It began rhyming
started out to be special
got so ****** depressing
I left it by the side

of  Highway 59
like a car
with a flat tire
and walked away

into the distance I walked
for years
and ten times
turned around

strode a hundred yards back
said **** that
and kept on trying to reach
Tupelo

I was in Arkansas
then
alone the cars whizzing by
the only constant

horns and bellowing
gusts of hot air
hellos
high approached

bariton-ed
away like a fog
horn
sad

and cars weren’t ever
the reason for my
soreness
as I looked up
at the sun

You who goes by "Lonely"
Yes you, who reads these rhymes
Please pause here for a moment
I won't take much of your time

You see my friend, I'm lonely too
In the dark with paper and pen
So I'm writing you this poem
and signing it "Your Friend"

Though I'll prob'ly never see you
nor ever know your name
I do not need to see your face
nor know your cash and fame

I do not care what color you are
how short or tall or fat
I'm weary of all these parties and creeds
So, for a moment, forget all of that

Yes you, dear friend, forget with me
Inhale this moment serene
where we are not opinions or castes
Just two humans with two glowing screens

Be human with me, simple and pure
For a moment breathe deep and feel free
then should you have the time, and a halfway good rhyme
Perhaps write a poem for me.

Signed,
Your Friend

as beauty kisses
      the dark of night
dreams of whispers
      take heavenly flight,
floating high, above sleepy beds
       leaving whispering dreams
           to fall
               upon
                   sleepy heads….  
so dream
              a dream,
                     of your love so true
                      while stars twinkle
                         silver and blue….
as mr. moon
            watches from above
       the most beautiful dreams
of sweetest love…

I always knew you were a beautiful bird
But I thought I was one too
I thought one day we could sing together
If only I flew close to you
But as I danced and twirled to no avail
I looked into the mirror in your eyes
Hurt and confused
It was then that I finally saw
It was then the truth unveiled
I was merely twigs and leaves
Intertwined with self-deceiving hues.

So I took it all off
Sat bare in autumn's fallen clothes,
Mourning the loss of my illusive muse.

(I finally knew,
That to you,
I was merely invisibly blaring
In front of an all too ordinary view.)

Eyes narrowing inch by inch,
Worthless tears streaming down,
As I look straight ahead heartbeat racing,
Head disoriented spinning, round and round.

Shivers trill down my spine,
Cold rush seeping through emaciated bones,
Wounds against my ****** heart,
Fiery battle of crippled sticks and sharp-pointed stones.

Panic through the night,
Terror creeping through my frigid chest,
Hunting my self-worth,
Frantically hurting deep within,
Not a moment ti breathe,
not a moment to feel,
Not a moment to rest.

la la la la
is this what love feels like

or what I want it
to feel like when it comes
slam-bamming in

the snigger on the stairs
first saxophone note

my throat
knows the right words
speak
of succulent fruits
count the seconds
it takes
for our fingers to crumple
in warm baths

look
toothbrushes together
own side of the bed
I have a side
where I sleep
in the madness of you

la la la la
I can’t sing
but I must have swallowed a pill
or a bucketful
of elation
look at me go ha ha

does it crunch as an apple
is it flat pack furniture

cup of coffee
in the same café
steam to sip sip sip

my temperature spiking
blood thunderstorm
in my ears

coloured hair
new language
list of I’m becomings
you’re becomings

oh darling
not pumpkin never pumpkin
lyrically I’m losing it
love like this
or not at all my love

maybe a shelf
without books

maybe a house we paint
or a song
how it starts