poems written on the fly

Posts Tagged ‘desire’

reminders

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 29 July 2010 at 6:19 pm

flame under
black kettle

waiting for you
to come through
the door

the sound
of water
about to boil

your scent
permeates
the apartment

the water
whistles

everywhere
reminders
of you

this
is what I
came here for

(D. James)

four day wait

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 July 2010 at 12:38 pm

counting the days
until
we are together

this
the last time
we will be separated

seems longer
than all the others

how can twenty years
apart
seem shorter
than
the next four days?

(D. James)

small things

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 June 2010 at 11:06 pm

cup of tea
on the table

burning cigarette
in hand

remembering
a gentle touch
a particular look
a simple word

realizing
it’s the small things
that make you miss
the one you love

(D. James)

coming together

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 June 2010 at 9:53 pm

waking with
thoughts of you

longing for
next time

dreaming
of the day

when the distance
is measured
by the length
of a room

instead of
the miles
of a country

(D. James)

contradiction of terms

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 24 May 2010 at 2:21 pm

messy business
this thing
called
life

no straight lines
or perfect circles

unchartable
unpredictable
erratic

like a riff
beauty
between
sour notes

brief
unyielding
amazing
painful
joyous

full of love
and contradictions

it couldn’t be
any other way
so why look for
what isn’t there

(D. James)

following a path

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 May 2010 at 1:25 pm

years ago
skinny kid
thought he knew
everything

full of bravado
and half-believing

how is it
we lived
through all that
and have come
to this

desire
still tugs
at us

reaching across
the years
the miles

our lives
converging

this path set
before we walked
upon it

no idea
where it leads
only where we’ve
been

maybe
this time
we’ll get it right

(D. James)

wanting only waits

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 May 2010 at 2:00 pm

telegraphing
overt messages
through the ether

like talking
to you through
glass

none
but you
knowing their
true meaning

I wonder
what is
to be done

or should
I simply
be more
patient

waiting for
a reply
not an answer

for now
that would
be enough

(D. James)

it’s alright when I shut up and listen …

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 May 2010 at 1:28 pm

waiting
wanting
you

just you

but this damn waiting
feeling spun out
lost

knowing you’re there
somewhere

too far

then I close
my eyes
and listen

can see
your smile
almost hear
your laugh

feel you
right here
with me

(D. James)

this is what it sounds like when you’re not here

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 3 May 2010 at 12:03 pm

all we have
are words

and I can’t find
any that fit

or don’t sound
self-serving

what’s left
is silence

maddening
deafening
unbearable
silence

(D. James)

JFK – 7 am

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 30 April 2010 at 8:52 am

unfinished sentences
all these things
left unsaid

a hundred words
stale phrases
none of them
enough

talk all damn day
and I’d still
never get
to what it is
that pulls at me
makes me want to stay

should have tried
should have missed that flight
should be there with you now
should stop trying to make sense
of any of this

because all I want
is to be
where I’m not

all I want
is to be
where
I am
not

(D. James)

old flame same heat

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 28 April 2010 at 2:22 pm

a cold wind
comes through
like longing

how many years
before we’ll be together
my love

will death
take me
before I see
your eyes
once more

feel your skin
breathe you in

is there no
relief from this
yearning

is this to be
yet another
unfinished story

all those miles
all those years
all these trials
all these tears

don’t we deserve
a break in this life
or do we have to wait
until the next one

(D. James)

surrender #1

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 26 April 2010 at 12:21 pm

writing as if
tomorrow will
never come

leaving nothing
unsaid

not even sure
this is possible

if there is
more to give
you will have it

all I want
is a chance
to know

what kind of love
it takes
to give myself
to another

(D. James)

more than a thousand words and still not enough

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 April 2010 at 1:44 pm

I look
at your picture

but it’s not
enough

there’s heat
but no fire

this facsimile
flat lifeless image

I want your
breath
your scent

you
all of you

this is just
not enough

(D. James)

temporal

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 April 2010 at 2:35 pm

waiting for you
to appear

wishing contact
knowing it’s just
a matter of time

because you want
what I want

even if
it doesn’t work
right now

it will
in time

(D. James)

you could call it that … yeah

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 April 2010 at 12:11 pm

can’t eat
can’t sleep
can’t stop thinking
of you

waiting for a call
e-mail
chat
text

something
to let me know
you’re thinking
of me
when I’m thinking
of you

knowing
it’s no good
being like this

but doing it
anyway

’cause there are
no answers
only questions

so why not ask
the same one
over and over

(D. James)

what do you say?

