Thursday, August 2, 2012

Her Vision by Stephen Jarrell Williams

HER VISION

In the shadows...
she is
my love.

In the sunlight...
she is
my god.

Her vision
plants
roots deep
down my neck
heart
gizzard.

I cry blood
sacrificing
everything
for her...

Loving
the spread of her
living leaves.



Published in The Rainbow Rose- January 16, 2012

Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Good-bye Girl by Stephen Jarrell Williams

I lost
a wing
on the flight
down from Utah

L.A. girl
brown bread
dropping a few crumbs
in my cupped hands

returning to her home
sure of herself
inviting me in
meeting her mother

we stayed out late
running the streets
her tail a tease
in the neon lights

dancing in a club
I told her I'd leave
early in the morning
my desperate warning

we hurried to her backyard
under a blurry moon
rolled on the lawn
whispering good-bye good-bye.


Published in The Scarlet Sound- April 2011

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Alone by Stephen Jarrell Williams

Almost asleep...

Hearing your voice...

Looking about my room...

Waiting for a shadow to move my way.



Published in The Scarlet Sound- August 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

I Wanna Go Home by Stephen Jarrell Williams

I wanna go home...

sweet Texas
hot
on my lips,

horny toads
shooting blood
through their eyes,

dust rising
behind my old truck
spinning down dirt roads,

my Yellow Rose
waiting on the front porch,

her dress unbuttoned...

thunderstorm bathing
in the backyard.



Published in Deuce Coupe- June 2010

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Pathways by Stephen Jarrell Williams

Are you just my fantasy
Keeping me
Steady in the near insanity?

Are you touchable
Only in my thoughts?

Will I hear you
When you tell me
The truth?

I’m already turning
For the shade beneath the trees,
Where I will rest
In a place for two.


Published in Kritya- January 2010

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

No Return by Stephen Jarrell Williams

We catch ourselves
saying we can never go back
across the bridge
into the sun-drenched thickets.

But the smell of pink tangerines
brings us here again,
on the border of no return.

We eat on the side of the road.
The old music hasn't lost its zip.
The dust rises and falls as we dance,
our skin gleaming.

I have wronged you right,
all of these years.
You step away giggling,
trying to convince me
I can change the way I see
the dying flow of the landscape.

You have already turned,
loving
my hands exploring,
like we have never been here before.

All the world is green.

The city looming in the distant smog
and fire.



Published in Chronogram Magazine- June 26, 2008

Friday, June 17, 2011

Wet by Stephen Jarrell Williams

Quiver of skin
remembering

taking you
home
under a rainstorm

windshield wipers swishing

your warm lips on my neck

in the backseat of my mind
the feel of you
peppering me with the pain of pleasure

missing you now
in an open field
car stuck in mud

years compressed

leather of my boots
still shining
the lightning you struck.


Published in Black Lantern Publishing- November 2009

Friday, June 10, 2011

Joys of Madness by Stephen Jarrell Williams

Staying up all night painting
the enamel ceiling dark hues of blue
yellow stars and white lightning

dunking fries in catsup
drinking Pepsi
chewing ice

knowing the whole world is
sleeping on its back
kicking at the universal dream

loving
night shadows on soft skin
music playing in another room

lying quiet
holding on
holding on
to the joys of madness.


Published in Camroc Press Review- 2009