I am a working class
woman
"with a heart of gold
in a complicated time"
It happened when
I fell in love
with Jimmy Barnes
and his extraordinary lyrics
that remind me
what it feels like to be alive.
I am not celebrating
the midwestern sky.
Mine is the southeastern sky.
I try to find
the sunset
on my better nights.
I am still
"mad at Uncle Sam"
I continue dancing
to a dusty song
that should be reconsidered
and listened to on repeat.
I won't fall into the habit
of consistency.
I will live on the edge
and feel the coughs
of broken rhythm
and relish in life.
Dinner is leftover
spaghetti.
Without them, there’d be no poetry
No songs, no lip service
No books, no Bible, no dictionaries
No libraries or Barnes and Noble
No languages, no need for Babl
No googoo’s or gaga’s
No yelling for the home team
No hallelujahs or amens
Without words, we’d all be pets.
Many years ago, I visited a church. The Saint Osmund Church in London
In Barnes. Beautiful and imposing Catholic Home of God. Felt from the heart
Mass. This was an intimate afternoon. I have never been here before. Never
The believers waited silently for the voice of the bells. The calling voice rang out
Holy Mass had begun. The priest was an aristocratic character, an old man
Preaching was incredible. His thoughts soared, and his audience fell into a hypnotic state
This Mass left an eternal mark on my soul
This Mass burned into my soul. Forever
This Mass always accompanies me
This Mass always lives in me
It's an eternal inspiration
"You're my Heart." Juliette Barnes to Avery Barkley in a scene from Nashville. A complicated and sweet love story.
A sweet love song ballad.
You're my Heart
By Michelle Morris
20/04/2025
I'd never known true love
I guess it eluded me until now
But you're the one I want
Thank you for sticking around
You're everything that's good
In my oh so crazy life
You've endured and understood
Every step of the way
Despite the complications
Despite the rocky path
I'll love you for always and forever
Because: You're my Heart
I'm so happy to have found you
Underneath the Darkness of my Life
I'm so happy that we made it
And that I'm your loving wife
You're everything that's good
In my oh so crazy life
You're my favourite happiness
We made our Magic and Miracles
Despite the complications
Despite the rocky path
I'll love you for always and forever
Because: You're my Heart
Despite the complications
Despite the rocky path
I'll love you for always and forever
Because: You're my Heart
© Michelle Morris, 2025
Used books were sold each semester.
Los Angeles City College bookstore, and
California State University, Long Beach ...
They, too, sold used books.
I've been in possession of some -
Students felt fortunate stumbling on the right one,
For some classes commenced without certain books -
"Liberation Theology" was one such book-
I'd already own a copy signed by Dr. Cornell West
He spoke at Dr. Maulana Karenga's center one Sunday.
The point I want to make is:
Some used books held handwritten notes-
Students left their marks on pages of time.
And as the years passed, I formed a habit -
That habit told me not to borrow library books.
Why? I read, and like breeze with leaves, I twiddle words.
To deface another person's property... how trifling.
And so, I'd browse Barnes & Noble, and
Thrift stores housing books I would purchase and cherish.
For I know countless poems will come to mind
For I have seen haiku moments in my travels,
For when I die, find me on pages of time.
*
...He fell to the snow, choking his last breath,
Dalton watched despite his own fading strength,
Barnes dismounted and walked over to him,
said, “I see that you have found Miller then.”
Dalton just nodded. “They children they had,
I set them free, and they are running west.
You have to find them and help them get back,
they all are so young…weather’s not the best.”
Barnes nodded and said, “We will go get them
once we get you hauled up, onto a horse.”
Dalton shook his head, whispered, “It’s too late,
there’s nothing you can do for me anymore.”
With that he slumped back onto the cold ground,
the rattling growing loud in his chest,
both the marshals frowned, and tool of their hats,
as Dalton went limp with his final breath.
They told all the people of what he did,
and the tale went around for a while,
even though he never got his revenge,
Dalton still managed to die with a smile.