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 April 2010 at 1:34 pm

I’m asking

I’m asking too much
but I’m asking anyway

’cause if you don’t ask
you don’t get

and I think
you want me to ask

it’s why
you found me

waiting for you
to come around again
so I could ask

so I’m asking

(D. James)

this doesn’t happen

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 14 April 2010 at 2:03 pm

to live
for a great love

something imagined
but never attained

a moment
in time
regained

an improbable
second chance

do you defy
the odds?

or is it all
rash insanity
fools folly

destined
to self-destruct

in the end
do we care?

not if we are driven
by our desire
think
this is our
destiny

perhaps then
we make it so
or burn in the fire
set so long ago
suddenly too close

(D. James)

this is this

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 April 2010 at 2:16 pm

this is bad
this desire
this wanting

this is not me
this is not you
this isn’t even who we think
this is

this is some evil
this
this twist
this pain

this feeling
this ache for you

this is just a dream
this nightmare
this remembrance of you
this haunting

this stillness of still wanting
this with you

this ending that never ends because I don’t want
this to ever end never wanted
this to end always wondered why
this did end
this always ending
this

(D. James)

love at dawn

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 April 2010 at 1:52 pm

wanting
to hold someone
at the end of a long day

not just a body
but someone to love

curled up in my arms
breathing quietly
the smell of hair
and warm skin
mixed with clean sheets

someone to wake up to
come the morning light

someone
who calls me baby
in a way that means
the world to them

can’t a man want
these things
and not think
he has to hide
his feelings away

I’m just asking

(D. James)

jump in … the water’s warm

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 2 April 2010 at 2:26 pm

looking
for what I want
in places I will not find it

thinking
look again
it’ll be there
this time
it’ll be there
now

check now
what about now
not yet
what about now

keep looking
in the same dead place
waiting for my life to begin
when all this time
it’s been right in front of me
waiting for me to see

(D. James)

wanting more than the gods will allow

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 March 2010 at 1:14 pm

waiting
the night out

feeling
my way
in the dark

hoping
the morning
won’t come
this one time

keeping
the fantasy
of being with you
longer than just tonight
alive for one more hour

as light
lines
the horizon

I take
one last look
and like Eurydice
you vanish before my eyes

(D. James)

this is whatever you want it to be

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 17 March 2010 at 2:07 pm

wanting
to be lost
in a look

hands
on
skin

mouth
on
mouth

feel your
heat

wishing
it were
more than
this

but taking
what I can
get

(D. James)

you deal with it or it will deal with you

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 March 2010 at 2:33 pm

you know
what I mean

when we talk
about the pain

how it keeps
you up
at night

and all the talk
doesn’t help

there is no cure
for being human

we either
feel it
or resist

it’s all the same
in the end

(D. James)

there’s a reason it’s called falling

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 1 March 2010 at 3:00 pm

and I want
all of it

give me
what you can’t
show me
what you won’t

tell me
what you fear
teach me
things you don’t know
you know

go beyond
what you feel

fall with me
into that abyss
they call love

(D. James)

what will I do tomorrow without you tonight

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 26 February 2010 at 2:39 pm

haven’t slept
in my own bed
all week

now it’s later
than late
and I’m faced
with the aloneness
of being alone
in this bed
that’s just
a mattress
on the floor

I miss
your green
eyes
your red
hair
your pale
skin
your
attitude

the way you look
straight at me
in the morning
like a child
who has yet
to learn fear
or know the difference
between themself
and another

and your laugh
pure abandon
in that ha ha ha
the complete unbridled
expression of joy

how will I make it
through the night
and worse
what will I look forward to
in the morning

