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SWALLOWING VENOM - COLLECTED POEMS.


SWALLOWING VENOM 2008 - 2017 Collected poems by Ben Palmer

CHIVALRY

Two sad types of girl I see

When I walk around

One's afraid of what I'd say

Her eyes fixate the ground

The other has her nose turned up

And something up her.... back

'How dare he think he stands a chance'

When all I did was glance

Don't get me wrong I sympathise

With women and their plight

Some guys need a lesson taught

Chivalry's declined

Damned if we do or if we don't

The world's an ugly place

So dress up nice and pay the price

Or shoot him in the face. -- TAKE THE FLACK Why can't I have fun Why can't I feel right Why can't I put up a fight Without the compromise Always take the flack Never did no wrong There's no way to let it go No party drug or song On the surface, signs of wear But forced down in my brain There's a storm, a nightmare thrashing Clawing to stay sane No really understands Or they can't be fucked I can't wait to throw my weight Around, control is tough. --

GOD

God ain't gona save you

Just look at history

How many more prophesies

Must pass before you see?

Maybe he's a bigot

Or he isn't there

Bones worship false idols now

Life's too short to care

God ain't gona help you

I've seen too much misery

Why should I pay for the sins

Of anyone but me?

Maybe he's ashamed of us

Or he's unaware

Maybe he laughs at our pain

Or fidgets in despair

God ain't gona back you up

Sort it out yourself

Enlightenment's a paradox

You won't be saved by wealth

Nuns hide up in convents

Monks high in monasteries

Bar the gates from earthly hate

And die there peacefully

God ain't gona save you

That sadist doesn't care

How much more injustice

Must we face under his glare

God ain't gona help you out

He doesn't wish you well

Or he isn't there at all

No heaven or hell

'Til I see some justice

I won't live under a spell

All this pain and suffering

But why I cannot tell. -- KEEP YOU HERE Exiled alone from your arms I'll be cast Curious I'll roam cursed wonders laid sparse And there I'll wait gravely 'Til love saves us, maybe I'd leave for you gladly It suits us, that, sadly If but for a day, that could suffice A day, just us, in paradise We'll travel so far it'll go too fast I'll keep you here and we'll pray that it lasts So when our night comes looming vast We'll hold on tight but the shadow's cast You'll fade into a ragged past Enslaved we'll crave when death do us part. -- DON'T WANT TO I don't want to interact I just want to hide I don't need your optimism Too much to confide I can't bear to look around Or to shut my eyes I can't get no satisfaction 'Til my fist collides I don't want to be a part Of this thing or the next Overload of dots in my head I cannot connect I can't dare to open up I can't dig inside The only way I feel ok Is when my fist collides Try with all my might to hide The rage, the, rage Dread the day that they unlock The cage, the, cage Wish I had no fucking morals Sick of self control Pour my pain into the drain Until it volcanoes Someone find the guts to push me Right up to the edge Praying to be ambushed And go through their fucking head I can't get no treatment For the things that I despise I can't get no satisfaction 'Til my fist collides. -- LOVE SCARS I thought the world had turned around Set up for a fall Betrayal struck me like lightning Trapped by loves four burning walls Didn't see it coming, weakened, Didn't stand a chance Malevolent in tender form A dagger, cloaked, advanced Gave my life away to them For nothing in return Cannot fight and cannot cry And nothing to be learned Crave to tell somebody How I'm clawed apart inside But now I can't trust anybody So I stay confined I heard all about the snakes of love But couldn't see Now the venom's agonising Scarred internally Time mends all, if you can last, And holds no fruit to bare Now I've found myself alone We used to be a pair Betrayal struck me like lightning But I still wish they were there Scarred eternally, love cursed me To live in despair.​ -- SAYLE ON You didn't want me anymore So I just walked right out that door I played the game right from the start I trust you, you use me, Now my life's all torn apart. I don't know what's happening My head is all torn inside People say I'm heavy They don't know what I hide. I'm not cool, I'm not friendly Don't talk to me There's a war in my head And you're my enemy. Shoot, stab, strangle, beat and crucify These are the five rules of the jungle That I live by You locked me up Imprisoned on the inside I believe in eye for an eye. My war, you're one of them You say, that you're my friend But you're one of them. So I'm sailing, I'm sailing on I'm moving, yeah I'm moving on Sail on, sail on, sail on, SAIL ON. -- ​ALINTIFA Xenophobic rage No matter how you try You can't bear to face the facts But love can never die Die when you die When you die You're gona die Heroes fought for Freedom Not the flag you fly In their graves their turning While fascism's alive Die when you die When you die You're gona die I talked to a bitch But she was a guy I fell for a man And we said you're gona die Die when you die When you die You're gona die Fascism's a cancer So go and fucking die Point your finger spread the blame It's fear that rules your lives Die when you die When you die You're gona die ...Die. -- THE GRIND Couldn't be more sick of it Haggard from the grind Tessellated sacks of shit I always seem to find Rage surges through me thundering Internally so loud A nail bomb wincing in the crowd With no pin to pull out Can't find solace in this place Where tribes inbred all boast Walk a mile in my shoes And you'd cut both our throats Don't know how long I can last Trying to be a saint Before these cowards, queens and fakes All burn me at the stake No more bribes to ration out No corner in my mind Superficial barrage Burned my bridge back to mankind Couldn't be more sick of them No teeth left to grind Couldn't be more sick of all These cunts in life I find. -- KILROY He'll hang his nose over your wall And either side a set of claws The sentry tower sounds its call No barricade too strong or tall Crushing rubble with his tracks Smoke billows from his turret BLACK Flames and shrapnel lust for more KILROY KILROY War on tour. -- DARKER THAN COY Woe betide our hearts m'boy No matter how we strive A graceful shameless leap love takes Into the void we dive Behold her glory, as the last, Ancient napalm spell has cast Your rationale beyond reprieve Her heart's a knot we can't conceive Unravelling to form thrice fold The oldest scroll of mankind told And bittersweet gigantic leap Into the jaws of Venus Grown you are and wise to tell Such yearning runs too deep to quell You once were craved but now repel Relive that lesson borne of hell Woe betide our hearts m'boy It bends the scale at odds with joy Final weapon she deploys Black hex emotion Darker than coy. -- LION A lion wound up in a lab Where pin pricks bore into a stab His roaring soul drowned to a sound Once fierce but now an aching howl Before times lashed him to the ground With pride he'd roam and prowl. Survive, provide and hide the scowl All stoic hunters shall fall foul When evolution leaves behind The haunting instincts in their mind. -- NOT A PENNY Not a fucking