Go To Bed

The nurse said "go 2 bed", 

But Creepy Nicks on the Neb?

You must hv fish in ur head,

Go make me a coffee instead. 

Ur waking everyone up! 

Said the nurse with my coffee cup. 

Well sorry ur out of luck, 

N I really don't give 2 fucks. 

I've not slept for 5 nights,

My mates r all dying n I'm in fright. 

Call security if u wanna fight, 

They may punch out my lights. 

I told them I need a sleeper, 

N don't want any time machine creeper. 

If it's zopiclone u can keep it, 

I wanna a oggmie so I sleep a bit.

Ppl are being disturbed by you!

Said the agency staff with no clue. 

Go open ur bowels n hv a poo, 

Fuck it ill take some clonz 2 chew. 

Your bad language is upsetting ppl! 

Soz my lingo is street n ur unequal, 

You upset me daily n it's sequel, 

A bad start 2 the day it's prequel.

My hospital life is getting boring, 

Can't stand Jim with his snoring. 

Lesley's lost his elephant, ur choring, 

N I can't stand the cop next 2 me I'm ignoring.

Pls go 2 bed n try rest ur head! 

They wake me up all night, its a waste of a bed. 

I'd rather stay in Highdown prison instead. 

At least I'd get a kip, even if I end up dead. 

© 2024  All Rights Reserved Robert Reid

The Contract

Like Robert J I sold my soul, 

It wasn't 4 fame but 2 cut a hole. 

It wasnt at the crossroad, 

And no horned Satan glowed. 

Just a plain man in a suit, 

But that bloke sure chat cute.

That slick speaking devil n me, 

Signed a contract we agreed. 

I jus wanted 2 protect my death. 

So I sold an ounce of my flesh.

Definitely no hell for me, 

So there was no nd 2 plea. 

For wen I croak not to go to hell, 

He had me under some spell. 

There was no blood, no pain,

And yet no one can explain. 

Ambulance men confused, 

Dox N nurses all bemused.

All the old Chaplens here, 

Have been bent on my ear. 

Saying he's a evil trickster, 

There's no kind of quick fixer. 

Must b a psychotic break, 

Or maybe a schizo mistake. 

But why won't u believe, 

If u finally received.

A visit from ur deity, 

Don't u believe wat u see? 

A visit from the Devil or God, 

R u trippin wat do u find odd? 

Jus hallucinating ur belief, 

Or ur religiosity is jus disbelief. 

So don't doubt my sanity, 

Wen over half the planet agrees. 

That those opposites exist, 

Maybe my contract still exists?

© 2024 All Rights Reserved Robert Reid

Give Me My Meds!

Wheres the coffee lady?

I'm Choca moca crazy.

Drink at least 10 a day,

N then I piss it all away.

On the headphones, 

Locked in a music zone.

Coz Golden Brown,

Used 2 lay me down.

N Sweet Child of Mine,

Gave the devil a fine. 

But I just want 2 bet,

But NHS WiFi won't let. 

Ran out of mobile data,

Opera VPN hater.

Hanging out of windows,

Get a 4G signal if close.

I still just wanna bet,

Am I a gambling addict yet? 

Weekend racing sun, 

Only betting is good fun. 

Wattsapp calls,

A patient falls.

I can b happy like herb,

Still use fuck as a verb.

Medical notes on me, 

Paranoid schizo I'll be. 

I ask pls get my clonazepam, 

Or I'll b talking 2 an invisible man. 

The pregabs n benzos, 

Keep me calm n mellow. 

But don't give em 2 me, 

We'll see how psychotic I can B. 

Don't want 2 hurt no one, 

But I can kick off n run. 

Security r just in my way, 

Get beaten but they'll pay. 

Broken spoon spike chiv, 

Not a nice gift to give. 

Don't tell me u ain't got my meds, 

Coz u won't put me 2 bed. 

NHS strapped cash, 

Always hv my own stash. 

Can't trust em 2 hv my pills,

Wud just screw wiv my will. 

So it's NHS v Rob Reid, 

N u expect me 2 not to feed. 

