'In the notes, the music of an old song'

In the notes, the music of an old song,
I am you.
And in the punchline of an old joke,
You are me.
Come. Take my hand.
I cannot see the stage, but I believe
That our show is about to begin.

James
15 Dec 2019

'Dragonflies rise in the slow heat.'

Dragonflies rise in the slow heat. Sugar falls from their exquisite wings onto the waiting tongues of all creation. What is tomorrow? It is nothing. Don’t even think of it. Rise now in the slow heat. Shake the sugar from your wings as you fly. All of life in the beating of fine wings in the slow warmth of the air.

James

05 Sept 2019

14 Dec 2019 

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'my Saturday poems'

CLICK HERE for my Saturday poems and prose poems on the Medusa site. This happens every Saturday.

James

'It was the moon, you know, that taught me to believe'

It was the moon, you know, that taught me to believe, or at least to attempt belief. Yes, my friend, it was the moon; so vast, so beautiful, close and yet far, always changing, always returning. 

James

14 Dec 2019

'That I might peel away the layers of nonsense'

That I might peel away the layers of nonsense I have built around myself that hide who I am. That I might know myself before the time of knowing comes to an end, and that I might use that knowledge, such as it is, in a positive manner. That I might be of some service to others. 

James

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'All these years, decades together'

All these years, decades together, that now the two of us have begun to remind me of those old people that hide their money in the pages of books and then forget about it. And we might do just that if we had any money. Dawn is still far off, but I am up already, making coffee as quietly as I can; you need more sleep than I do. I just need your love. And the coffee. You are smiling in your sleep when I peek in to check on you. Perhaps, even in your dreams, you know just how much I love you. My, what fine dark roast coffee this is.

James
04 Sept 2019
13 Dec 2019
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'I wrote a letter to the World'

I wrote a letter to the World,
It said, “Dear World, 
Live life one moment at a time.”
It’s good advice,
But you know the World.

James
12 Dec 2019

'Death and the world can darken your thoughts'

Death and the world can darken your thoughts, darken your hope. That’s why you must hold on to life and to your dreams. With both hands. Brother. Sister. 

James 

12 Dec 2019

oktu

'Night arrived, right on time.'

Night arrived, right on time.
Moon, but no wind at all.
Life, as still as death.
Let there be peace.
Night, like a tent.
Moonlight, like a lantern.
Let there be peace.
Dawn is but a promise,
Not a guarantee.

James
12 Dec 2019

'A dark thing quickly dashes across the pale rocks'

A dark thing quickly dashes across the pale rocks,  
And just as fast, is gone.
What was it, we wonder, a shadow?
Looking up, only blue sky - no clouds, no birds.  

So it goes sometimes, in life.  
Something very dark scurries past,
Low and fast.
We cannot identify it, and, like fools
We look to the heavens for an answer. 

And even if we actually found an answer there,  
Would we believe it?
Quite often, no, we would not.
It wasn't the answer the ego wanted,
Or is just too unbelievable.  

Or perhaps we do believe the answer,  
But have no way to use the information
Gifted to us that is actually helpful,
Being slow and thick as we are.  

No, my friend. When darkness passes,  
Let it go. Don’t waste the moment worrying.
A better use for the light from the heavens
Is to find your own path through the rocks.  

A dark thing quickly dashes across the pale rocks,
And just as fast, is gone.
What was it, we wonder, a shadow?
Looking up, only blue sky - no clouds, no birds. 

James

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'The lone street lamp reminds me of a man'

The lone street lamp reminds me of a man stranded on an island. The quiet street is the still, calm ocean. Night. The wild Pacific. The sound of my footsteps on the sidewalk.

James

11 Dec 2019
oktu

'May there be enough light to see your footsteps'

May there be enough light to see your footsteps in the darkness. May be there be enough sound for music and speech -- and laughter. May hunger and sickness become strangers to you. This I pray.

James

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'What are we? We are those particles of dust'

What are we? We are those particles of dust that float in the sunlight pouring in through the open window. A good breeze and whoosh, we’re gone. Friend, we are not invincible. And that’s alright; did you want to live forever? Come. Let’s open all the windows and see what happens.

James

03 Sept 2019

11 Dec 2019

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'There is a lovely hill in my heart.'

There is a lovely hill in my heart.
The sun rises on one side
And sets on the other. Perfectly.
At noon the sun is exactly above
The crest on my hill.
A lion lives here, and a bear,
And a dove. Wild flowers
And pine trees. Squirrels.
The sounds and smells of nature
Cover the hill. My hill.
And it is all in my heart.

James
10 Dec 2019

'Even now I crave her sweaty lust'

Even now I crave her sweaty lust, her grunting passion, the moist, salty feel of her, and her eyes as bright as life. Even now.

James
10 Dec 2019
oktu

'To write poems is to sit inside of the burning bush.' Li-Young Lee said that.

'To write poems is to sit inside of the burning bush.' Li-Young Lee said that. The bush is no god, but it continues to burn and to make commands nonetheless. James said that. Climb inside with me. Bring pen and paper with you. There is much yet to do.

James
02 Sept 2019
10 Dec 2019
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