poetry

The Verse Ledger

Poems written between 2011 and 2022 — some stand alone on their own pages, the rest live inside a post, whatever the day brought.

2022

Oct 17

There Are No Clean Hands, But It Is Important How They Become Dirty

“Eleemercenary” Perhaps the better of us don’t have need for wishes Yet between each beat of that wonderful heart thumping in your chest, you can feel it: How long ‘til we’re no longer human? It’s already questionabl…

2019

Oct 17

It’s Been Some Time, but This Time Ain’t Even

“Untitled” If I could tell you everything I know would you listen? Would you take in the mysteries with the horrors? The triumphs with the catastrophes? Would you revel in that moment I learned to hear a smile? …

2016

Aug 10

Sing Like You Think No One’s Listening

“For the Lilies” As I write this you lie sleeping in the room beside me. A few days from now you’ll be gone once again, and I don’t know what I’ll do. We always think we have just a little longer, even with the finish…

Jun 9

One Bright Moment is All I Ask

“To You” To you, whom were never me nor mine, and yet… As long as I’ve known you (if I’ve ever known you), you’ve sought something. Never quite sure of yourself, yet never so unsure you’d listen to anyone else…

May 21

The Dragonfly It Ran Away, but It Came Back with a Story to Say

“Drafted in B minor” She looks into you as the camera comes out of frame, You feel your pulse pounding as the blood bursts in your veins. He will consume you and take all but your name, You breathe in the fire as you swal…

May 13

Never Knew I Was a Dancer ’til Delilah Showed Me How

“Sometimes it’s better to forget the dreams.” Some time later, or perhaps before, we finally abandoned the search. If the child wanted to be found, then maybe we seemed decent (if not selfish). But we know better than nature how things ought to b…

Apr 23

Hello Teacher Tell Me, What’s My Lesson

“A Daft Memory” Never killed a man, but still they locked him away. Left him in a cell of flowers and dirt because anything else would be cruel. Even if angels are assholes, we’re not monsters. I used to think he was…

Mar 20

I Have Written You down, Now You Will Live Forever

“Fille Inferno” In a world ever imaginary the flightless take flight. They soar among dreams, weaving melodious tapestries to keep the sleepers at ease. She who longed to wake never could. Because her lovers loved he…

Feb 27

Raise a Glass of Wine for the Last Time

“rapture,” is now reserved. And there have been some whom I’d just as soon forget, and probably have. Other things have happened on occasion: sunrises with friends on the lawn, the ocean pier at sunset, so many…

Jan 31

There’s Only Two Ways That These Things Can Go

“Of Mine” I walked away from my puppy true, Because I didn’t know how to be me without you. But I could never disappear entirely. Because I am your friend too. I watched as you wandered, Seeing both the joy and…

Jan 27

I Believe We Fly

“Just one more day,” and I’ve never lost the lust for the taste of one good, deep breath. You’re sort of aware of everything around you, as much as it relates to your schedule. But you never stop to really admire yourself…

2015

Dec 16

We All Need Something to Hold on To

“Puppy” I am a puppy. I do not know many things. But I know you. You are my friend. When I didn’t know things that puppies don’t know, you taught me. You taught me that barking is fun, that food is good, and …

Dec 16

And so I Tell Myself That I’ll Be Strong

“Good, or Don’t Be” There was a girl no one has ever seen. She was not invisible, nor was she hidden. She appears and disappears because she gets all attached, but before long they’re not hanging around anymore. She’s a …

Dec 15

Kindred Spirits

It all happened quite by accident. / I glanced at you, and you didn’t look away. / With moonlight caught in…

Nov 30

I Didn’t Think so but I’m Still Convincible

“Wishing on Welkin” When at first I saw the sky, I wondered like no other what it came from. How the azure skyplane escaped my thoughts and took flight. Where all its bedfellows got off to when it glides so deceptively e…

Nov 22

These Are the Thoughts That I Have When I’m Happy

“Stairs” Climbing up a stair case, bright lights up ahead There’s a promise waiting for you just beyond the bedroom door Always keep moving, the gift is worth the climb I know your body’s aching, there’ll be t…

Nov 19

You Wern’t Dressed to Burn These Thoughts of Mine

“Carry On” Specks trickle against dirty glass, creating an impossible mirror. The film swirls into what could be a gorgeous mosaic. There’s no answer for the other side mystery. Maybe today it is no longer the s…

Nov 17

Wish You Hadn’t

“Wish You Hadn’t” There are times I forget you aren’t there any more. Like trying to kick a habit I never wanted to quit. Like checking my pocket for smokes knowing I haven’t smoked in years. I could use one now. Littl…

Nov 16

They Send Me Away to Find Them a Fortune

“These are the days you’ll always remember!” It wasn’t wrong. Some people learn through joy, love, and laughter. Some through misery, hatred, and vengeance. Some never learn at all. The eidolon has seen glory never spoken, and tells only tales o…

Nov 8

Across the Room Filled with People That Are Less Important than You

“Crayon for a Writer” I wanted to draw a picture, but I didn’t know where to start. I’m terrible with fine lines and erasers never work. Tried tracing once or twice, but it never comes our right. I always crumple the paper…

Nov 1

Does It Almost Feel like Nothing Changed at All?

“(N)ever More” The old piano reached its crescendo as she turned back toward the window. No one was there. Of course not, no one was ever there. But still, no one was there. There used to be so much more, or had it …

Oct 15

Listen to Me While I Talk to the Wall

“Listen” Words weave ideas, opinions, imagination. There’s always so much to say. But in speaking, so much more is lost. The ideas left unspoken, opinions never expressed. Imaginations left unshaped. There’s a…

Sep 23

Up All Night Again This Week, Breaking Things that I Should Keep

“For the Wicked” Though a diary lay strewn across the hard surface of the scratched mahogany table, he did not read it. Though its contents contained secrets of the utmost importance, assuredly to be lost to the ages,…

2014

Oct 12