I Heart Nj Poem by Michael Garrett

I left NJ behind just as soon as I could.

Left the old 70's era trailer
Where it stood, just behind the bar
where my mom the star
would sneak off to drink and I'd think,
she'd be back soon enough.
The nights were dark and lonely.
Tough with no one to hold me
when the shadows became monsters.
Then awake, to that drunken
Quake, of which
all children of alcoholics can relate.
Left the abuse, corporal punishment
the tears and the neglect
as reflects of rejects in my rearview.
Left the dirty streets, the city heat,
the asphalt and concrete.
The drugs, thugs
and mugs of beer
for fear that I belonged here.
Left the Unattended family graves
And the ocean waves
To bury old memories
except a few I brought with me
that I can't seem to leave be.

I left.

Was Left.

Am all that's left.


And it all seems right.