Long Sleeves (a poem)

Hey, folks.

So I used to play in bands, write songs, and all that fun stuff. Don’t have the time for it anymore, but this was always one of my favorite originals to play. So I figured, might as well share it, now as a poem.

The title comes from a girl I knew years and years ago. She was addicted to heroin, and told me the worst part about it was having to wear long sleeves in the summer to hide the marks on her arms. That conversation stuck in my mind, and a few years after having it, this came out me:

Long Sleeves

it all started off innoccently

or at least that’s how it seems

they know

what happens

but they swear

this time it will be different.

just pokin fun

cuz we’re young and dumb

but what’s the excuse after today

when the means for life

takes a new shape

and your fun has faded away?

when’s enough enough?

when’s enough enough,

for the girl

who wears long sleeves

in the middle of the summer?

one minute you feel so good

but the next you’re so ashamed

what’s a piece of your soul

for a hit of a drug

if it helps you get through

the day?

got off to a bad start today

still have tomorrow for another chance

when life takes

a passing glance

do you wish

that you would’ve just stayed away?

when’s enough enough?

when’s enough enough,

for the girl

who wears long sleeves

in the middle of the summer?

Thanks for reading!

-CT

Christopher Tallon writes, podcasts, and…wait a second. Are you actually reading this? High five!

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