Generations

Generations - a reading (on YouTube)

Like leaves in an autumn breeze,

Or stones on an old New England wall,

One by one they fall

Until tree and ground are bare,

And passersby know nothing of their passing.

11/99

© 2017 Edward P. Morgan III

Before Surgery

Before Surgery - a reading (on YouTube)

I spent the dying day reading poetry.

Were this my final afternoon,

That is how I would end it,

Listening to the stories of others,

Wondering what stories I might have told.

4/99

© 2017 Edward P. Morgan III

Through My Eyes

Through My Eyes - a reading (on YouTube)

The fog has lifted.

My mind has cleared,

Enough to write.

Is this the true dream?

A time to forge steel

From surrounding lead?

Or just another fit of reality,

Where silver words grey,

As ink dries to page.

The mist returns…

11/90

© 2017 Edward P. Morgan III

Thoughts

Thoughts - a reading (on YouTube)

I see you in the mirror,

No longer young.

These thoughts are reserved for youth,

High school,

College,

When you don't fully realize what you are not worth.

But now?

Now, you know.

These thoughts fill your head with concrete.

They fill your mouth with stones.

They weigh down your limbs like cinder blocks.

You can't think.

You can't speak.

You were thrown into the water the day you were born,

But you still don't know how to swim.

The water rejects you.

Cast up on a desert island,

I dream I hear the ocean.

I dream of castles we built along its shore.

But I am a blind cat, restless and prowling,

Searching for food,

Searching for affection,

Finding only the sand that sears my feet,

The relentless rays of a shadowless sun,

The white prison of my thoughts.

8/17

© 2017 Edward P. Morgan III

Obsessing

Obsessing - a reading (on YouTube)

Standing alone in a reception full of strangers,

Desperately trying not to engage the eye,

Only to have the lines enter unbidden,

Like the bored guest finger-banging his phone,

Until interrupted by the ritual of introductions.

Meet their eye and smile,

Listen to their name and nod,

Read their name tag to remember,

Look them in the eye again,

Forget their name as soon as they turn away.

Why do I need these people to like me?

Why do I need them to return my smile?

Why do I need?

Why do I?

Why?

No one asked you your opinion.

No one asked you to get involved.

No one asked you.

No one asked.

No one.

Stop pretending you are someone who matters.

Stop pretending you are someone.

Stop pretending you matter.

Stop pretending.

Stop.

Just stop.

5/17

© 2017 Edward P. Morgan III

Remember

Remember - reading (on YouTube)

Remember the times you locked me out to do yard work?

Remember the times you threw everything I owned to the center of the floor?

Remember the time you laughed when I was hurt?

Remember the time you smashed my favorite toy?

Remember?

Remember when you beat me so bad my head swelled up?

Remember when you made me sleep on a broken collarbone?

Remember when you slung that frozen roast at me and cracked a rib?

Remember when you bit me and I finally called the cops?

Maybe you should have been nicer.

2/16

© 2017 Edward P. Morgan III

My Demon

My Demon - a reading (on YouTube)

I wait

Alone

Afraid

Not wanting her to arrive

Not wanting his suffering to continue.

When she finally enters,

How many will she claim

Before returning to the shadows,

Sated?

She slips in softly,

A lover sipping each contented breath

As she lingers for a long-anticipated kiss,

Her beauty both dreadful and vivid.

Terrified, he seeks my eyes for comfort,

Not understanding my tears

Until he feels the needle's kiss

And my face fades into darkness.

Life is fragile,

More precious as it’s ending.

The needle is quick,

The memory slow

But just as deadly.

Years later, the demon still haunts my dreams.

4/17

© 2017 Edward P. Morgan III