Defund This

My books are available on Amazon www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX?

The fences weren’t just wood or metal.

There were rules made for my benefit.

Lines I shouldn’t cross.

Warnings whispered.

Barbed wire or electric.

Not for the wild dogs or wolves,

but for the sheep like me, prone to wander.

Chasing booze like it was the answer.

Chasing women like a hit of a moonbeam.

I used to curse the fences.

Kick them down.

Navigate my thinking around them.

Call them cages.

Dogs don’t like cages.

Dogs like to run.

Dogs like to fight.

I didn’t like to be controlled.

I said they were built by ignorant men

afraid of freedom.

What I really meant:

I didn’t want to hear no.

I didn’t want the word no in my life.

I was a warped Peter Pan,

never wanting to grow up.

On moonless nights

I woke in abandoned houses,

half-dead

from my own poison.

Woke in jail

staring at concrete,

trying to remember

who I’d been

the night before.

Days of running feral

ended the same way �"

streets.

No family.

No one waiting.

An orphan

by choice.

Not abandoned.

Self-exiled

by booze

and whatever

warm body

kept the dark off

for an hour.

The rules didn’t move.

The fences stayed.

The commandments were written in stone.

They waited.

Something I always overlooked.

If you love me, you keep my commandments.

I stumbled past them,

prancing like an idiot,

thinking life was mine to bend.

There are thousands of psalm-singing sons of b*****s

that say you can’t keep the law.

It’s impossible.

Those are the people

that like to dress up and go to church on Sunday

and do whatever the hell they want

the rest of the week.

Consequences came like rain showers in April.

I waded and swam

through debt, bruises, burnt trust,

heartbroken children.

Fences weren’t cruel.

They propelled order.

I saw men tear themselves apart

and die

because no line stopped them.

Sinatra’s My Way became their theme song

and chaos pumped in their veins.

A lawless man is a lonely, depraved man.

A lawless night goes on for eternity,

filled with mistakes

you pray you could undo.

The commandments weren’t threats.

They were blueprints from a loving God.

A map of survival.

The world isn’t kind to the lawless.

It swallows them whole,

or leaves them bleeding in an alley,

clinging to life.

Now I try to keep the lines

straight.

Author's Note

I have a YouTube channel where I read poetry from my recently published books. Here's a link to the latest video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH0fSZlrjno

Reviews

[Soren]

Thomas this is a wonderful allegory of fighting against the man, the institution that is part of growing and being part of a society we do not agree with, authority that we despise and people that are too many to not have laws and fences. I feel this and rail against it as well but fighting the wind gets us nowhere and eventually we bend and (some say grow) fitting in to what we fought against. A great poem my friend

[Coyote Poetry]

Easy to dance on a dangerous edge. Boring life is not for some. I liked the storytelling, Thomas. I escaped a few yards my friend. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry. I did enjoy.
Coyote

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome, Thomas.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Powerful amazing write strong message here

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, Julie.

[red93]

Fine Work Thomas, and how well I recognise the characteristics you so ably portray from my time in the Shared Houses here in Bristol UK. At least you have learned my Friend. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Thomas W Case]

Thanks, my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I feel often that my lines are much straighter than I am. My writing swallows me and in some way saves me.
Our mistakes we cannot undo, but as much as we can, we can try to balance the ledger so the end
is a bit more in favor.

[John the Baptist]

Thomas, you don't hold back. Many have followed old Frank and done it "My way," only to regret the aftermath. I think there must be a midway between restraint and license where one can act freely but responsibly. In such a space we could enjoy ourselves without going over the deep end.

[Rosie C]

This is different to your usual writings.

It has a bit of a gangsta, bad boy vibe to it.

A strong feeling to not fit in with society. And to be a rebel and create a dark reputation for yourself.

A lot of things stand out referring to the American gangsta lifestyle. Fighting dogs in cages and waking up in jail with no memory of the night before.

It’s not a lifestyle that I admire or keen on but I am aware of it.

Strangely, cleverly written.

[Thomas W Case]

Yes, it's simply about my experience with wisdom coming from time and age in my life. Thanks, Rosie.

[ETERNITY]

The first time I got locked up, I was thirteen years old.
Mom tried to keep me from the trouble makers and the bold.
But I was rebellious and I fought against the pricks.
I called lawmakers spoilers and called the fuzz a bunch of dicks.
Needless to say, ten days and nights with no bail had me crying.
The ones who say "Defund the Law" are idiots who love lying.
I cannot say when I was freed, I was a perfect child.
There were lots of things I did not need but wanted to go wild.
I will say this, it makes one think when there is no bail.
Of all the sh*t I've done since, I've never gone back to jail.
Great write as always, Thomas W Case.

[Neville]

This is excellent Thomas .. You seem to go from strength to strength .. Neville

[JessyJacob]

Hi Thomas,
I see your writings need to be understood by anyone who just reads I see this is like conversation or reply those who knows you. But for generic ones who need to be clear in what you are writing to and what you want to say. Half the story is understood but other than that you write very well..I see a difference in website, in the white background the text looks good but in cream i see that i have to make text bold. Not clear as in here in writers cafe. Eventually you can make background pleasing that would be just upgradation.

Jessy Jacob ❤️
Never mind my thoughts I just gave my view.