escape the looney bin. By Jck Hnry

he pulls his catheter out

& runs free in the streets,

one last time, before he tires

& settles down in the middle

of a crosswalk on a busy street -

traffic stops, voices shout, fists wave

in the stifling heat;

no one knows what to do

when a crazy half-dressed man

blocks the flow of traffic -

he laughs as caregivers call out

to him, plead with him to

‘just come back to safety’ –

some cars creep by, horns scream,

but nothing would pull his smile,

nothing could quell the roar in

his skull, all the words he wanted

to say, but nothing ever came out

clear enough to be understood –

he just sits there until the Peoria PD

calls me, says, ‘your father is blocking

traffic,’ and i think, ‘good’ –

sometimes stopping traffic is the

only way the crazy can be understood

& in that moment

we harmonize with madness for

just a little while -

jck hnry is a writer/publisher/editor, based in southeastern california.  recent publications include:  Deuce Coupe, Rye Whiskey Review, Razur Cuts, Cajun Mutt, Dissident Voices, Horror Sleaze Trash, Bold Monkey, Red Fez, dope fiend daily and a bunch of other noble zines and journals.  Books include:  “With the Patience of Monuments (neoPoesis) ,” “Crunked, (Epic Rites)” and the upcoming "Driving w/Crazy (Punk Hostage Press, 2020).”  hnry is also editor and publisher of Heroin Love Songs and 1870. for more go to jackhenry.wordpress.com.