‘go with the flow’.

Yet at the end of the day we know,

That we are all free to learn and grow.

The Children

Children are the product of today’s society’s decisions.

In 20 years, what problems will they have to face,

That was created by today’s generation?

Did 5 year old's decide to drill for coal?

Did 7 year old's start and end wars?

Did 9 year old's sanction racism in our society?

No.

They were swaddled by their parents,

Told to keep quiet and play a game.

Told they weren’t wise enough,

To have an opinion that mattered.

Told that when they were older,

They would understand.

I don’t understand.

The world is my oyster,

Or so I was told.

Yet I made no decisions about how it is today,

And my children won’t choose how it is tomorrow.

Why is it that I,

The future of tomorrow,

Have no say in what world I will wake up to?

Give the children a voice,

For they deserve to have a say,

In the world they will occupy,

In the world they will play.

Give the children a voice,

Because isn’t it so,

That children hold the view,

To a beautiful world.

- Bella

Nothing.

you know that feeling of bottomless disappointment
like you're staring down a black hole
and it's pulling you in and dragging you under
until all that's left is the darkness thats absorbed you
and you're nothing anymore
absolutely nothing
worthless

yeah...



yeah -
i know that feeling well.


- charlie.

Light in the Dark

Everything was an endless darkness

A demolished forest unable to grow

I wondered if it would stay this way

But I had no way to know

I don’t really remember much

It was all a blur in the silence 

I don’t remember seeing anything 

There was no light for guidance 

The darkness was getting stronger 

And these thoughts began piling

On the inside I felt like dying

But outside I was still smiling

I could feel it consuming me

This is all too terrifying 

I want to leave it all behind 

But this feeling is undying 

I wanted to end it all

Yet I couldn’t be bothered to try

But even though I didn’t 

I still wanted to die

However there was something nagging at me

Something I couldn’t push away

It told me strange things

Like “people want you to stay”

I thought it would disappear 

That it wouldn’t put up a fight

But even though I doubted it

It gave me some light

It was strange at first

And I couldn’t understand why

Because it had given me light

When I thought happiness was a lie

A simple trick

Carried out by my own mind

I thought it was a ruse

But I made myself blind

“Your a good drawer”

I look up and see

A person incapable of compliments 

Looking down at me

I had been drawing 

And hadn’t even known

But he clearly noticed 

And pulled me out of my dark zone

The rest of the day was peaceful 

Quiet but good

Happiness came back to me

Like I hoped it would

Although it may not last long

It might disappear the next day

I’m trying to cherish it

Before it goes on it’s way

Though it hasn’t been long

It taught me to see

That even if I don’t realise it

People still need me

Truths and Lies

Fillers and gaps

That’s what lies are

They are small and large and duplicate and grow

That’s what lies are

Saving your skin or saving others 

That’s what lies are

Corrupting and twisting and darkening words

That’s what lies are

Shining the light and healing wounds

That’s what the truth does

Breaking facades and destroying rumours

That’s what the truth does

Lies grow more lies

Truths grow more truths

Deep down inside we know the truth

Everything’s a lie and there is no right

Deep in our mind, deep in our soul

We see the scars our secrets leave

Lucky that it’s to deep down to come to light

Seb-

Hades - Of the Underworld

I tripped and fell into his penetrating gaze

A stretching tundra; an endless maze

Reflected were pools of hate and fear

A screaming woman I could not hear

His eyes then illuminated by a raging fire

Fuelled by hate and fanned by desire

A want for a woman torn by words

Her hair of flowers and voice of birds

Where once stood hell, now smouldering coal

Dampened by his weeping soul

Casting shadows on her light

For even rain will darken white

Help, I cried in muted wails

His actions then caused me to pale

In his hands, a sharpened blade

My lips turned marble, my tongue to clay

He held her like a lover lost

Cutting ends but at what cost?

A  death? A life! But not a spirit

He turned it to me, and I did not fear it

Not this time.

2am

what I want

right now

more than anything else

is to turn off my thoughts

click

like a light switch

or a bullet

But what i fear

more than anything else

in the endless ocean of stars and matter we aimlessly swirl around in

hiding many great beasts

and whispers only told when the moon is listening

is what i may find

in the silence

- aria

The wave

I see a wave in the distance.