The corner of my eye notes it
as my car speeds by,
eyesight pings it
momentarily, an image
looks back.
The outbuilding is vacant,
bathed in a sparrow and bat time
that flutters inside its hollow shell.
Barn ambience
has kidnapped my attention
it has stabled my eyes in a timeless stall
where horse tails hang suspended
from broken timepieces
not clocks, just pieces of time
that,
like dust in sunlight
muster in the air
to mime a car and a glance
rubbernecking back.
Dorset poet Wiilam Barnes they do say
a C of E rector in his day
Determined to de-saxonise
clothed his verse in dialectic disguise
Stranger
I never really met him
But I know him
I know his face in profile
The furrows of his brow
I’ve seen it enough times
At Barnes & Noble browsing Asimov
I’ve seen him
Leaving the loft
Watched his hands
Holding the door
For his momma at the beauty parlor
He always tips the stylist who frosts his mamma’s grays
The other day I just missed him
Leaving the last row of the church pews
The handout he left behind was still warm
His pencil still on the floor beneath the ancient wooden bench
And on Tuesday, I watched him do a coffee run
for the guys at the office
I know it was him
I floated in on his Perry Ellis
He takes his coffee black with extra sugar
He goes running on Saturday mornings rain or shine
Always listening to Miles
I still hear the bass echo in the trees
He has his board meeting
Every third Thursday
I know ‘cause he always picks up his dolce suit
Every third Wednesday
Then stops for a fade
Spends an hour with his boys
If I time it just right
I might get lucky
And bump into him
Accidentally of course
I betta’ do it this Sunday
‘Cause this Monday
Is his first date
With the chick who frosts his mamma’s grays
I always bought my calendars
On this date in December.
The prices had been cut by half
And that’s why I remember.
I purchased two for different walls
And one for desk-top viewing,
With different pages every day
To read, as I’ve been doing.
The local Barnes & Noble
Had a lovely huge collection.
I got there when it opened
So I’d have the best selection.
Alas, that store fell victim
To the Covid shut-downs here
Though I wouldn’t have set foot inside,
My paranoia clear.
The calendars, like everything,
I located online.
I paid full-price, but got them quick
And that worked out just fine.
D-readed
J-eopardy
U-ses
N-astiness
A-s
B-acteria
A-pplies
R-abid
N-otoriety's
E-erie
S-nowball
Topic: Birthday of poetess Djuna Barnes (June 12)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
echo the form- a lyric line to echo the last phrase/syllable or word( after the style of Barnabe Barnes 1593)
how shall I forgive her trespass /when I see my true love again??/ love again
This is a message to everyone to check out my new Poetry Book called Love is in the Sky! Please check it out on the sites at Amazon and Barnes and Nobles! You won’t regret it! God Bless everyone and thanks!
In my fantasy, I leave my home
And stroll down several blocks.
I stop at H & M to see
The t-shirts and the socks.
At Barnes & Noble, I peruse
The kids’ books on display
For I will see my grandkids
Sometime later in the day.
If Fairway’s not too crowded
I pop in to get my fix
Of their bagels, bags of coffee
And some random munchie picks.
I may stop in at CVS;
My coupon’s on my card
And then I’ll head back home
Along a bustling boulevard.
No yachts, no jewels, no lottery –
Is it too much to ask
To have my former life again?
(I’ll even wear a mask!)
Yes, we are the future,
We’re of a new age;
Yes, we are the new troopers;
New soldiers on the new page
We are God’s children
We are His vision
We are our parent’s new dreams
Let us awaken and be seen
We are God’s children
And we have a right to be heard
Yes, we should be obedient
But also we shall not be ignored
5/22/19
A dedication to students..
~Steven David*Taevyn Watson*Breckinridge Parra*
Jaden Stabler*
Tiaharraylnn Cole*Christian Wood*Jaden Sorensen*
Colton Turek*
Andrew Moffit*Joe Williams*Ronnie Cross*Amber Barnes*
Phoebe Klimek*
Luis Novelo*
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr.
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.