*** 

By J. J. STARR 

in faith             i pray for you… 
i wasn’t            aware of you 

i think of you free 
a song     a night           you… 

pieces, i can share  
just some with you… 

i am not a victim            all my struggles   
might  one day              envelope you 

a noise     a name     physical     right      there  
take me            with you 

what WAS        that way         to keep demons                away 
        …..i fasten my mind to you  

those who don’t heal   prefer    the temporary 
understand me     …there is no           other      no i      no you     … ….. 

when did i start loving               affliction           as companion 
what meaning did i leave                        to you 

i’m exhausted… symptoms     short term disability       long term disability     medication costs 
it attacked me    … you don’t believe me         do you? 

Jessica     i thought of you                   knew you        would seek after 
….. if this      is to end             let it                             can you? 

 

[Purchase Issue 31 here.]

 

J. J. Starr’s poetry has appeared in The Common, Juked, The Journal, and 2River, among other publications. She studied at the NYU creative writing program, where she was a Veterans Writing Workshop Fellow.

From the beginning, The Common has brought you transportive writing and exciting new voices. We are committed to supporting writers and maintaining free, unrestricted access to our website, but we can’t do it without you. Become an integral part of our global community of readers and writers by donating today. No amount is too small. Thank you!

*** 

Related Posts

Supermarketing

LAUREN DELAPENHA
For example, the last time I asked God / to kill me I was among the lemons, remembering // the preacher saying, God is a God who is able / to hunger. I wonder, // aren’t we all here for that fast / communion of a stranger reaching // for the same hydroponic melon? 

A grayscale portrait of Geoffrey Brock

My Wife Dreams of My Father

GEOFFREY BROCK
At first he seemed bloated, / too pink, but when he laughed he was normal, / and so my wife laughed too