loneliness
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Where Emptiness Leads
early morning darknesshouse chill from winter's nighthe sits on the couchalone, sadtentatively tasting an emptinesshe can't yet labelhe waits for the padded arms of the couchto wrap and hold himassure him the emptinesswhatever it iswill passor fillor perhaps take himsomewhereanywhereinto… Continue reading
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Reverie
She looked beyond the sink–filled with soapy water and chipped cups–out the open window to the western sky,which flamed with orange and red,like heaven itself were burning to the ground. The living-room stereodelivered the "Flower Duet"from her favorite opera, Lakmé.… Continue reading
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Odd Company
You hang with questionable companions: loneliness, suspicion, fear, anger, hurt… Why cultivate such company?With these kinds of friends,who needs enemies? Say, then,"I've lost interest in you.I have a life to live,and you're taking uptoo much time and… Continue reading
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The Box
He built a small, glass cube,each side 8" x 8",and neatly sealed the edgeswith clear siliconecarefully squeezedfrom a white tube. So the top could serve as a lid,he searched onlineuntil he foundsimple, sterling-silver hingesand a matching sterling latchwith a sterling… Continue reading
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Survival
"Go, if you must,"I say in disgust."I shall, I will survive." But quickly I learn,as silence returns,"surviving" does not mean "alive." Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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Kiss Me
"Kiss me," he said, "or I shall die,die of a battered heart." "Oh, please," she said. "Your drama putsthe cart before the horse.You shall not die; you'll just be sad;I've often trod this course.'I'll die! I'll swoon! The bucket kickwithout… Continue reading
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Living with Ghosts
We all live with ghosts. They are the people we see through,pretending they don't exist. They may be in our house,on the bus,or in the next cubicle at the office. We sit beside them in church,at the ball game,or in… Continue reading
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Steal This Bible
Steal this Bible from Days Inn!reads the stickeron the King James Biblefrom the bedside standin the motel where he's stoppedin the middle of Nebraskaon the cold side of I-80. Neon glows through the rain-streaked window,falls on the words of the… Continue reading
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My Birthday
My birthday's here; today's the day.I'll throw a party! Can't you stay?Ah, I see, you've plans and soreluctantly you've got to go–you've got a dog who's not been fed;you've got a child who's sick in bed;you're working late; you have… Continue reading
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The Embrace of One
I have a friendwhom I want to be happywith his simple, beautiful self.I want him to sense his completenesseven when he is alone,and to ease into that alonenessand find joy and peacein solitude. There is nothing missingin the essence of… Continue reading