My words are shouted at midnight,
love and anger laboured
on unseen paper.
I die
my face unknown to light’s eye.
For whom do I aspire
to see my words?
to rescue eyes and ink cast earthward?
to validate muted loves?
to love
me?
An Empty Pen
Amour
Lyon, London ou Brazil
Si je parle français ?
La vie à Lyon,
au Croix Rousse même.
Ici Je dessin le coeur des figures
qui me passent,
une plume à main
un piccolo à l’autre.
Ou viver no Brazil
Tomando um café e escreve em Portugues.
Minha língua dançando samba,
como bossas tropicais lavar sobre mim.
Minha alma de ouro do sol equatorial.
I sit here in passage
an architect of sand castles,
creations washed away
as I construct another.
I Commute With You
Jostled by the rhythmic rock of the 7:44,
through swaying others, you
a jasmine flower.
Our eyes never met
our time dispersed either side of the carriages end.
-The closest we’ll ever be.
Our union was without words, embrace
nor an emotional wink requited.
I know nothing of you, but
your radiant presence
illuminating my overcast morn,
All before you,
devoid of beauty’s vivid colour.
I starved for a glance unreturned;
your eyes through the window
adrift with the birds.
Our motion breaks
and now we all change,
all change;
arrived at London Bridge
our encounter unrealised.
Born Anew
You, born the eleventh
in poetry’s month,
exhale pure air.
on virgin canvas.
Your purity shared
in the sweeping
loops of words bled
on page.
Visionary Love
My soul pours
for Jeni,
Jhené,
and Janelle Monaé.
Their melodic oeuvres
a soothing poetic massage.
Beautiful heroines
birthing love’s shy vision.
Springtime
Showers of cherry blossoms
whisper away,
smitten by warm moods.
Petals playfully cascade
laying rose upon the grass.
Made for Two
Temptations echo
as Tupac ruminates
on clandestine longing.
My eyes listing
across your profile’s face.
Our departure long formed,
an ocean of years between us.
The first drop spilling
a premature end
to a former friend.
On your face I see
your successes, exciting and contemporary;
and my heart outlines a jealous love.
An Other’s Love
With my heart my weapon,
I compete for yours.
My opponent equally equipped,
though seemingly more adept.
J.C. FitzDerick 