penny, not a fucking cent Don't come to me for sympathy When all your money's spent Compete with complete strangers But you hate each others guts Kill your brain & seek approval Till it turns to fucking mush Don't ever use your morals It will drive you fucking nuts Project your insecurities I've got you cowards sussed Not a pretty penny, not a lousy cent Someone's gona bail you out So piss up all the rent Numb your senses with pretences Force your head into the sand Fill the void with ego, apathy & contraband Peer pressure burned your pockets through The weekend's such a blast Enjoy the ride you fucking snide And don't learn from the past Not a pretty penny, not a lousy pound Laugh it up while you still can 'Till no one is around Bet your bottom dollar Because life's too short to think But reasons aren't excuses When you've pushed it to the brink Not a fucking penny, not a fucking pound Don't come to me to pay your fee When karma comes around. -- SCUM You'd call me scum A dirty stray Who sneers at night And dreads the day There ain't a god to whom I'd pray I'm bound for hell Won't change my ways No I can't sing Nor can I play I'd get more girls if I were gay A seething, worthless, callous cunt My humour's lost My wit's gone blunt Still got some looks But stink like fuck There ain't a fist that I would duck So when you see me Dont say "Hey!" Because my mind's in disarray I wander like a fucking ghost Somewhere, alone, I'll make a toast: Though my soul began to rot I won't lose hope it's all I got. -- CARNAL COSMOS |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||| Serpents curling in a ditch ||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||| Caverns carved by carnal itch ||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||| Under the hood, piston surges ||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||| Visor down for molten purges ||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Searing solar constrictor furling |||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Carving lunar caverns ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||| Heightened senses up to spec |||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Needles climbing on the dash ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Claws tearing at tights ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Climbing ladders to cockpit ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Stars collapsing in the night ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Deafening sounds, static, feedback ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Under a flap the launch button contracts ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Fingers poised, T-minus ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Poisoned by urges, Standby ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Hydraulic hot rod roars ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Solar arc surges ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Engage! ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Deploy landing claws ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Terra firma down on all fours ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Lunar caverns. More. More! ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Readings soar |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||| Feedback, static ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Pneumatics roar ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Hot, Rod, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Racy, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Scaly, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Tearing, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Clawing, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Constricting, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Scrambling, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Under the hood, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Under the stars- collapsing- in the woods ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Squirming in a ditch, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Gnawing at the carnal itch, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Ancient, hazy, gauges twitch, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Dials leap up on the dash, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Pull up! Bail out! ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| We’re gonna crash! ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Barking, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Sobbing, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Solar arcing, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Throbbing, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Hydro churning, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Backs arching, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Thighs burning, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Pulsing, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Skies hurling comets, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Red, Hot, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Please, DON'T, stop! ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Supersonic, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Embryonic, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Non-platonic, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Plutonium propulsion, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Convulsions, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Trajectory, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Soviet lead pencil vasectomy, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Zero gravity depravity, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Nebulous worm hole, |||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Black hole germ hole, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Cryogenic, Glacial, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Interracial Spacial Facial! |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||| “The one priceless moment, in the whole history of man, |||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| all the people, on this Earth, are Truly One” ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Molten urges, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Solar surges, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Lunar lava, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Cavern carver, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Luke- How’s your father? ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Intergalactic inyourendo, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Interplanetary palaver, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Raise the flag, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Post shag fag, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Cum-in-cuntrol, ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Houston, we have contact. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||Roger that. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||////////\\\\\\\\||||||||||||||||||||||||| -- Words: Ben Palmer Photo: Ben Palmer

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