Joseph Farley

The Effort
 
In the end it was
All an exercise
In futility.
 
Not much wisdom
Worth passing down
To the children.
 
Don't stare too long
At the fires in the world
Or the fires inside you.
 
You will burn out your eyes
And be left
With red images
 
That you will try
To interpret
As best you can
 
Until you come to terms
With the fact
That you are already ash.



Joseph Farley edited Axe Factory, Paper Airplane, Cynic Book Reviews, Poetry Chain Letter and other literary zines. He has nine books and chapbooks of poetry out there including Suckers, Longing for the Mother Tongue and Her Eyes. His fiction books include For the Birds (stories), Farts and Daydreams (stories) and Labor Day (novel). His work has appeared in Bindweed, US 1 Worksheets, Mad Swirl, BlazeVox, Crack the Spine, The Writing Disorder, Lummox anthologies, Horror Sleaze Trash, Schlock, Home Planet News Online, Wilderness House Review, Oddball, Big Window, Ink Pantry and many other places.