(D. James)

calling

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 24 February 2010 at 2:20 pm

phone calls
text messages

and no one
gets back

what to do

feeling disconnected
feeling like no one’s
out there
feeling like no one
wants me

it’s only a thought
they’re all just busy
right now

in an hour
everyone
will call back
at once

and I’ll have
3 voice mails
and 5 text
messages

while trying
to get through
to my sister
in Tucson
to say
I love you

(D. James)

life may be empty and meaningless, but don’t tell that to my heart

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 22 February 2010 at 3:02 pm

don’t know what
to do
with these feelings

when the woman
you love says
it doesn’t mean anything

like your love
doesn’t matter
like you
don’t
matter

it isn’t what she means
it’s just how it sounds
to you
in the moment
as she says goodbye
for the last time

what do you do
knowing she’s already
calling another man
lover

do you give in
to the rage
let it consume you
or can you find a way
to let it all go

as if it really
doesn’t matter

(D. James)

nothing between us

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 February 2010 at 2:38 pm

in the silence
before dawn
I breath in
the scent of skin

rub the nape
of your neck

run my hand
along
your waist
to the pale belly

you roll over
stare straight
into me

seeing
who I really am

not who I project
to keep the world
at bay

but who
I want to be

who I am
when it’s safe

you smile,
revealing
your true self

I don’t know
if you do that
with others

but to me
you are always
an open door

inviting me
to step through

and I’m curious
what, if anything,
I do for you

(D. James)

more of you

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 February 2010 at 8:55 pm

in bed
your head
on my chest

I want
to write
my name
across your
smooth white belly

to mark you
as you’ve
marked me

afraid to say
what I truly feel
for fear
it would
scare you away

then I let go
of all that
and am with you
in a way
not possible
before

and all
I want now
is more

(D. James)

burn for you

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 February 2010 at 3:12 pm

wanting
to burn
for another

feel
her missing
from the sheets
when she’s away

be
in the warmth
of a gaze

wake
in the silence
before sunrise

stare
at her body
lying in wait

get lost
in the smell
of her hair

pull
her to me
knowing
that’s always
what she wants

(D. James)

storm clouds passing

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 25 January 2010 at 2:25 pm

what do you
say

when it doesn’t
go your way

you fight
to make
a pointless
point

then you
feel bad
about
the things
you said

finally
you let it go
or
you let it
destroy you

the choice
is yours

(D. James)

the opposite of resistance

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 20 January 2010 at 2:40 pm

then I said
“yes”

and it all
began
for me

and she,
she couldn’t
see
at first
what it meant

then she said
“yes”

and it all
began

for us

(D. James)

walking through it

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 18 January 2010 at 5:10 pm

nervous
pressure

feelings
running rampant

wanting
it all
to go
away

moments
of clarity
fogged
by anger

wanting to
give this
pain
away

yet

knowing
there is
something
on the other
side of it

something
I need
to see

another way
to be

(D. James)

tusnami soul

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 13 January 2010 at 5:55 pm

alone
in a room

darkness
of your soul

moment
of madness

you rage
and cry out

“what does
it all mean?”

like a wave
it crashes
over you

washes
everything
away

then subsides

you are left
standing
with nothing

and now
you can begin

(D. James)

expression for a new way of being

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 7 January 2010 at 7:13 pm

Doing
what needs
doing

being
right where
you are

Nothing broken
nothing to fix

even when
the world
seemingly tells
you so

Just remember
that everything
everything
changes

(D. James)

wish I was there

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 January 2010 at 10:10 am

Waking
only a few hours
after falling asleep

I think
it’s 5
in the morning
where she is

she’s still asleep
I see her
face

quiet
beautiful
that mouth

later
on a bus
cold December sunlight

and I think
6:30 where she is

still asleep

Through the window
the Manhattan skyline
from the Jersey side

majestic
moves me
like no other place

yet I’d trade
it all
for another
chance

(D. James)

nothing more than love

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 1 January 2010 at 2:02 pm

waiting
for the call
which never comes

the one
where she says
all is forgiven
I love you

she says
please come home
we can work it all out

she says
come to me

and I do
and we do

but the phone
doesn’t ring

and everything
reminds me
of her

cup of tea
a bed
laughter
dark hair
sunlight
dogs
tears
children
laundry

I think
what should I do
with all these thoughts
in my head

afraid to let go
that that
would be
the end

and I keep
wanting
another outcome

the one where
the phone rings

and she says …

(D. James)

