J R: Favorites

Nov 2013 J R

Jeremy Duff

I'm wondering why
tonight of all nights
you look as gorgeous as you do.

I'm wondering why
the minute I try and forfeit the game
you lure me right back in.

Why is it,
that on a Friday night
spent with friends and drugs and bad decisions
I refuse to make the one good decision I desire?

I struggle to see the moon for the clouds
and I struggle to see your eyes for the light
and I can't make out which is worse.
Not seeing the one thing always there to comfort me
or a chunk of rock in space.

It's really bugging me that I don't know whether to capitalize "for" in the title or not.

Nov 2013 J R

Relief

Nov 2013 J R

Abeille

Relief

It's chilly/overcast
the street is empty: wednesday 215pm
everyone is at school or at work
This is when I thrive.

No worrying what each car is thinking of me as they drive by
the urge to check the backs of my shoes in case I've stepped in something is diminished.
"Whatismyhairdoingarethesepantstootight? These pants are too tight.
Hide your cigarette so they won't see. Am i walking in a straight line?
Should i be on this side of the road or the other
There's no sidewalk I don't know.

Someone I know
Someone I ******
Will inevitably drive by
Pity me
'That's her isn't it? Why is she walking by herself in the cold?
She doesn't have a car? Pathetic. She can afford to buy
cigarettes at ten bucks a pack? Irresponsible.'"
Head held high walking down an empty street
Useless.

I feel the heat still radiating from newly-parked cars
Small and fleeting moments of relief
Akin to meeting eyes with an attractive stranger on the street
Making whatever this is
Easier to bear

not sure about this one. not much of a poem but i felt obligated to post it seeing as been so long and also it's the most i've been able to wring-out for the last week or so. written while sitting across from a stinky cat lady. her paintings were nice.

Nov 2013 J R

privy

Nov 2013 J R

Persephone

privy

I'm so sick of moving on
I'm so sick of figuring life out
and realizing I'm wrong
I don't want to die unfulfilled
I don't want to resort to taking pills
I'm tired of wondering where all my love goes
From watching my friends die
From not letting go
And I wish I could participate
in the life that I'm living
Instead of laying in a bed of thoughts,
merely existing
I'm sick of rocking myself to sleep
Weak from the loneliness I feel most of the week
And I'm through with committing myself
just to move on
From falling in love so hard that I can't get back up
And kicking myself while I'm down
by indulging In sorrow
From saying " don't worry there's always tomorrow"
And I try to be optimistic
Patient and brave
I try to see each color in a sea of grey
Will I ever be happy?
I ask myself often
Because all of these eggs in my basket are rotten
And the man that I love, well he must of forgotten
me
And I'm an idiot because I love too hard
And I love the wrong people
Im sick of building my own walls and
digging my own grave
Against a tower of pain locked
in an unsolvable maze
I'm through with this heavy head
Because I'm either deprived of sleep
Or forcing myself to pretend
that I need to go back to bed
I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself
my pride is truly my own hell
I've lit the matches, buried the hatchet
I'm ready to
melt

Nov 2013 J R

Wishes and fishes

Nov 2013 J R

Derek Yohn

Wishes and fishes

i am a fool for what i
think love should be.
If only i had been a fool
for what it truly is:
love is a melding of minds,
a handshake of like souls
across common boundaries,
an acceptance of static electricity
to complete our circuits.
A spark between fingers.

In the room the women come and go,
wishing they married Michelangelo.

Don't we all, in our ways?

Crazy love will leave you wanting.
True love does not attract until it is bound,
and not to you.

The irony of mating, exemplified.

you know who you are

Nov 2013 J R

Friendly Fire

Nov 2013 J R

r

Friendly Fire

Night sky black and bursting
With stars above our encampment
Then clouds covered moon encircling
Snow began to fall on desert enchantment
Wind of sand and snow surprise did blow
Blinding us to danger's imminent engagmeent
Now when I sleep I dream of gunfire
in the dark and sound of booted feet
The smell of sweat and burned gunpowder
In my dream I raise my rifle at a silhoutte
Fire and see him clutch the rose that burst
The wound that doomed him to final rest
And I to never rest forever cursed
With dream of friendly fire

r. 1 Nov 2013