Green moss clad bark glistens

on dark cool branches

beneath the weight of a 

myriad of colours

oranges, russets, 

umbers, merigold

reds and pinks 

decorate the canopy

Rosy cheeks atop newly knitted scarves

sniffling through visible breaths

from chilled lungs nestled in their layers

bonfires and woodburners fill the air

with rich smokes and a poky tang

crows caw through crisp mornings,

lending their raspy soundtrack

to crunching footsteps and panting dogs

Pumpkins grin maniacally from doorsteps,

candles giving life to cartoon evil eyes

as excited little monsters and ghosts hunt

sweets or deliver empty threats of tricks or treats

williwaws and thunderstorms 

sheeted rain and dark velvety early nights

swaddle the earth earlier and earlier

prompting the cyclic utterance of

ooh, aren’t the nights drawing in

And now, as winter creeps toward us

ready to envelop us all in its icy grip

we hide beneath toasty blankets 

getting fat

idling away the lamplit cozy hours

smiling as we adventure

through worlds of words 

in musty books

The enemy of summer

close cousin of winter

holding open the door 

for nature’s death

before reincarnation stirs 

dull roots with spring rain 

once again

laying slain the wasted land.

Written in a prison library at our creative writing workshop. We all had to describe Autumn without actually naming it. This is my offering. Yes, there's a nod to TS Eliot.

Break my heart and watch me rage

The beast within, I've kept her caged

Break my trust and fuel the fire

Never learn to love a liar

Break these bonds that we've made

Shattered love, let it fade

Break your skin to watch you bleed

Your pain sets my soul at ease

Break my chains and feed the beast

A graveyard call--this love's deceased.

I donʼt believe in hope anymore

I believe in reality

Why believe in something thatʼs never meant to be

I canʼt relive the hurt and the pain

I canʼt become that repeat offender with the same tragic end

I need to face reality, and reality is that it never begins

Wasting time, money, and energy on those who donʼt care to call for your name

I was proud to stop it all before it became

No, I wonʼt fall for it again

I tried…tried so hard to get back in again

Only to realize that this was fucking insane

Donʼt want to take that chance because thereʼs too much to lose, and so little to gain.

Come close to me

Lets rock slowly

Back and forth

Let the gentle breeze take us

Let the cool fall air bathe us

Until our eyes close

Nestled inside our arms

Gently connecting

As we take in the day

Taking in our love

Together as one

K.j.a (c) 2016

Hiding in the shadows.

I don’t move, I don’t breathe. I bring the rifle up;

The metal is smooth against my cheek as I line the crosshairs on the politican.

I tap, tap, tap the trigger. One more,

I pull the trigger.

The recoil hurts, but she falls, blood spurting.

willful prostitution

selling your body without pay

for the thrill of a quickly exiting feeling

just to prove you can

and that you're good enough

for the guy that doesn't smile at you

but your unclothed body.

Saturate me in poetry

During a Southern storm

Devour me with prophecies

Dripping from your lips

Roll me up with thunder

And slip me under your skull

Let me feast on your intellect

Thread me into your soul

Tomorrow I will come home from work and you will ask how was my day. Drawing near and laying my head on your shoulder, I will say one of two things:

1. Just another day.

or

2. I saw a blade of grass extruding its life force through a fissure between an impenetrable concrete wall and the grit of an endless city. I've been reflecting on this and I can't decide whether that fragile shoot was growing towards apotheosis or annihilation.

Mother jabali

breaks cover with her younglings. 

Flees across the road. 

The hungry hunter

eases his finger off the trigger. 

Whispers go in peace. 

i peel my lips off,

this kissing tool

hasn't been used for too long.

i turn to you,

wanting to tell you.

but i can't.

and so i silence my years

to the begging of your lips.