the poetry knook, the poetry of stephen m. james

Poems with the tag ‘scream’

There is no space; time stops

There is no space; time stops between thoughts of you.
Which is greater? My anxiousness at seeing you or
my disappointment when it is not you?
My happiness for
The scent of your body is my food restoring me
Your hug pulls me along as I plod on my path
“Mercy!” I scream when you look at me.
Thankful you are four seats down from me
For I would never see the chapel speaker,
If you were across the way from me.
It scares me when I imagine spending a month without you.
I’d make it through holding my Father’s hand.


Wailing knives twirling

Wailing knives twirling, stabbing through my walls
That hinder your rippling power as your Spirit calls
Me to bottomless passion deep within,
Weighing intellect as 11 o’clock bells yell “Class begin!”
“What do you want from me?” I scream in fear.
“My book bag lying on your altar–me in tears?”
Evenly melted and so entangled I could never be!
For I departmentalize the Living One, inside of me,
Catching contradictions flying around my head,
So consumed, doubt I’ll catch me, instead?


The grain and the fish

Here I am, again, thrashing on Your threshing floor.
God, grind my garbage from the good grain.
Garner it for the gardens growing beautiful garlands
to wrap around Your feet, for I cannot wear them.

“Don’t eat me!” I scream and gulp as I wiggle out of
the surging stream that is not my life, love, nor desire.
I am a fish floundering in the tweed of the Fisherman.
Caught again, unaware what other’s need.


Love that is a reflex

As a young boy, curled against my mother’s chest,
talking, walking with loved ones,
unforgettable shared experiences.
“Never be ruled by memories!” I scream
but crave reliving moments, now, miles and years apart.
Lonely, because at that moment I wasn’t alone,
where people matter in person,
passion, courtesy, spontaneity;
Where love is a reflex.



© 1993-2025 by Stephen M. James.