Welcome to this shelter.
I work here, at the shelter.
I’m not really kind:
I let this place be my conscience.
But that’s enough about me-
It’s supposed to be about you.
I won’t ask why you’re here:
Tell us when you’re ready.
Welcome to our facilities:
Lounge, telephone, quiet room
With a box of tissues.
The government gave us a grant.
We all hope they won’t withdraw it
Telling us the date we close,
Like they’ve done to other shelters
Only just this year.
Welcome to this refuge.
No-one needs to know you’re here.
It’s all safe and confidential:
You can trust the staff.
This feels like reading out a pamphlet-
Fire regulations next.
Is it just a job, I wonder?
Is my heart engaged?
Welcome to our haven.
We’re not allowed to get too close,
And that’s convenient for me
Because I wouldn’t want to.
Hope you get your problems sorted,
Go back out into the world,
Leaving room for someone new.
Now, there’s a grim idea!
I write occult and visionary fiction, and self-publish it as free books. I also write poetry and flash fiction, some of which is occult and visionary but not all, and I belong to a Spoken Word group for writers in my local area.
My Instagram is candyray1 and my WordPress blog is candyrayblog.wordpress.com
If you would like to have your work published in The Poetry Bar send your poem, a few words about yourself and the link to your blog and Instagram account to the e-mail poetrybar1@gmail.com