Stifled by emotion
waiting for a word

If only they came
easily, as song to
a bird

I long for the morning
that will end this
terrible night

The city sweats
sidewalks melt

The promise of
a squall falls short

People droop
in the humidity
that will not abate

It’s good to be home

(D. James)

Say one thing
mean another
think a third

How do we
communicate
when nothing
makes sense?

Unconscious animal
moving through
the day

Trying to find
meaning in
a word
a look
a gesture

Knowing there
is nothing I can do
to stop these random
inaccurate thoughts

From creeping
crawling
making themselves
known

But I keep thinking,
someday
all this will make
perfect sense …

Someday

(D. James)

There are times
like now
when I get
tired of talking

These words
we toss at
each other

Repeating ourselves
seemingly endlessly

It feels like running
in place

(D. James)

There’s something
I want to say

but just can’t
get it to come out
right

This urgent feeling
that needs expressing

Don’t know it’s name
or where it comes
from

not even sure
how to go about
getting it out

Like a mad pinball
rattling around
in my soul

Perhaps I just need
to let it roll

(D. James)

How much time
is left before
the curtain falls?

Does peace reside
in the center of nothing

or is there no comfort
to be found?

(D. James)

Pay attention,
the man said

It’s your fucking life
you’re living over there

There ain’t no
do-overs here
so make it good

’cause it’s done
gone before you
know what happened

(D. James)

How many contradictions
can a poet make
in his life
before he is turned
into a politician?

(D. James)

Think of what
you have

that you don’t
really need

Sell half
and give away
the rest

You’ll either
feel freed

or deep regret

I have no idea

(D.James)

For Seb

A stranger enters
the town square
and says

I am the second coming
I am the last prophet
I am the one and only

But the people ignore him
so he stands there silently
for 40 days and 40 nights

On the last day
he says unto them

I am the one
I am the son and moon
I have but one message

And still the people ignore him

Finally, as he begins to walk away
a man of the town asks,
“Where are you going?”

To which he replies
Do not follow me

And this is how the people know
he is the one true messiah,
the final prophet

They bow before him
but he says unto them

Bow to no one
Follow no one
Believe in yourselves
This is the only truth

To which the people reply
by building colossal monuments
and writing many books
about his teachings and sayings

For eons they preach
and pray for his eventual return

They pray and wait
and wait and pray

But he is a man
of his word and
will not return,
for they have
not learned the
lesson

(D. James)

Snippets of overheard
conversations

phrase fragments

Strung together they
speak a major plan

of non-sense
and nothing

What are all these
words for anyway?

Darkness falls
to the floor
and I am lost
in the ensuing
silence

It remains there
until morning

Sunlight crashes
through the window
scattering broken bits
of glass over my mind

All is well again
for the moment

(D. James)

I don’t want to die
in winter

It’s too cold

Take me when it’s warm
so I won’t mind
the cold hand
on my soul

I don’t want to die
in the light of day

It’s too bright

Take me when it’s night
so I won’t see your approach
or know the hour

Take me on some
late summer night
when I have nothing
to look forward to

Take me when I’m happiest
for it does not come
often

So take me quickly
and make it good

Or I will be forced
to send you on your way
and have you take me
another day

(D. James)

I’ve nothing
to say

I’ve nothing
to write

I’ve nothing
to do

I’ve nothing
I want

I’ve nothing
and nothing

I am nothing

I’m gone

(D. James)

Say yes …
do not keep
me waiting
any longer

Time moves too
too fast

and I am
aging as
I await your
answer

Say yes …
make me
happy

I die a little more
as each moment
goes by and I think
you may yet say no

So say yes
just say it
go on
it’s easy

Repeat after me …

(D. James)

My mind
melts
like butter

My heart
dissolves
like sugar

There is a
deep hunger
unsatisfied by
food or drink

Where are you now
vicious one?

Take me under
the waterline,
end this longing

(D. James)