It peaks from the horizon. Touching the blue sky that’s littered with clouds.

I sit on the beach.

small waves slowly rise and crash, creating the iconic orchestra of calming, repetitive sound.

The wave grows closer.

I look around. The sun is standing proudly among the heavens. She feeds heat that glides down my face; her warm appearance making the sand deep and comforting.

The wave is here.

Cold.

Cold tongues of water glide up my legs; shattering the fragile peace. The wave lumbers above, blocking the air and casting shadows that leak over me. The titan of blue slams into the shore, and the tendrils grab me, dragging me down into the deep blue. My body pathetically swings with the uncontrollable force of the depths.

I scream, I beg, but all that I offer are bubbles that mockingly rise to the surface. My breath runs short and torrents of water fill my lungs as I float deeper and deeper into the great unknown.

I’m lying on the beach.

My body shivers, devoid of heat; the cold gripping and tearing at my insides. I look over.

I see a wave in the distance.

The sky and sun have been locked behind a prison of dark grey dust. The wave threatens me, taunting and aware of its force. My body fights to stand, my limbs weak and unstable.

The wave grows closer.

My feet dig into the wet sand and I focus on the wave.

The wave is here.

It towers over me with no light left to cast a shadow. It rises as a mountain.

And I conjure flames to meet it.

The roar of fire fills the empty air. Sparks and vines of pure heat; a duet, dancing to the sound of my voice. The wave bleeds wisp’ of steam that part the clouds and the electricity stabs through the giant’s body.

The remains of the beast drift back into the great beyond. The sand is dry and warm; the sun, free, smiles down at the earth. I steady my breathing, I lock my body and I concentrate on the horizon.

I see a wave in the distance.

- Alex

Television

Look at me, I say I care while I watch you die

Look at me. I say I love you while I give you poison te eat.

Look at me, I say you’re beautiful while I teach you to hate your self.

I create ignorance

I destroy intelligence

I corrupt innocence

The screen flickers, the waves change and suddenly you don’t know what’s real.

But no matter what happens you can’t shut me down.

My love, lies
My complements, hollow
My compassion, fake

I may not be creating your bruises but I poke and prod the ones he inflicted.

But you won’t quit him either.

Maybe he and I aren’t that different, or maybe your mind is clouded by the lies we feed you.

The Wolf’s Den

Down in the wolf’s den

The pups sleep deep

Down in the wolf’s den

The earthworms crawl

Deep in the woods

A wolf hunts its prey

Out in the forest

The rabbit flees

Down in the wolf’s den

The pups are awake

Deep in the wolf’s den 

Hunger interrupts their sleep

Deep in the woods

A wolf hunts it’s quarry 

Silent in the trees

A gun waits alone.

Outside the wolf’s den

A gunshot pierces the silence

Down in the wolf’s den

The pups are scared

Deep in the woods

Blood trickles in the grass

Alone in the forest

A wolf lays silent

At the edge of evening the wolf finds her den

Before the dusk, the pups get their mother.

And at the cabin, the hunter eats rabbit.

Lingering.

 your past will always follow you.

tighter and tighter it truly suffocates.
the dull blade of yesterday
endlessly scratching at my thoughts
desperately trying to wiggle its way in
and although though my fortress is now strong
it still leaves a mark.



- charlie.

look around

Look around

And she stood there and said so brave
Are these lives not good enough for you to save
You’re brave enough to stand here but not to answer me
Look at us we’re falling to pieces or are you too blind to see

He shakily stood there not knowing what to say
For he did not picture this to happen today
Not realising how bad he affected them he wanted to explain
But he could not so his eyes feel to the ground in shame

The girl stares at him, can you not answer me or look me in the eye
He shivers in fear and tilts his head as if to try
The girl stand silently not daring to back down
For she believes she can stand her ground

He wearily looks around, this is what his life has made
Are the screams and terror ever going to fade
All because he made one terrible mistake
And now these peoples lives and hearts are on stake

Only know figuring out how young the girl is
Too young to be facing such things as this
He cannot fix it but he should walk away
They both know he is not welcomed to stay

Taking one last look at the things he has done
Know knowing these people have never had no fun
He steps back and turns on his heel and slowly walks away
Hearing a release of breath from the girl realising she is no longer the prey

-AJ

The Name Game

He calls me by the wrong name

To him it’s just a game

Is hurting me the aim?

