Grey clouds kiss silver skies as old Appalachia
Silent in its beautiful and sorrowful capacity
Looks on
While heavy roads carry heavier dreams
Loud rivers moving past time with barges and memory
Who knows
People through time left behind so achingly
In the silence of a thousand words unsaid
Come closer
And hello those eyes long to say while poetry is
Sung in the voice of alcoholic’s happy sorrow
I am
Melancholy here in this place where there are no
Restaurants, this pace where no one and everyone
Comes undone
I am here walking in the mountains
Listening for the day when I might
Leave again.
| For as the sun doth melt the snow, So too does light come after the rain, For as the wind not blow from below, Neither then should we wallow in our pain, But lift up our eyes and thank the day, For welcoming us with sweet music once again, The beginning also contains the end they say, And thus life too will go on again. "Untitled Poem by JD" (2009) |
| THE LOST YEARS (2009) In a house with closed windows to guard against the snow I look for that old familiar lie, the only one I know In the pages of my secret book I seek the lyrics' song I seem to recall the melody, though the song still seems all wrong Have I purposefully locked my mind with thoughts wholly ill Or have I simply fallen behind quieting what I know is still To forget is a joy and a sorrow, I know it better now And though I no longer breathe in yesterday I'd lie if I say I didn't know how. |
| everyone's been telling me I need to get out and, and, I actually was outside crying and then I decided to come in. I haven't left the house in two weeks. I teach daycare. I work with kids, and it's just...oh. No one around here does nothing. They're too unemployment, there's nothing for you here. I don't know. And the parents, they should be out there. You should see my car, it I didn't even want to come out tonight, I told him that. But looks like a deer hit it. It's awful! And I just wanted to come out tonight...I honestly don't know why I'm telling you all this. I tonight...I honestly don't know why I'm telling you all this. I wasn't even drinking that day. I just got off work, it was 15 wasn't even drinking that day. I just got off work, it was 15 minutes late. And these kids, you know on their bikes, they don't minutes late. And these kids, you know on their bikes, they don't pay attention. And I didn't even see him, it was like he came out of pay attention. And I didn't even see him, it was like he came out of nowhere. And I hit him. He wasn't wearing a helmet. And he was nowhere. And I hit him. He wasn't wearing a helmet. And he was dead. And I just beat myself up about it. I've been so hard on myself. I just...oh. My pastor came by the other day and told me it wasn't my fault, that God has a plan for me. And I believe that. God does have a plan for me. But you had seen it, you can't imagine. Face down and all that blood. In the daylight. My God. And I know it wasn't my fault but I just, I feel...awful. I've been in the house for two weeks. You see, I have kids. One of my grandbabies died in a accident, and the other one, they had to go in and cut him out of his mom. So you see I've lost two grandbabies and a kid of mine and now this, and it's hard. That's why I tell people now if you're driving and you see a kid without a helmet, you stop the car and grab them and tell them to get a helmet on. Because I'm telling you, if he'd of...it's just been hard for me. But God has a plan for me, so I don't worry. I don't know why I'm telling you all this. It's crazy I know, just going up to strangers in a bar and telling them all this. It's just, you all look...kind. I'm sorry, I just needed to...well, thanks for listening and you all have a good night. Okay then. |
| QUESTIONING (2010) What are we human beings? So kind, yet so cruel So magnanimous yet so base Capable of technological wonders We can transport water 1,000 miles But only if you can afford it Yet we turn our home into Venus So lonely we are Yet so are we constantly surrounded So lost and yet, not so found What are we human beings? |
Who is this man with eyes so corroded
Whose mouth stays gripped in the vice of hatred
Or is it fear that holds you so
Close
This man with the face which is never rested
Baseball cap on your head backwards turning
The time which leaves one day like leaves leave
Resentful
Who are you who stares daggers at the wind
With a rigidity suggesting you are made of steel
Is your spine made or steal or are you making
Impressions
This man whose hollow voice is muffled
Your body strong while your mind is suspicious
Meanwhile are you what you thought you’d be
Happy?
Whose mouth stays gripped in the vice of hatred
Or is it fear that holds you so
Close
This man with the face which is never rested
Baseball cap on your head backwards turning
The time which leaves one day like leaves leave
Resentful
Who are you who stares daggers at the wind
With a rigidity suggesting you are made of steel
Is your spine made or steal or are you making
Impressions
This man whose hollow voice is muffled
Your body strong while your mind is suspicious
Meanwhile are you what you thought you’d be
Happy?