The Poetry Marathon

I hate it how

el

oh

el

has replaced

real laughter

and

oh

em

gee

replaces

the shock on

your face

we don’t talk

we don’t see

each other

we spend more

time staring

at screens

that light up

and vibrate

creating memories

in posts

and tweets

and snap chats

we have lost the

art of authentic

relationships

and conversation

diluted

by emojis

with tongues

out and

dogs

and cats

and surfing

where is the

noun and verb

agreement

and the intimacy

of verbal

exchange

diminished

by the light

of cell phones

and the chirps

and alerts

that a new

message has

been received

FJ original 2016n

Echoes of intentions and love intermingled with beauty

A man who held his character and intelligence like rich held their wealth

He was open to all the possibilities of life that were in his comfort zone

his words were few but when spoken very powerful, every little bit

the actions were few, although the words were simply beautiful

he lived a simple life, and wanted a less than simple wife

he worked an honest job, had a kid, a musical god

so they could build an honest love, and honest life, and an honest home

he caught her heart with words, but couldn’t keep her with action

distant lovers interwoven over the brim of capacity

she wanted to remain his sanctuary, his hope and his satisfaction

but it was life that taught them both that “nothing” not worked for is ever lasting.

his love her did lessen, but the thrill ran away her smile and love’s worth.

falls

let this

be the last

time we hold each

other again and tell each

other that we love each other

and when, we see the sun falling

in the sky we catch its rays passing

us by and we hope, this won’t be the

death of love, oh we hope before the darkness comes

FJ original 2016

internal

battles

like scars

no one

can see

and worse

no one can

hear me

screaming

at me

for mercy

for freedom

for grace

for second

chances

at a twist

of fate

I am stuck

in the channel

of seas and

oceans

hoping for

new life

that wasn’t

left coping

from pain

of plea

bargains

and flea

markets

discounted

fees

setting on the

ice chest

in the summer

heat trying

to stay cool

yet no breeze

blowing smoke

and the truth

is tainted

canvas is ruined

look at the lies

we have painted

stains on the

heart of circumstance

fade to black

fade to loss

of a budding romance

times are hard

change is good

finding the road

to self discovery

while lost in the

woods of

shoulda

coulda

woulda

and maybe

we can whisper

and lower our

voices and

wipe the slate

clean and paint

pretty pictures

of life

loosely lived

and to right

all the wrongs

and find it hard

not to forgive

myself

FJ original 2016

I want to move

to the beat

of a lover’s

drum

the way it

runs through

the desert

and the way

it catches

in my throat

as my body

sways

and becomes

one with

the drum

mother

Africa

on my tongue

long legs

and gazelle

like dancing

in a world

where only

music is life

and magic

means murders

are meaningless

and a matters

movement

is unnecessary

because all living

things are necessary

for the circle

to continue

beat builds

i am caught off

guard at the solo

performed

starring me

center stage

and in action

full of promise

and long-lasting

every eye

catches the drift

of my movement

the ease

at which I get

into it

and then

when the end

seems near

I pick it up

drop it back

and bring forth

the rear

gyrating to love

on the floor

in the middle

of nowhere

acknowledging

no one

and nothing

but life

in the sound

of drum

FJ original 2016

you were everything

and nothing

to me

I had to let

you go

strings cut

monkey

off my back

for the last

time

said I to myself

46 times before

what made

this time

so different

I am different

I am better

without the

pretenses

the process

undo because

your heart is ill

prepared to

love my heart

permanently

problem is

I was willing to

wait around

count the sheep

watch you hide

and I’d seek

but your

heart is not

to be found

and I dropped

mine on the

ground for you

for you

I was torment

and lament

of blue

dreams reoccured

and the  missing

piece was

complete without

you

so this is the

end the final

show

the last goodbye

the i told me so

again

all is not fair

in love

but this wasn’t

love, was it.

only fools rush in

I say only fools

stay

so goodbye

farewell

see you never

is the better

way

wish you well

on the other

side of the street

the way we

don’t kiss

and say goodbye

is now loading

and the load

up is complete.

FJ original 2016