Canaries in the mine.

Kids that cut themselves. 

New mums on Prozac, 

Calpol poured down tiny throats.

Twelve year olds try ketamine

(already smoking weed).

Prepubescent boys

ask to drink girl’s pussy juice.

‘Mum, what does he mean?’

A teenage girl has overdosed.

Everybody’s glued to screens.

Can anybody see 

 

canaries in the mine?

Glorifying suicide

on Instagram.

Everybody hates me.

I need to shave my legs or hide.

Mixed messages of

‘just say no’ hypocrisy. 

Mass media betrays the truth:

the underlying adult world

a seething den of desperation,

pumping brains with dopamine,

while government departments,

all stained with cocaine trails,

a joke.

 

Canaries in the mine

Has anybody noticed?

Mental health in crisis.

Social workers having breakdowns,

and those with cancer, sick with fear

they cannot pay the rent.

Teachers taking months off sick.

‘Take personal leave and daily meds.

The problem’s in your head.

It can’t be in society.’

 

‘Canaries in the mine,’

you said, but far too late.

The miners are already dead.

 

©️Janey Colbourne 2018