Sweets, gabs n Morphine, 

Keeps Rob nice n clean. 

Call me an NHS junky,

At least I'm not robbing ur Granny. 

Call me a hypocrite, 

See damage of constant hits.

Now I'm ending this Skrew,

N hope u learned something new.

© 2023 All Rights Reserved Robert Reid

Sounds...

I'm just a listener a passenger to Nirvana,

As my feet walk halls on souls made in China. 

Nevermind the specifics just entertain us, 

My Verve always has a "Lucky Man" ready 2 blame us.

There's always been something in the way,

N I hope Lucifer guesses the nature of his game.

It's a Babyshambles of a Shotters Nation, 

Pale white girls queuing outside disused power stations. 

So just come as you are whether a friend or an enemy,

I swear I don't have a gun just sat ready under my knee.

Coz I'm just an outcast and n anarchist,

I've never been just like the other kids.

So try 2 cut my legs off like King Kunta,

Just don't say I share bars like a prisoned punta.

N Fuck Forever if you don't mind,

Its all one n the same n my eyes R not blind.

My ears are bleeding sound like the creep I am,

A man in a can, imprisoned roasting like ham.

But I'm so happy coz today I've finally found my friends,

They're in my head so I'm on a path 2 a lithium end. 

I just playback the sounds that always deliver me,

A quiet sense of meaning in a world that will never be.

A place I can truly share my feelings,

So I'm just a sucker 4 drips of sound 2 give me some meaning. 

© 2022 All Rights Reserved Robert Reid, Nirvana, Babyshambles, Verve and others..

Drips....

Drip drop drip drop,

Watching IV fluid non-stop.

30 min bag so they say,

But I've been counting drops half the day.

Celestines on another mental rant,

Too young 2 b sectioned so a Bible chant.

She thinks she's been saved by a religious man,

Running around pulling plugs out coz she can. 

Reciting Genesis word from word, 

I point 2 fingers at her eyes n tell her it's absurd. 

An ancient Sumerian creation myth was passed down. 

From land to empire a trick the Romans turned around.

She's skinny as fuck but been put on Olanzapine, 

I don't think she realises what a real mean teen really means.

She got on my tits when the shower was off, 

I gave her the evil eye n told her off. 

Just u wait til ur in a locked padded room with 3 other loons,

You'll be doing the Largactil shuffle pretty soon. 

I'm on a locked ward in 30 degree heat, 

The stench of death leaks from legs like rotting meat. 

I kicked off before n ill kick off again, 

They just go lardy da thinking I'm insane. 

This is a mental ward with very disturbed patients, 

I count myself as one when I lose my patience. 

"Don't worry Rob" they lie to my face, 

As doctors hide, I run n chase. 

"Honestly, your benzos r coming very soon," 

Saying that all day n night all 2 the same very tune. 

If u don't come equipped ur going to rattle,

Every muggy day locked up is a daily battle. 

I seemed 2 hv got a monthly rotation at this HMP,

I see nurses n dox that I know, looking scared wen they jus see me. 

I think I've got to that stage of my life,

My mental n physical health is gone I'm on the dive.

So I count these drips from the bag as they drip n drop,

N plug my earphones in 2 block the rot.

© 2022 All Rights Reserved Robert Reid

Prickles

I am awake but now I'm sad,

For coming out of the vivid dream I had.

For now this time is really real,

And no one can imagine the pain I feel.

I have nothing to really live now for, 

And my past is a closed dusty history door.

Time has flown past way too fast,

And the status quo will never last.

I know that I am going to die alone, 

N when I feel down I have no one to phone.

I only want to stay asleep in my bed,

Just have sweet opiate dreams til I'm dead.

Coz conscious me is having no fun,

Nobody has a clue about the mental pain I've done.

It seems this life has no place for me,

It seems I'm just a thorn on a prickly tree.

© 2022 All Rights Reserved Robert Reid

Beeps, Blood N Noise

Off go the beeps red lights flashing,

Steve's had a stroke, a real head bashing.

