-

stripping off bark,
carefully neat
unbroken
strings,
and then
into the bone
of the branch

bigger chips follow suit
as the carving
continues

the knife peels, chunking
out rough pieces as
they litter the floor

later to be swept aside
into darkness

years pass in solitary
cutting as cars
go slowly by

looking where the front porch
is buried at one end with
the chips of his wilderness

displaying no
ornaments
to show
for the labor

no birds
no raccoons
no whistles
not even his cane

pare of nothing
but the pile—

all he is...


s jones
2020

.

Free as a bird, I let my mind fly.
These words are my wings, this paper, my sky
Chillin' in the living room, lo-fi playing in my ear.
Not a care in the world, I feel peace not fear.

This **** is hittin' and I'm just here sittin'
Thinking about life.
I'll drift away on a sea like I always do.
I don't know where I'm going yet.
I'm lost without a clue.
Don't find me.

Nothing is on my mind, yet my thoughts are racing quickly.
I feel fine, but somehow I am still sick.
I'm getting lost and I don't want to return,
I know there is a lesson here,
But It's one I have yet to learn.

Burn, like this green when I light it.
Burn, like my lungs when I hit it.

Yeah, chillin and vibing and drifting away.
Nothing on my mind.
I hope I see another day.

Free as a bird, I let my mind fly.
These words are my wings, this paper, my sky


By: Thomas James Tom.

11/10/2020

My girlfriend of five years was spotted in a club kissing my best friend.

I left the place without a word.

To my surprise, I didn’t feel a thing.

I drove my car at a normal speed. Too nonchalant for someone who just witnessed such betrayal.

I got back home, getting back to my room, and sat on the bed, staring at the ring which was wrapped around my finger.

I didn’t ask why, when, or how. I just thought about them and then there’s that. That they were there. Together. Behind my back.

Was I shocked? Of course. Was I sad? That I can’t tell.

It felt as though my emotions died the moment I saw something I predicted before. Was it supposed to feel like this when I found out?

Was I supposed to feel nothing?

I wanted to punch his face, as well as throwing the engagement ring in front of her face, causing a scene and made both of them embarrassed that they were a pair of undeserving fools, but I just left.

And I didn’t regret it. I didn’t regret seeing their questioning faces when I walked out of the club as if nothing happened.

And why was I more bothered with the fact that I didn’t feel anything than knowing my girlfriend cheated on me with my best friend?

What was it from me that had died unnoticed?

existing in this land-sphere quite touch-and-go
when you stare for something that you hope to
when something expects to be with you
until you discern that you obtained neither

things are unreachable on your own limitation
useless is your own notion
to gain nothing is the best way out that you ever made
the excitement is just filled with none nothingness but the soreness

When you kissed me
your soft blonde hair
chilled by the icy wind
wrapped around my infected piercing
pulled at it painfully
dislodged the scab
and made it bleed.
I said nothing
not wanting to upset you.
In turn
I threw my arms around you
and buried my face against
your shoulder
compressing the fresh cuts
lined perfectly on your arms.
You cried out
and pushed me away.

Triangle praise
clappy happy shapes.
Tall librarian,  robes slipping underneath his own worth.
pennies to donate, salaried sanctity.
Precious metal prayer.
hatred of man, verse cursed, line lynched.
And thus begins todays mass sin.
turn to page three hundred and hatred forth.