The River

her elbows
carried me like Moses
to a mothers arms
safely holding my head
in nurturing waves

she split with graceful acrobatics
and i followed her shape
walking her rapids like a trapeze
meeting every forward step with caution
my eyes tight praying for balance
and she watched me from beneath
as i stretched my lungs
to catch my breath
filling up on her frigid sigh

"I've always been afraid" she said
knowing grace not bravery
her merciful waters washed my feet
and i called to her shores for commitment
floating over the edge of every map I'd known
into the distant and unfamiliar i called
for the exploration of territories untouched
a cast away to the unknown
beckoning for her youth a beauty to keep me
pleading for her unbridled passion

i am just a boy
and she is like the river

p.farris

Presents

i watch expectantly

as if waiting for my turn
to be handed the gift at christmas
shutter, tense, close my eyes
& brace for something big
my heart like racing
fists tight & hopes high
so i start to pull on paper
violently ripping ribbons
tearing off the bow to reveal
what i bought for myself
SURPRISE

p.farris

untitled 1

i'm on shaky stilts
and the ground beckons me to fall
down to where you are
back to where i start
the end
what arms will carry me if this is it
"this has got to happen"
"its for the best"
"... because i'm better"
i'm at it again
derailed
following your trail
but these bread crumbs mean disaster
i guess it had to happen...


there's a garden in me -
my pedals have fallen
and my tulips have turned
the vines have taken me
the Sun has left my sight
my iris eyes have wilted
my rose lips have spoiled
my soil no longer breathes
for these waters have gone
they left my roots to ruin
crippled by my desires
my limbs barren
my stalks stricken with illness
my fruit has fallen early
Life has forsaken it
forsaken me
taken by weeds and beetles
my failure was found by his hands
one has cut me down
the other has caught my chaff

p. farris

untitled 2

i
was told
that all the
good people in heaven
were missing and all they
could find were sinners and snakes
good thing i am in those categories

p.farris

untitled 3

i fell through
the fault line fractures
of a freckled face
falling in love
with her healthy heart
and head of heated hang ups
good thing i was young

p.farris

Decisions

there i was

the boy i used to be
do i still want what he was
am i missing what he had
or have i moved homes
and taken him with me
were the wooden floors are cold
where the walls hold my hands
where the doors keep me inside
where i can hide and be foundis this what i have become

p.farris

Accidentals

your chattering teeth was my rhythm
and your attempt at smiling my groove
your body lay on the pavement
like a late night jukebox dance move
stolen from john travolta that i had played out
i was a fat lipped singer slipping through
the comforting verses of your favorite song
but i cant always get what i want
so i strummed your face praying you'd hum
my knees were hurt from rock star slides
and you weren't getting any better

i covered you in a blanket from the trunk
a sheet of 8-track static and lead lines
and i tried to teach you warmth
plucking the strings from your eyes
so i could watch your dreams sell stadium seats
i recited tails of adventure giving you vicarious legs
nervously holding your shaking hands
as you waged war with hurricane hips
and the grace of a diesel truck

news came out of time from slippered women
in red oriental house coats and opera voices
tones equated to the importance
of soft drink decisions
the radio played my pulse and
i came with no sense of pitch
the only help you needed
my eyes fell flat down your neck line
and i followed it losing my balance
losing my voice
forgetting how to sing

p.farris