OCTOBER 22POEMS BY WIN HARMS

© Winifred Harms 2013 Cover photo © Amy Richman

BARNCOTT PRESS

CONTENTSINTRODUCTIONOCTOBER 22, 1994SWIMMING501’SDON’T SLEEP AROUNDHEROIN HOTELAUTUMNOCTOBER AGAINLOBOTOMYGUILTMOTHERFORBIDDENINSIDE OUTHOSPITAL RIOTSRELATIVE HAPPINESSREGRETONE MORE FALLI WISHWRONGJAILHOUSE BLUESI DIED FOR YOUA TAPED BOXAbout the Author

INTRODUCTIONAfter escaping from a locked psych ward, Win Harms discovered that playing Lolita was not all it was cracked up to be. She found herself on a junkie’s floor with the police trying to get in, guns drawn. Yet Win began writing even before her abrupt emergence from the innocence of childhood. The poems in this collection describe in excruciatingly beautiful detail all the emotions of that life-altering experience. Equally important, they speak directly to the heart and soul of everyman. Which makes them incredibly unique. Since while on the one hand personal and private, they are further saying, 'We're all in this together.' This being life. And yes, virgins too are welcome to take a peek. With any luck, it may help to prepare them for the arduous path to freedom. A path that is never ending. Until death do us all part, or not. Read Win Harms at your peril. Why peril? Because you may never again be the same person you think you are now.

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OCTOBER 22, 1994the cries of a fracturedwoman-childher short skirt crumplesas a mystery never unravelshe asks, whisperingin a cloud of smokeand his passionshe succumbsand little girl innocencebecomesbig girl regret

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* The full version of October 22 by Win Harms is now available as an ebook published by Barncott Press. A print version will be available in Autumn 2013.

SWIMMINGhis eyes were the color of the seamy only feardangerous and tumultuoushe swims through my thoughtswith a butterfly kick laughing at my insecuritiesdiving into my heartwith a scissor kickhe breaks down my wallsand suffocates not able to save mefrom drowning

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501’smy 501’sfit like a gloveworn to the shape ofmy hipssex appealfrom their wide pocketsinviting every predatormy jean shortsmemorable timesthinking i was a womanturning out to bemerely a childthey were my first lovemy near death experiencemended by needlefrayed by my mother’s washing machinemy cut off 501’swereare me

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DON’T SLEEP AROUND

in my tub full of griti don’t sleep aroundmommy but i am boundlast time i said hellowas three weeks agolater a goodbye andand a sideways smiledo you realize what i know?i felt like a whorethe first time i said morethey don’t seem to carei adore him

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About the Author

Win Harms. Photo: © Amy Richman

Win Harms lives in Lille, France. Prior to settling there she travelled far and wide. Her work has appeared in several

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magazines, as well as anthologies. Win began writing poetry at age ten when a nurse in a psych ward suggested it to her. These days she sits on her balcony smoking cigarettes, musing, and playing with words. She comes from the streets, but survived the struggle. At present her only personal problem is an ongoing battle with the postal service. Win Harms is a dedicated poet. Everything she writes is real. October 22 is her second book. More are on the way.

ALSO BY WIN HARMS:

In Harms Way: Poems about fucking, freedom and psych wards (Barncott Press 2013). New poems are regularly published on her website.

BARNCOTT PRESS

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* The full version of October 22 by Win Harms is now available as an ebook published by Barncott Press. A print version will be available in Autumn 2013.