I Have Stolen Bread

 From dust

many pockets

have found

broken

threads

&

thoughtless

things

missing.

 

There is a hole

on each side

of my heart

the blood rushes

into

slower than

quicker

out.

 

 

It never took a lot

of water

to rush over

a drowning man

more or less

than just

enough.

 

The songs sung

inside of

me

come free like

no one ever

sang.

 

I have stolen

bread

where others had

so much more

water

than the best

chance of rain.

 

When I open my mouth

all you can see

are any number

of teeth

I have

left less

missing.

 

Perhaps the best

you have

taken from me

&

all the good

somehow

now I have kept

for me

for you to find sometime later.

Looking At You When You Turned Away

I think sometimes

from the

bottom of me

what’s left perhaps

for you

I just gave a bit

too much.

 

Here is what

seems

given that

can’t take more

than living

will ever

let me live

for you

long enough

just to tell you

what you did

not

mean.

 

Here again so near

the ending

something

that I do not know

makes me

start all over

for nothing

&

somehow it feels

like this

is all

it’s about

first of

all.

 

The last time

you saw me

you thought

I looked o.k.

&

you did not see me

looking

at you when you turned

away.

 

When all my thoughts

are gone

then all my better

dreams will be

better

forgot what this

or

that could have

meant worth remembering

what’s that.

Alan Justiss (R.I.P)