Or am I the one to blame?

He says it’s just a nickname

That’s what he seems to claim

I can’t say I feel the same

It really is a shame

They say bullying is what it became

That he did it all just for fame

But this feeling of guilt overcame

They all try to proclaim 

‘YOUR NOT THE ONE TO BLAME!’

But this feeling is untame

It burns inside me like a flame

I don’t understand what he is trying to gain

All I am trying to exclaim

Is please don’t misname

A poem of Words

Words,

A strange collection of noises.

Spoken,

Lost to the wind

Forever to the mind.

Words

can cut,

They are a blade,

Digging deep into flesh.

Piercing through layers,

And cracking through bone.

Words,

They are hooks.

Hooks that catch you.

Hooks that drag you.

Drag you into black depths.

Words,

can manipulate.

They can warp the ground you stand on,

Changing reality.

A veil that hides.

Words,

are snakes.

Choking the sound.

Stopping the air.

And feeding denial.

Words,

They can infect.

They can resonate.

A poison drowning your sanctuary,

Until it leaks.

Words,

They can make you do things.

That you would never do.

You WOULD NEVER DO.

Would you?

But words,

The very thing that fills your mouth,

They can do so much more.

Words,

they spark fires.

Fires that burn within hearts.

The fires that run within your bones.

The fires that make you win.

Words,

Kissing you with love,

Filling you with warm, sweet chocolate.

Bringing blush to the skin,

and roses to grow.

Words,

They inspire.

They can move mountains,

Shake oceans,

And take down the heavens.

Words can build,

They paint worlds.

Like an Autumn sky with cotton candy clouds.

Or Rushing traffic and bitter coffee.

But they can paint people too.

Messy hair, crooked glasses, soft lips.

Loud noises, bumping shoulders, dark clothes.

They can trigger sensations.

Like the embrace of an oversized jumper,

Or the smooth waves of clean sheets,

Gliding across freshly shaved legs.

Words can teach,

They can bring light to dark corners,

They can prepare you,

Protect you,

And remind you why it’s worth it.

- Alex

Follow your dreams- CANCELLED

Work. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
Over and over and over again
Was it always like this?
I don’t remember
As soon as high school came it was drilled into my mind, all of our minds
Some cant take it so they don’t repeat,
They continue to sleep.
I think I wanted to join the circus
At least for as long as it was around...it died with the others
All dreams were killed

It doesn’t matter anymore
All that matters is:
Work.
Eat.
Sleep.
Repeat.
Unless...huh...maybe one dream still remains

A dream for dreams

-charmander 

Love Is Bliss

Love is bliss.
Like sugar, sweet and pure,
but you may soon become dependent.

Love is hidden.
Like a waterfall, secluded and peaceful,
but it may soon dry up.

Love is addictive.
Like a drug, rare and powerful,
but you may soon overdose.

Love is pain.
Like a cut, torture and addictive,
but you may soon bleed out.

Love is toxic.
Like poison, inconspicuous and deadly,
but it may soon kill you.

Love is temporary.
Like a fall, quick and regretted,
but you’ll always hit the ground.

My Belle

a smile creeping onto broken lips
flurrying, dancing like little ballerinas poised, in her brain
fingers intertwine nervously;
the land of salt and sea
tentative looks, although momentarily
crashing harder than any wave ever could.

the branches of an olive tree
held together 
twinkles of hope glimmer between melancholy browns
small and fragile 
an embrace, a thought - 
a winter coat swaddling a new baby
protected from a frost-bitten reality

her endless eyes could really warm me no matter what...

or so I thought.

soft-spoken lies.
nothing more than what a mother tells her frightened child - 
'there are no monsters in your closet'
check again, mother
'it's time for bed'
i'll never rest.
'but monsters aren't real darling'
oh, but they are.

ugly, bloody, lustful atrocities 
seven.
seven sins.

'i don't want to do this anymore'

- charlie.