Christmas for Atheists

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 25 December 2009 at 2:00 pm

what can we
give

on this day

that can truly
be called a gift

not something
bought

or even made

but something
of ourselves

to look someone
in the eye
and let them
know

they are loved
and appreciated

to leave
them
feeling
as if you know
exactly who they are

not who you
think they are
or need them
to be

but truly
who they are

(D. James)

poetry

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 18 December 2009 at 3:50 pm

what I write
when no
other thoughts
come

an image, idea
theft
desire
hope
dreams
sorrows

This is what
I write
when nothing else
will come

(D. James)

For the Love

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 14 December 2009 at 3:40 pm

Love you
like no other

somehow it
isn’t enough

always seems
another obstacle
an endless
row of hurdles

and though
it feels as if
this horse
can’t jump

I must
I must

For no
other reason
than love

(D. James)

the last poet

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 2 December 2009 at 4:27 pm

When the night
is over

and the final
cigarette
has been smoked

what will
the last poet
say

After all
the evoked emotion
failed relationships
dead boyfriends
abortions
abusive parents
drugs and alcohol

laughter
and pain

have been spilled
out
in some cases
artfully vomited

what could
this last poet
have to say

How to summarize
this night
these words
life sentences
bad grammar

poetic license
driven to excess

How to follow
the girl who told
of losing all her hair

the guy who
crashed his car

the gay biker
who longs
to be dominated
by a she-wolf
of the SS

the boy
who lost
his virginity
so late

the girl
who lost hers
so early

the words
of so many
who want change
yet stay
right where they are

What can this last
motherfucker
have to say
that can top the
triumphs
tragedies
surprises
sorrows

What will
the last poet
leave us with

as we file
out of this
basement grotto
into the light
of dawn

Do we expect
too much
as he steps to the microphone

the crowd
too drunk
to hush

even the white
of the spot light
seems a bit dingy
as he steps into it’s shaft

The last poet
will speak the
last poem

and we will leave
to sleep it off

Whatever he says
will be the final word
so our expectations
are far too high

The last poet
poor fucker
has nowhere to go
but down

unless he’s more genius
than genius itself
more brilliant
than all of us

The last poet
clears his throat
touches his lips
to the mic

the wait
has us spellbound
and half-hopeful

Even so
when we wake
in the afternoon
hungover and
full of piss

will we remember
any of this

(D. James)

idealization

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 30 November 2009 at 3:00 pm

just because
you want her

doesn’t mean
she feels
the same

or even notices
you’re alive

(D. James)

pretty girl moves a room

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 21 September 2009 at 9:20 pm

she notices
the men who
turn their heads
just in time

the ones who look
but don’t want
to be obvious

trying to be
cool
but she
catches them
anyway

often sees
heads moving
to the left
or right

as if
they were
only observing
the room

the one
they’ve been
sitting in
for hours now

funny
how that
keeps happening

(D. James)

1950 style

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 9 September 2009 at 4:22 pm

where are
the hula girls
and the umbrella drinks

the smoke-filled
club
with the little
tables
and white linen

it already happened
born too late
the party moved on

damn I hate that

(D. James)

let me just say this

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 19 July 2009 at 5:38 pm

whatever I take
to bed

I wake up with

whatever is in
my head

I deal with

whatever it is
I’ve said

I have to
live with

and whatever happens
after I’m dead

I will have to
end with

(D. James)

it all amounts to nothing in the end

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 22 May 2009 at 4:55 pm

when we were young
we talked, naively
about being older
because that’s
all we wanted

when we were older
we talked, longingly
about being young
because that’s
all we wanted

when we’re
dead
will we talk, knowingly
about being alive?

or will we finally
be content
with where we are?

(D. James)

wood

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 June 2008 at 6:55 am

drifting through the days
like something at sea

big ideas
little motivation

life has become
a dull hum
with flourishes
of brilliant color

(D. James)

silent mind

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 20 May 2008 at 11:12 am

Searching for things
I cannot find

for what
does not exist

All chatter
and clutter

with no way
to turn down
the sound
or change
the channel

(D. James)