Cross and Passion College, Kilcullenbridge, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare

Great Expectations

 

Expectations to meet and succeed

They will crush you for your own good

Expectations so great that even you can’t reach

They can get bring you success and a future

Expectations that not even a natural can surpass

You need to meet your very own great expectations

Expectations set by everyone else

 

I Come From

 

Sleepless nights fearing the day

Loathing the ping to a new message received

Forced apologies and being told it was a “joke”

Being called slurs and unloved

Being told to not hold onto the past when it’s the past that’s shaped me

Fearing the day to come out and be who i am

Being called her “brave little soldier”

Instead of son or daughter

Living just to spite those who hate me for being true to myself

Being called brave and inspiring for just being who I am

Being the very person I was always

Support and love

A tarnished past that’s being polished by the day

 

I Miss Home

 

I miss the dead walls, 15 papers thick

With a healthy layer of nicotine cream and trousers bursting at the seams.

Boreens, hidden rivers and hiding fields to run from oul fellas and dream teams of big teens.

And they were so tall.

She pegs away screaming; “cá bhfuil mo aintín?”

Poteen poured on open wounds.

Love in the bottle of big bucks black barrel, but a child;

Soft in the arms of addicts upon addicts and don’t touch the drink you’ll be just like your granny.

The devil. Bony, old and groaning. Running down south screaming “he does nothing but control me”,

Running from rehabs, hiding from healthcare.

Cirrhosis not quick enough to beat her lung cancer.

 

Fear of Speech

 

Laughter laughter shatter shatter

The silence shall always deafen you

As for breathing only stirs nothing but wind

And for speaking only stirs questions and doubt that keeps you caged in

Answer, answer! they tell you

All you mutter is nadda nadda (no, no)

Silence speaks words

But speaking only brings either confidence or tolerance

Laughter laughter – shatter shatter

 

He Sits at the Back of the Class

 

He sits at the back of the class, with all of his friends.

Acts like he knows it all, but it’s all pretend.

It’s 8:55, just waiting for the bell.

Waiting for the jokes and catcalls to end.

You want to speak up but don’t know how,

They only thing you want is for it to end now.

Finally, 9am, now the teachers in power

“Lads stop messing” and it’s all over.

Deep down you know, that’s it’s only a break

Then lunch time comes and now your sanity is at stake.

He’ll pick out anything to make a joke,

Try to say “stop” and you’ll feel like you choke.

 

Purgatory

 

There comes a time in everyone’s life

When life’s clock strikes fifteen or sixteen

When every parent starts to see you as an adult

And a child

It’s like my very own purgatory

Most of the time, I’m their little angel still.

But when the grass needs cutting or the dinner needs making,

That is when responsibility is of utmost Importance

I don’t know when this purgatory will end,

Probably when the grass is cut.

 

Useless Piece of Meat

 

In my mouth, my tongue felt a useless piece of meat

It flips and flops in my mouth as it tries to convey the million thoughts in my head

But still the message is lost in my stutters and mumbles

So I resign to silence and go along with being labelled quiet

Disregard what I want to say as it is easier to be quiet

For some people, words are able to stream out of their mouths like a flowing river

For me the words only dribble out of mine on it’s way to the gutter

 

Love and Hate

 

The hate I have for early mornings and new shoes,

Obnoxious boys and judgemental girls

The love I have for unexpected packages and laughing till I’m crying,

Sunny days and old friend.

The sadness I have lonely people and clothes now to small,

Agreements with parents and old memories now forgotten.

The anger I have abusive parents and discrimination,

Smug winners and sore losers.

 

Self Reflection and Love

 

I live in the countryside and have to live with myself so,

I want to be able for myself to know.

I want to love myself and be able to look at myself in the eye

Without feeling the need to cry.

 

As days go by and sun starts to dawn,

I want to be able to know I’m not the only one.

The only one who feels needs to change.

Through thick and thin even if I feel I need to be ranged.

 

I love who I am and who I’ve come to be,

Cause that is myself and I have to agree

 

I’m Here

 

What’s my purpose?

What am I doing?

Why am I here?

Who Am I?

 

I’m here for them

I’m here for those who love me

I’m here for those who hate me

I’m here for him, and her.

 

I’m here because they love me

I’m here because of them

I’m here for the last 15 years, when there was nothing that mattered more than me

I’m here because the gap I would leave is too big

 

I’m here because they want me here

I’m here because who will he hate if I’m gone?

I’m here because who will she love if I’m gone?

I’m here for them.

 

Still Here

 

I’m still here which is a miracle

Since to me my life is only theoretical

My life isn’t sucky

Intact I’m quite lucky

I’m just lonely

And feel like a phoney

I want someone to be with me

But until then I’ll be as happy as can be

 

They Pray

 

They pray four times a day, they pray five.

Who joins in unity when they need to survive?

Some won’t look at each other for a high five,

Some will take you down in a fast drive by.

What’s with the ignorance?

Why can’t we spread our wings like Icarus

And share everything like Saint Nicholas

 

My Life

 

My life was good,

Had a fun childhood.

But as I grew older,

This man came to me,

He sold everything I had,

When my vision was too blurry to see.

He’d sell water to a drowning man,

He will do whatever he can,

Just to ruin my plan.

Then I met this girl,

Named her sunny,

She lit up my life,

And made me see things that were once dark,

If only the sun would rise again,

I am tired of staring at the moon.

 

This Random Guy

 

This random guy chattin on the screen

Makes life seem like a lazar beam

Makes me think of Jesus and keem

Makes me want to turn into a demon

How has he done this to me

Makes me feel like strawberry cream

How’s had he tricked my mind

Makes me want to eat purple rice

 

Sitting Here

 

I’m sitting here and I don’t know what to write

I drink sprite?

I’m 16 years old and I guess I’ve been bold?

My name is Ryan

And my dad’s name is Brian?

I watch a lot of movies, some say too much

But I don’t really care, I just give them a punch.

I play video games

And uhhhh I call people a lot of names

 

SometI’mes

 

Sometimes I just feel like, quitting I still might

Why do I put up this fight, why do I still write?

Sometimes it’s hard enough just dealing with real life

 

Untitled

 

The mysterious man

He was a fan

Until he became bad

And was very sad

He came to my house

Grabbed my granny by the blouse

Headbutted her in the head

Almost made her dead

Out in the fog

There lay my dog

 

No Money

 

The man with braids standing with a cold blade,

Is the reason why I’m not getting paid.

So I make music to blow up like an air-raid.

This is how we’re supposed to teach kids how to behave.

 

I Am

 

I am in the fog

I ate my dog

Her nan is my fan

But is a nan