apples lost
to early rot
first blush of red
on mottled skin
a sallow death
sure as sin

crow of night
crowns the branch
boldly pecks
a hole so wide
plucks the worm
from inside

Sitting on a log
This morning
Trying to fan
The smoke of wet firewood
Into a tolerable flame

Nice lady walked by
And asked
"Where is your blanket? "

My what?

"Your blanket,"
She said
"To send all the smoke signals.

I had to laugh.

I only send mixed
Signals

Especially to white men

With a tentative smile
And a hope for friendly memories
I make another stuttering return
I'd intended to take a few days
To rest my aching brain
I hadn't intended to stay
Then several weeks slipped away

I just hit one of those times
When life is the colour of rain clouds
And people keep asking if I'm alright
To which I replied that of course I am
When of course, I wasn't alright at all
But hell, I've been here before
And no-one else can help
So why **** them off too
And now here I am again
Fighting my way back
Because I know no other way

                                       By Phil Roberts

Only one little
               silly tiny
                       movement
can create ripples
of effects
and tonight
as I reached for the
garlic or salt
or whatever
the hell it was---
something harsh was set
I brushed your shoulder
or was too much in your space
somehow jolting your ego
from its permanent, fragile place
            You chose to take that
and make a fight
from dust
and this in turn led
to splitting hearts
              spitting corrupted trust
passive aggressive silt
swept out
from under rugs
emotional bluntness of punches
instead of the realness of hugs
Where have we reached
what have we done
All I know
is my heart's on
        the run
These little ***** triggers
       can open
Pandora's sick, dark box
unlocking old resentments
from behind rusty locks
"You will never be forgiven"
are words
that destroy
they suffocate and choke
turn real gold to alloy
and Man, this gold is melting down
running in streams
painting false this town
in shades of hurt
in shades of pain
just lay me down
in this thick desert sun
to bear this unbearable
                   splintered strain
Let me pour this liquid burden
into the salt of the cracks
of the earth
Let me be replenished
with crystal water coolness
as I, head held up in tears,
                           remember
                                    my golden worth

and again and like last time once more
once more through the same routine
like a mouse in the machine
running faster this time
have to maximize
profit no cent
left unearned
run run rat through the maze
get your *******
reward
better than ***
better than  the rest
I push and snort
to the limits
again and again for
what?

I followed the rule " if it fits in your rucksack fine, but if not leave it"
travelling light and fast at the drop of a hat worked for a long time.
All that physical Army training kept me swift of foot and forever propelled searching for the next horizon. I must have walked for years on and off, with a big shaggy coated German Shepherd for company from age 8 weeks to nine years old, he lived on for another five years, out to pasture with another dog and five cats for company at a very old friends place. I am glad I wasn't there when he finally passed, I think it might well have broken my heart, too much of a coward to be there at his end.

The wind gives chase to my wandering soul
As I walk along the gaping cliff edge
Lights from neighbouring kingdoms
Bring me perilously close to the ledge
I see stars twinkle in a black curtain sky
Reminding me of home
Alone and afraid of the world
I'm nomadic and forced to roam
When will I settle
Can I begin to ever live again
God please **** out my darkness
Turn me away from a creeping insane
Shoeless on the wet grass
A heavy heart holding me up
Village life has made me sheltered
Scraping around like a wounded pup
The moon kisses the sea
What a pleasant sight to behold
Crashing waves steal the air
A pleasure worthy of gold
Must I endure such fatigue
My bones are rattling but why
Praying to god seems futile
I say goodnight now to the hypnotic sky

Mine Jane, mine Jane, alway's tormented by the gin that thou hast made; didst thou not remember from whence thou came. Forbearance mine love, wilt be tomorrow's praise,
If thou canst wait;
Hallow thou art,
Hold onto faith.
Take off thy
Kerchief,
Make God space,
To fill thy soul,
Wherein the pieces aren't hole;
What's worth more queen,
The world? Or
God's spiritual throne?
There is a preordained
Abode; Awaiting thee in heaven.


©Brandon nagley
©Lonesome poet's poetry
©Earl Jane nagley( agapi mou) dedicated

3 | 31 Poems for August 2016

Feeling like an abandoned church but in your eyes I’ll always be a cathedral.
These blue skies fade to grey while I pray to ease the burden of a bad day.
My strength and happiness are gone; I can feel myself gradually fading away.
Not even Mandela money could buy me freedom in a dollar-based economy.
In a world saturated with poverty, politicians are still protecting their pockets.
They are constantly making you think that the power is in your hands but this is not a Cell C ad.
So be careful of who you give your power to because you may never see this freedom they highly speak of.
Everyone is claiming that they represent the youth but you can go back and listen to Ghetto Gospel and hear the truth.
Even with the humour of an established comedian, they wouldn’t be Trevor Noah funny.
Laughing all the way to the bank, we also aim to receive Trevor Noah money.
Give me all the best and worst parts of you and a room with a wonderful view.
Give me a blank page and a beautiful muse and you’ll marvel at what I can do.
The world is my canvas; Picasso would’ve loved to see all the resplendent pictures that I’ve painted.
I wrote plenty peaceful poems picturing politicians perpetuating poverty.
No uncertainty, this is a cold war and we all know what we’re fighting for.
In a world saturated with poverty, politicians are still protecting their pockets.
Blue skies fade to grey while I pray to ease the burden of a bad day.
Hopefully everything will be okay even if things don’t go our way.