janis nicole townsend

I hate the feeling of waiting
for someone to call.
They never do.
So, I say, “If anyone calls
...

Borrowed Love

As we begin on this journey
of desires to fulfill
...

my blood clots too fast
to kill myself
(I just found that out)
and my hearts too strong
...

I’m done—
done writing all this ‘good’ poetry about you.
I’m through.
No more bestsellers feasting off my pain,
...

Window stains are all I see
As I stare in search of you
Fingerprints and watermarks
(this is all I ever do)
...

Last night
as we lay
he lightly caressed
my arm
...

Everyday I came to visit you @ that cliff
(‘that cliff’ being a state of mind)
I would visit in thought or even in the physical,
leaving my ‘real world’ far behind.
...

He called…

And so many things
Went through my head
...

Black and white stripes and Black Star
Birthed these crashing stars
And the cosmic encounters grew
From heated debates on love and marriage
...

Sometimes a girl just needs to be held really tight
and told things she just might be able to believe.

Sometimes a girl just needs to know she’s wanted around
...

Mr. Belvedere,
In summer heat, sometimes I
drink liquid fire
and flame just to close my eyes
...

On weekends he goes
out of town to drown out this
perceived poverty
and I patiently await
...