Jenn Knickerbocker & Jake St. John

 

Observation From Booth

Drinking a beer
in the shadow
of Michael’s
Meat Market
taking in
bits of
conversation
they divulge
over wine
old friends
catching up
never missing
a beat
To my left
sits experience
more words
are said with
a look
rather
than speech
age
has left them
less
a couple
now more
a single
unit
With thoughts
aligned
the stars
near the
big moon
that hangs over
your head

somewhere else
like my mind
tonight.

____________

Naturalistic Colors

The man sits
upon loose stone
face in hands
taking that moment
alone and letting
his humanity
fall through fingers
turning stone
into deeper shades
of memory
mirroring the sky
heavy with sorrow
sharp intake of breath
attempting to hold
that life
once more

____________

Reflections

I’ve dreamt
of theme parks
I’ve never visited
empty and void
of life
I walk a stranger
among the growth

weeds wrapped
between the ribs
of roller coasters
strangling past lives
concealing thoughts
harboring secrets
steel wreckage
of dreams
under an old sun
that seems to fade
as quickly as I these days
after dusk
there are no lights
to illuminate
the bones
only shadows
and darkness
settle in
like an old friend
drunk
on counterfeit
memories

 

Three poems by Jenn Knickerbocker and Jake St. John

Eres Tú

I have left
the flesh
of my heart
along the roads
I travel

Searching
for you
vulnerable
and exposed

I tremble
at the
mere thought
of you

I have walked
miles of sunshine
and rain
simply to catch
a glimpse

It is you
that makes me
catch my breath

It is you
that creates
each smile

It is you
that carries
my heart
in porcelain hands

It is you.

____________

 

Perception

Struggles
to grasp terrain
on the way up
lead to a resolution
being stronger
on the way down
morning still has me
grabbing my head
not knowing
east from west
north from south
or why you’re not here
even when descending
upon the lush green
one cannot see
the road ahead
when their eyes
are sheltered
and fear the view.

____________

Sense of Being

My eyes
have traveled
the curves
of the earth
restless and weary
as they search
for purpose

My fingers
have navigated
the skin
of history
coarse and exposed
as they try
to grasp reality

My tongue
has tasted
the mouths
of oceans
articulate and accessible
as it proclaims
conscience and character

My ears
have heard
the songs
of mountains
majestic yet serene
as they filter
melody from noise

My nose
has inhaled
the perfumes
of forests
brisk and invigorating
as it defines
my soul and being

and my heart
has been
captured
by you.