When you’re in love, you’re in love with a person. I learned this the hard way. (2013)

I would have stood upon the mount and given her a wicker-weave-wedding-ring. That’s not exactly true. It was her grandmother’s engagement ring, and I had plans to conspire with her mother to get it re-sized for her fingers. She always said family was important to her. Smile like too-green-days, ‘n smell like spring-in-bloom. She was …

When you got nothin’ (2014)

Nah, nah, nahIt’s a shit-hole,but it’s my shit-hole, get me?Ain’t exactly somethin’ to be proud of,‘n I get that,but it ain’t like I’m parsin’ prose like poems,now is it? Imma just leave this unrelated image here for you to reflect on.’s called juxtaposition.‘n the ladies love it–                    (if by ladies I mean people                    who appreciate …

When Winter Winds (2014)

God it’s been such a long time a comin’ to this,lettin’ it all just                distill. ‘n I’m lookin’ forward to them winter months just peakin’ over horizon,them Illinois polar vortex shinanegans,them cold days eatin’ at what was the tails of summer.can’t wait for them frigid mornin’s spent wrapped in more blankets than …

When I Go to Meet Moses (First Published in The Altar Collective Volume III) (2014)

“what dreams may come”/“Death, a necessary end, will come when it will come” in my dreams– I am time ravaged ‘n sore, reeking of vice ‘n long past leathered. hand laid rest on the brow of some blue-eyed husky. scrawlin’ out madness in diction. anything to drown out the snow-fall silence of the night. candle …

Waiting for home to come steaming up-river. (2014)

My apartment is an old house on the hill,    poorly and incompletely refurbished.From my hall and rickety fire-escape,I look off over the Davenport skyline,    towards Rockport’s just accross The River. At night the city fills with orange lights,    Centennial bridge half-lit most nights.All the old houses in this neighborhood have these same river-facing windows.The romantic …

Voice-mail #9 (2015)

Honestly, you shouldn’t be on this list, but I’m calling you anyway,because,I guess,I guess I said or did something,or maybe it was just because I reminded you of your brother.But you told me to fuck-off,and you never came back. Whatever it was. I don’t think you’ll ever know how sorry I was. Goodbye,                                        Dandylion.