Paul Josef Poems

Beat out a beat on my heart,
A rat-a-tat-tat to start.
With steady strum and steady hand,
Roll out a rhythm, rolling band.
...

Tending to your soil,
My hands are loyal.
I tend to your bark,
Which is gnarled and arced.
...

I'm diving upwards into a sea.
A turquoise, I see.
A float cast out by Ray, sinking in the still sea.
Wave and froth are still, I see.
...

Wood-clad guard
with weapon gnarled and
bark shield,
carved,
...

Their transparent stomachs
filled with storm
and setting sunlight
hang over twilight -
...

Your dust settles onto my memory.
The irritating grains draw a tear from my eye.
When I try to shake away recollection, my heart cries:
...

Food, there's none.
Drink, they're gone.
My stomach is bare
Like the dining ware,
...