the poetry knook, the poetry of stephen m. james

Parenthetical thoughts of the future

having everything except the thing wanted the most,
(when we meet we won’t deserve each other
couldn’t have it any other way)
veneer paneling doesn’t splitter your skin, you say,
hiding away, some crevice, somewhere dark–
waiting in passive beauty only the living (are beautiful, you know?)
daily strive, ah, the alive, falling and failing,

and getting back up again,

haven’t met you, maybe I have but no doubt I will have–before we meet
because you are no ideal, no goddess (I know)
wouldn’t want one (for keeps),
so in love with our destitution (are you, too?)

we should still strive, reach each other,
or I’ll give up before beginning,
sitting here like you today.


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© 1993-2025 by Stephen M. James.