the poetry knook, the poetry of stephen m. james

Poems with the tag ‘shame’

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Clad in indigo

Clad in indigo, the past’s presence holds firm to the railing,
a reminiscent grandmother picks us up and turns the pages of childhood stories:
of glee, shame, and the meaning of family.
Ahead, skipping up steps, facing forward, off the page,
we follow a little girl, rekindling youth, dressed in red,
she grips our hand and pulls us into the surest unsure we’ve ever known,
always two steps before us, exploring–


Child’s walls

Secrecy, shame plaster this child’s walls,
night arrives hushing humid air–
summer nights uncovered, I lie,
special, awaiting a silhouette,
Are my playground friends special?
They hold me to the ground,
I can’t cry. I was told “Don’t.” in a strained, raspy voice.

Water rises behind dams built 10 years past,
quiet, except grunting ghosts of breath, but
I can’t say I love you
until you thieve me.
For I have no, “No,”
between innocent nights of dreams.



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