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Joseph Kernozek Jun 2010
The store clerk responded with, "The store is closing"
when I asked why everything was so cheap.

He said that the recession had finally beaten them,
and I shrugged and walked towards the back.

I browsed isles of useless merchandise,
picking them up and setting them back down.

Five minutes later when I started down the second isle,
all the items I was interested in instantly broke.

I picked up a mirror,
and it mysteriously shattered in my hand.

I destroyed three coffee cups that
I had planned to purchase.

A candle crumbled in my hands
when I slid it from the shelf.

Furious that all the goods were garbage,
I marched up to the front counter.

I found the clerk slouching slothfully
and checking the clock when I approached.

When I asked why everything was so cheap,
The store clerk responded with, "The store is closing."
Joseph Kernozek Sep 2011
Falling fast,
taking time.
Delicately dreaming,
past prophecies.
Feeling fine,
loving life's lies.

Falling fast,
through time.
Trying to tame,
my malicious mind.
Memories mounding,
silently sounding,
alarms and animals,
waking wildly.
Joseph Kernozek May 2010
Every word is written with woe

Every thought teeming with tears

Every feeling filled with fear


Your embrace helps abate my anger

Your smile soothes my sorrow

Your kiss calms my confusion


The passion has passed with peace

The love lost with lunacy

The bond broken with brutality  


Every word is written with woe
Joseph Kernozek Nov 2011
With his parents gone for the night, on a cold and blustery evening in the middle of December, I was sitting on the living room couch, drinking tea with my longtime friend and I could see the flashing red glow of the Christmas lights on the columns outside the frosty window, coming from the upstairs bedroom, and I'll never be quite sure why, but I suddenly and jokingly exclaimed to him that I was concerned that something was wrong upstairs.  I then jumped up from the couch and followed the flashing red glow up the stairs, but I only made it halfway to my destination when I could go no further.  Choking on smoke and stumbling over words, I mumbled my friend's name what must have been a dozen times before he bolted up the stairs, nearly knocking me over to put out the flashing red glow that from then on would be referred to as "The Christmas Fire.”
Joseph Kernozek Jan 2011
Walking through the woods,
I spot a man,
He says he has no home,
no where to go,
no place to call his bed.

Walking through the woods,
I spot a man,
He asks what I think of myself,
of the world,
of the life that I've led.

Walking through the woods,
I spot a man,
he says that this is the way,
this is the path home,
the place to lay my head.
Joseph Kernozek Sep 2010
maybe next time
                              i'll make things last,
maybe next time
                              i'll do things right,
maybe next time
                              i won't go so fast.

this is the last time
                               i will fight,
this is the last time
                               i regret the past,
this is the last time
                               i lose sight.

maybe next time,
will be the last.
Joseph Kernozek Nov 2011
A warm and joyous afternoon
in mid-summer.  My father and I
check our fishing line.  Rays of light
glisten off the newly purchased rods.

In the sparkling Starcraft fishing boat,  
the electronic fish-finder flashes with
potential victories.  All the while,
the fish are frolicking, blissfully unaware.

My father, with his lure-decorated hat
and great wisdom, instructs me
on this maiden voyage
on top a massive, shimmering lake.

And all the fish jump
at the chance to be
my first triumph.  We watch
and wait.  Silently.

A warm and joyous afternoon
in mid-summer.  My father and I
check our fishing line.  Rays of light
glisten off the newly purchased rods.
Joseph Kernozek Jan 2011
I can pretend until I'm dead,
But we both know,
I'm in over my head.

Now you've gone off to bed,
And we both know,
There's nothing left to be said.

We can pretend,
But we both know,
I'm in way over my head.
Joseph Kernozek Jun 2021
He sees the reflection in the glass,
not sure what he's looking at,
it resembles his past.

But everything looks hazy,
too grimy to be real,
this reflection is faded.

The glass must be distorting,
this can't be where things are at,
he feels like crying.

This reflection is his own,
the one he does not know,
his heart moans.

He sees his reflection in the glass,
he knows what he's looking at,
a life gone too fast.
Joseph Kernozek May 2010
I've seen you hundreds of times before,
with your broken shopping cart.
Sometimes filled with your possessions,
and other times with bottles and cans.

I’ve seen you hundreds of times before,
with your broken spirit.
Sometimes holding a sign,
and other times a bottle.

I’ve seen you hundreds of times before,
with your broken life.
Sometimes sleeping in the park,
and other times panhandling at a traffic light.

You’ve seen me millions of times before,
with my broken attitude.
Sometimes filled with compassion,
but most times with fear and disgust.

You’ve seen me millions of times before,
with my broken society.
Sometimes building a bridge,
but most times putting up a wall.

You’ve seen me millions of times before,
with my broken movements.
Sometimes going forward
but most times headed nowhere.

I’ve seen you hundreds of times before,
with your broken shopping cart.
Filled with my worst fears,
as I walk by.

You’ve seen me millions of times before,
with my broken attitude.
Filled with your hopes and dreams,
as I walk away.
Joseph Kernozek Aug 2013
The first time,
You say things I don't believe
I tell you that I'll never leave
We just keep up the charade
Hoping that the pain will fade.

The next time,
I say that I've forgiven
You tell me now you're different
We just keep playing this game
Hoping that the sorrow will fade.

The last time,
You say you can't live a lie
I tell you it's time to say goodbye
We just keep walking away
Hoping that the memory will fade.
Joseph Kernozek Jun 2011
It is amazing how soon forever ends.
We promised to stay friends,

however,

there is a postcard I will never send.
It is the one that lovingly pretends,

                                                      ­                        "I wish you were here."
Joseph Kernozek Sep 2010
When I talk,
you hear nothing.

When you talk,
I hear something.

But it's not what I want

And it's not what you want.

What we want,
is to have a voice.

What we want,
is to be heard.

But it's not what we have

And it's not what we're going to get.

Because no one's listening.
Because we are the unheard.

We are...

The Voiceless.
Joseph Kernozek Sep 2011
It's getting kind of dark in here,
as I sit and wait for you.

It's been thirteen years,
since I last spoke to you.

It's been thirteen years,
and still I wait for you.

It's drained a lot of tears,
when I've thought of you.

It's drained a lot of tears,
to not think of you.

It's getting kind of dark in here,
and I will continue to wait for you.
Joseph Kernozek May 2010
Today

was wasted

                        over thoughts of you

Today

I tried

                         to forget the past

Today

                                                                   was wasted

Tomorrow*

will be

                       a fresh start

Tomorrow

I will
                       leave you behind

Tomorrow

                                                                 *
*will be

— The End —