Issue 1 – Winter 2001 – Jim Daniels

Jim Daniels

Poppies

Fields splashed with the fragile drama 
of wispy red flowers.

Opium tar stuck to fingers 
like old sex.

Black seeds easily scattered. 
Torn pieces of a heavenly nightmare.

Small flame, hot spoon. 
Zoom lens on infinity.

Obvious lies. Obvious eyes. 
Everything a good nod means.

A touch of blood. 
A strong wind shreds soft petals.

They wilt as soon as I pick them. 
I can’t help myself.

Opium Remnants

No needles. Black tar ball 
on the head of a pin 
burning smoke sweeter than pot, 
lifting us off our chairs at the kitchen table 
with the subtlety of an incoming tide.
Inhaling smoke under glass 
like I was helping to save the world.
A passing comet whistling in my ears, friends riding it, waving. We’ll be back 
for you
, they say.
Aretha singing slow blues 
over a skipping record.
Skimming Lives of the Saints
for the good parts.

 

Jim Daniel’s forthcoming books include Night with Drive-By Shooting Stars, New Issues Press, 2002 and Diggers’s Blues, Adastra Press, 2002. He directs the creative writing program at Carnegie Mellon University.

 

[Prev][Next]