Been waiting time 4 help, but no1 came rushing,

Meds come 2 late n it's a real pad zapping!

John's mad in the corner n says "shit" every other word,

Babbles nonsense so loud, he really is rather absurd.

Tried to have a convo but every word is slurred,

N never ever gets out of bed, not even to have a turd.

Coz it's just constant beeps, blood n noise,

The nurses don't seem able to understand, R ways 2 have some joy.

But we still handle it all on F8 with skill n poise,

Coz in F8 we're all properly screwed up mental boys!

It's all yabber about Black Panther, Racing n Baby Mugabe,

As we try to josh with the nurses, even the harpies.

Getting lied to blatantly, even right to our faces,

As we all try 2 plot r bets for the Epsom Derby.

Yet we still all love the nurse's skirts nice n tight,

But been reduced on my meds, so I don't feel quite right.

Tried to have a word, but got told 2 shut my pie,

Adrenaline is rushing 2 much so all I wanna do is fight.

Coz it's all just constant beeps blood and crazy noise,

We try to josh with the nurses who all think we're weirdo cowboys,

But we all handle it on F8 with banter we all enjoy,

Coz the lads on this bay are top crazy wind-up toys. 

The "Fella" next 2 me is an 80yr old man in a 5 year olds body,

Seen more than enuff 2 know the staff treats him shoddy.

He's had a 3 month stretch in Frimley HMP already,

Now he's paranoid 2 fuck due 2 his black-skinned body.

Ian lies opposite 2 me N is treated like a king,

He flipped right out, n can't remember a thing,

I made him a mint with free tips on my firsts nights in,

But he's 2 tight to sort us out, a small thank u ting.

Coz it's all just constant beeps blood n crazy noise,

The nurses just can't seem to deal with our manic drugged out joy.

But we still handle it well on F8 with sly n cunning poise,

Coz we r all just the same, proper wind-up boys.

I had a little psychotic break in the bog getting nice n clean,

Nurse saw my diagnosis "Mad as Fuck" n thought it was obscene.

Someone went too far n called the Security team,

So I offered them all out n now I'm cuffed to this bed beam.

I can't really help it that I have a mental prob,

I just don't like taking meds that just don't do the job.

I'd rather be a surgeon cutting my own body up,

But that's why my parents n docs think I'm a mental nob!

Coz it's just constant beeps blood n obscene rants n noise,

The nurses just can't be happy n let us have R joy.

But we all handle it as much as any man can on bay F8 with jokes n noise,

Coz every bed in the bay is filled with messed up Skew up boys.

 

© 2022  - Robert Reid - All Rights Reserved

Mr Mentalist

Mr Mentalist please, can u let me get out of my bed,

Mr Depression has called and I want 2 go back 2 the dreams that I had.

He always calls when I fail, and makes me wish I was dead.

Please Mr Mentalist please, can you let me rest my own head.

But now I've dragged myself up I'm freaky deaking right out,

Old friend Mr Anxiety has visited n given me a hard sharp clout.

Please Mr Mentalist can u give me some pills to calm my self-doubt,

I can't find my phone or keys and I'm flipping right out.

I go from zero to a hundred in a flick of an eye,

People think I'm crazy mazy when they hear me swear n cry.

All I wanted to do was get my laptop 2 work n comply,

But now I'm a swearing freak and people look at me n sigh.

Oh please Mr Mentalist can you sort out my paranoid feelings,

I keep hearing ppl on mute just thinking I'm not worth dealing.

All I want is someone to come n give me some proper mental healing,

But I don't trust nobody to come in here n walk out without stealing.

I know the old rhyme, that Paranoia will destroy ya,

But I hear silent ppl on my screen bitching and laughing "ha ha".

I got that feeling that all the ppl r just looking at me jotting all my flaws,

I can't relax at all, n my paranoid shoulder monkey is ripping, bear claw.

So please Mr Mentalist, can you do me a massive favour,

I got the schizo twitcho ithcos, with no sign of a saviour.

Leaves r raining down with flashing lights n my mind is all misbehaviour,

I'm scared I'll do something crazy n stupid, and I need a lifesaver.

