// “The Day’s Activities” by JR Mahung//

The day’s activities:

1. I awoke and rolled in my bed
wrapping myself in my blanket til it held me
as tenderly as you would if you were here

2. Cooked a sausage and egg breakfast 3. Ate it all up
4. Returned to my room to do something productive
— he listened to music instead

5. Thought to write a poem about someone not me
6. Wished I had more time to do all the things I wanted
7. Read about someone doing something worthwhile
with their life
8. Wondered what you were doing/thinking/saying
- whatever it was I prayed it was about me

9.Tried to piece together properly
what your smile looks like in the 5AM sunlight,
how your mouth is like a passion fruit
When you speak you bleed bits of you into the world
I would like to taste

10. Sat in silence
with you on the tip of my tongue and every intent to hold you there
11. Tried to measure the miles between you and me
12. Gave up 13. Thought about the million things I would do better if I could

14. Stayed up til 2 scared to dream dreams of accomplishments I may never attain

15. thought about you
16. thought about you

17. I thought about you
18. Fell asleep too tired to dream, thinking about you

// “When Walking Away” by Jay Johnson//

I wish I could move mountains
But sometimes it’s hard to muster up the faith

I want to sew seeds in the sinews of her valley
But we’re afraid to test her arability
Despite my middle name being Leland

Some nights I lay awake and think every thought
Until my mind is too drained to remember sleeping

It’s 2:40 AM as I’m typing this
It reminds me of how I want to be engaged at 24

And be made whole yet forever empty
Needing someone else’s existence to make
My own mean something like that zero

But that thought is fleeting
As reality kicks in at 2:41

I’ve been accused of cheating three times
I was found guilty on all counts
One of which, death broke up with me the next day

I know she’ll come back this way again
Though my invitations continue to be forwarded

I haven’t found peace in a poem for months
I’ve left signs to the contracted road workers

You’re on my computer screen
The wallpaper and Skype call

I wonder if I’m running through your head
Trying to cross the same plateau between us

// “Lord Have Mercy” by Joshua Everett//

Lord have mercy

That’s what I said when I saw your curvaceous frame
It was hard to abstain from staring
I analyzed every inch until your eyes met mine sternly
But I’m faithful in practice so I’ve earned the right to look
Shook your hand and introduced myself
On your left hand I noticed something strange

But for that moment

I ignored and chose to explore the depths of your mind
I find we have the same interests

Interesting how God works

Days turned into weeks
As the equinox of our spring romance was in full bloom
Pretty soon sleepless nights ensued
Because the reality of you was better than any dream

As I pondered on the purity of our union
I suddenly remember the ring on your left hand
I was thinking you were thinking like a man and had a 90 day rule
Until you told me that you would never get married after just 90 days

MARRIAGE!!!

You mean our union has to be sacred… for you to take it off???
I knew something was off about how you refrained from getting too turned on
Nothing wrong with chaste but I might be too stained for your taste
You knew you wanted to be with me
But your purity wasn’t up for debate
So I had to erase lustful thoughts that could urge me to tempt thee
See in order to obtain heavenly happiness
I’ll need divine patience
Patience that can’t be mastered by the flesh

So please Lord,
Have Mercy

// “If You Forget Me”//

By Pablo Neruda

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

// Dedicated to Mr. Dan King//

I’m afraid of being shot, y’all.
I’m afraid of being shot.
More specifically in the head
Because if it’s anywhere else
I will be that guy in Columbine
And hobble my behind to the tree line
Before you catch me dead.
I’m afraid of the way cockroaches creep.
I’m afraid of being robbed in my sleep.
I’m afraid of dreaming forever:
Both spiritually and literally.
I’m afraid of being popular
For hatred gives me fuel.
I’m afraid of being famous
For simply being cool.
I’m afraid of losing my right arm
Or any other lengthy member.
I’m afraid to die when my wife’s pregnant.
I’m afraid to miss the birth of our daughter.
I’m afraid one day I’ll be reciting
This poem when I miss the call
Telling me that moment has happened.
I’m afraid I won’t be able to fit in a line
About why I named this poem
Dedicated to Dan King
And you will be left sitting in confusion.
I’m afraid of dying while still trying to be young:
I’m afraid I’ll never see every fusion done
Or every “Kamehameha” spoken.
I’m afraid I won’t finally catch ‘em all
And y’all think I’m joking.
I’m afraid of ending up on my mother’s couch
Not because I’m afraid to fall into depression
But because I’m afraid my own
Will eventually give out
From wild mornings with my wife
And passionate night sessions.
I’m afraid you don’t realize you have
Witnessed one of Life’s many blessings.

(Source: braggadociosboy)