Dare to Dream

a low drone buzzes in the early hours of a new day 

but the flitting about of tired, endlessly working creatures has finally stopped

no longer a lively jingle of life

but rather a metallic hum of machines whirring into the night

the moon glances down with its watchful eyes, lighting up the darkness

below, one of them nestles into bed

'protected' by cloth

unknowing of what's to come.

'safe'.

...

The deep feeling of heaviness finally pushes me under and I feel my eyelids slowly drop until the darkness engulfs me.

Relief. Finally.

...

a familiar wonderland stimulates a lone wanderer

the dark forest hugs them tightly;

a bug; a mere speck in the endless utopia stretching out before her eyes

she moves her sluggish body forwards trudging on down the trodden forest path, brown mud swirling in between her toes with each lazy step she takes.

the kind comfort of the forests familiarity makes her feel safe 

shes been here many times before

her home.

it reminds her of honey

the breeze flowing through her hair

she can almost taste its sweet remnants on her tongue

she lets her eyes explore the gentle, dense forest she’s come to know 

greeted by delicate loving yellows, cooing cool blues, flourishing reds among their friendly, homely greens - all a wondrous collage of home

it holds her tight and safe.

her paradise

as she fumbles down the aging path, the sun shines on her face and makes her feel like honey; golden and warm

the glorious heavens peep through the vast canopies many lengths above her 

she feels happiness as she walks - the sort only others can dream of, spending their entire lives desperately searching for it and never coming close.

but what is an ecstatic happiness can become a terrifying nightmare in the flash of a second.

as she listens to the caressing sound of birds singing their cheerful melodies they begin to morph into something new.

swirling, growing into harsher, angrier songs

darker and darker, no longer melodies but an obnoxious piercing trill

AH, AH, AH

'what the hell?'

AH, AH, AH, RAHH

she feels her feet fall to the wet forest floor as their songs, once akin to a soothing lullaby, screech louder and louder, higher and higher and make her brain feel as if it may explode

louder,

louder,

louder,

she clutches her head in pain; her ears crying at the clashing screams

'STOP IT!'

AH, AH, AH, A-

'I SAID STOP IT!'

the cries grow angrier

AH, AH, AH, AH, AH, AH, AHHH-

it's as if they are intent on killing

AH, AH, AH, AH, AH, AHH, AH, AHHHAHH

'SHUT THE HELL UP!'

AH, AH, AH, AH, HA, HAH, AH

she manages to squawk out a cry

AH, AHAHAH, AHHAHAHHAHHAHA

but all other sound is muffled by the clashes of anger; a kettle about to spill – pressure rising

'WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING AT ME?'

AHAHAHAHAH, HAHAH, HAHAH, HAHAH

she tries to lifts her head from the earthy, damp floor, prying her eyes open with as much force as she can muster.

it’s like a thousand bricks have been placed on her chest but the screams – well the screams don’t care

her breath catches in her throat as she jumps up to find a way out but is taken aback by the concrete wall of sound

her ears leak in blazing agony; red, hot liquid pouring out from inside

AHHA, HAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAHA, HAHAHA, AHAHAH

all that fills her head are yells

stop it.

HAHAHA, AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHHAHAHAHAHAHHA

stop.

HAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

salty tears dribble down her cheek

HAHAHHHHHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHA

stop.

HAHAHHHHHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHHHHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHA

please.

...

I thrash my legs in an effort to kick the covers off me and sit up at a lightning pace, my head throbbing from the rush of blood.

I force breath down my tight throat. My chest feels like a great weights been lifted.a

What the hell.

What the actual fricking hell was that?

I look around my room with its pink painted walls – mum and I really need to repaint them, geez.

But everything looks the same. Normal.

Except… I don’t feel normal.

That felt so… so real.

BZZ! BZZ!

My thoughts are interrupted by the familiar chime of my phone, illuminating my room with its intrusive blue light, projecting its hologram from my desk in the corner.

I look at my grey, industrial-looking alarm clock next to my bed.

3:59

I fumble for my glasses in the pitch black.

A little dark ball plants itself in my throat.

I grasp for my phone and fumble hastily pressing the worn on button. A familiar name flashes across the screen

Missed call from Dad – no message left

Dad?


- charlie.