CW: reference to overdose

when it was less hectic, when it was

less wild; when it was bearable, when

it was almost normal i would rise

at six or seven or eight and wait

for the day room to become

the day room again and put on

my radio station, linger on a couch,

glare out at the view; always various

whilst remaining the same. a slow pace

round the ground round the pool table.

‘when i come in here there’s always good

music on, is that you?’ you

would ask, ‘yeah’ i might’ve offered.

your girl-in-a-bunker merged with

my girl-in-a-bunker; a small part,

but vital to becoming steady again.

i worried when you threw up your pills.

i’m circling rooms, still.

Marty is an independent Irish poet, born in Tyrone, now living and writing in Belfast. Marty has poems published in both online and print journals. He is currently submitting work for publication which will inform his second chapbook 'gently, but a dream' (Button Press, October 2022). Marty is a neurodivergent poet.