All the shrinks say I'm just screwed up and they can't even help,

I'm ashamed to be ashamed, coz I just wanna it all dealt.

I get letter after letter saying I need to do my own self-help,

If I could sort my own crazy out, I would have if I could have, but it's pure agony to self.

So please Mr Mentalist can you make people understand me,

That I ain't angry on purpose and I just want people to like me.

It's seeming more n more like this world don't have a place for me,

And for anyone to relate it's 2 late, I'm just a thorn on a big mad tree.

© 2022 All Rights Reserved Robert Reid

This is also published on the Mary Francis Trust Website for their Mental Health, Time To Talk Day > https://www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk/poem-mr-mentalist/

POEM: "MR MENTALIST"
To support #TimeToTalkDay our Creative Writing Group led by Michele has come up with a series of wonderful and heartfelt pieces discussing mental health stigma.
This fifth piece is a poem called “Mr Mentalist” written by Robert.https://t.co/Vnww2X0Uk5 pic.twitter.com/nmolTPsXGb

— Mary Frances Trust (@MaryFrancesTrst) February 3, 2022

Please share these links......

On Twitter > https://twitter.com/MaryFrancesTrst/status/1489252342943956992

or Instagram > https://www.instagram.com/maryfrancestrust/

or Facebook > https://www.facebook.com/maryfrancestrust/posts/3145716732330079

The Walking Dead

You better run n hide,

You better run n hide,

Here come the walking dead,

I am one of the walking dead.

You better stay inside,

Run n hide.

I don't need to wear a poxy mask,

I don't want to wear a poxy mask.

Not that anyone bothers to ask.

But 10+ diff exemptions, give me a legal pass.

U see em in the corridors, watch the fear in their eyes.

An unmasked patient, is making their heart beats rise.

They step to the left, so I step to the right.

You better stay 2 metres away, or u'll get a fright.

Here come the walking dead,

I am one of the walking dead,

No mask is on, so you better fuck off n hide.

Find any room, a toilet to lock n hide.

2 metres ain't enuff love,

2 miles is far too wide.

Here come the unmasked evil ones,

Masks always offered n instantly denied,

I don't want to wear a poxy mask,

I don't need a chin wipe mask,

It's my legal right 4 u 2 get scared n hide.

U think ur going to get COVID, from me walking past?

Or is it more likely, from touching coffee mugs, or holding a dirty glass?

I don't give a flying toss, if ur scared wen I pass,

I get a COVID test every other day, n it ain't exactly a laff.

So watch the walking dead, as they dare wander unmasked.

N then wonder what exemptions, let them bare teeth n laugh.

I'm a paranoid schizo, with anxiety n not just riff raff.

But I'll let ur Sun read mind wander, n freak at the thought of ur task.

Here comes the walking dead, and he ain't wearing a mask.

How the hell am I safely, going to make it past?

Well maybe I wont sneeze on ur face, n luckily u'll last.

Then maybe u can give me a smile, under ur cloth, as we pass.

I've chased doctors, who've scampered in 2 nearest open doors.

N made lift occupants, exit on their wrong floor..

All coz of an unmasked patient, they just can't ignore.

So the more u all scamper, the more I scare some more.

Sorry but I'm past the point, of being a hypocrite.

N 2 b honest, it cracks me up more than a little bit.

To watch the unbreathable pant, as if they are all unfit.

But then I'm the walking dead, and I don't give 2 flyin shits.

© Rob Reid 2021

Private Record

This private record,

It plays for me,

No-one else.

The words have special  meanings,

Only I can hear.

Everyone else is just blinded by the noise.

Only I can understand,

The hidden meaning of the band.

The secret message is getting me going,

Winding me up.

How do they fucking know?

Why are they singing this about me?

I turn around to see if anyone has noticed.

They haven’t.

Its safe, for a while.

I have received the message and noted mentally,

Every single word that was meant for me.

Now I turn it off.

I don’t want anyone else to hear,

My secret song, my hidden fear.

© 2002 All Rights Reserved Robert Reid