Poetry from Stephen Jarrell Williams

The Water Tower Trilogy

 

 Nightfall

 

Outside of town perched on a hill

Past the reach of the highway

And the sounds of the neighborhood

 

Sliver of moon not enough for light

Strange the fence surrounding the water tower

Gate left unlocked by the watchman

 

You were no longer shy that summer

Since you had met that guy from LA

He was just passing through our little town

 

The steel ladder had chips of paint hanging loose

A high and narrow climb

You leading the way like you had been up there before

 

You had promised me another sexual adventure

You were becoming more and more of an exhibitionist

Surprising me as to how far you would go

 

You had changed me from a boy into a nomad

Those nights we snuck out from our parents

 

Somehow I knew this would be the climax

The last night before you would leave

 

You stood on top of the water tower roof

A slight rise to its metal dome

I crawled up to you and marveled at your daring

 

You slowly stripped gazing down at the town lights

And me on my knees.

 

 

 

Dust Town

 

I’m still here

All my friends gone

 

Faraway cities consumed them

None ever coming back

 

Not a letter or phone call

Those foreign cemeteries full

 

The night always calling me out

Long treks into the desert

 

Whispering wind uplifting

Over a town with a population of zero.

 

 

 

Dream Fulfilling

 

No solitude in Heaven

All forgiven

 

Millions of souls

Freedom of flight

 

Finally awakening

On top of the water tower’s call

The height a mere step off.

 

 

 


Teaser

 

She’s a quiet teaser

Addicted to her cause and effect

 

In control of every move

Long lost in epic delusions

 

Practiced sashays and stance

Picture-framed

 

Body brazen

Captivating nude

 

Collecting shadows

For self obliteration

 

Scream sigh

Cry spit

 

Strip cover

Smile wink

 

Unbound energy

Surrender fake

 

I find myself loving her

With all that she is

 

A madness to squeeze her

Into the She Beast she craves to be

 

And maybe then

She’ll be free.

 

 


Guitar Man

 

Guitar man strumming the strings

On his corner sidewalk

 

Cars passing with cheering honks

Everyone bobbing in their spots

 

A few dollars given

Into his open guitar case

 

His notes still dancing in his head

In the middle of the night

 

Beneath a scan of stars

His bed cradled nightly

In a trash dumpster.

 

 

4 thoughts on “Poetry from Stephen Jarrell Williams

    • J.J.
      Thanks for the nice comment! Good to hear from you! God Bless!
      Stephen

    • Bruce,
      Wow! Good to hear from you! It’s been a few years. I’m still out there in this mad world! God Bless!
      Stephen

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