My Life Poem by Fergal Dunne

Nothing left now that the summer is gone
But freezing cold nights in a tower block slum.
Watching television, words going over your head,
Eating cereal for dinner wishing you were dead.
The neighbours are fighting, you hear through the wall
Over that God dam parrot who died after all.
It lived in a smelly dirty cramped cage
Probably killed itself rather than wait for old age.
Perhaps it got a glimpse one night on TV
Of parrots flying in the forest open and free.
Thought to itself so that’s what I long for and miss
Might as well end it than live like this.

And your life is now critical
You’ve lost your very soul
Forbidden fruit not tasted
Last years school leavers collecting dole.
You even look older
But your still so young
And life has turned cynical
Your days run one into one.
Sleeping in a cold damp bed
Dirty wallpaper peeling above your head.
Your parents arguments as you chip paint
The Wonder Years I tell you this ain’t

Street crime and ghosts haunt your every move
Sometimes thinking I can’t stay in this groove.
To yourself you say I gotta be true
So you keep on fighting because that’s what you do.
You go to the bus stop avoiding the lane,
Some people shout out calling your name
You keep on walking heart beating fast,
Speeding up a bit until the danger has past.
Your school books are second hand and dog-eared
But in them you find something sincere.
So you keep on learning and believing someday
People will listen to the words that you say.