pulling cars across
metal track

to the top
of the mountain

the skyline
like a picture
postcard
at sunset

a symphony
at full tilt

a mass of steel
and glass
thousands
of lighted squares
and twinkling
red lights

reminds you
that this city
in its ebb and flow
was here before you arrived

and will remain long
after you are gone

(D James)

silently mocking
my attempts
to scribble
something

of weight

the blank page
like a snow-covered
mountain

challenges my ability
to communicate
and whisper-laughs
at my thoughts of words

until I say
to the blank page
“ok, you write something”

then there is silence
and I can finally settle down
to begin the work of stringing words
together into something that makes sense

to someone
somewhere

(D. James)

and the
screen in your head
goes black

who ever said
you can’t get there from here

didn’t know where you were
to begin with

so how did they know
where you’d end up

(D. James)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)