jdaviswords

[jdaviswords]

I want to write a spoken word piece

I want to write

A spoken word piece

That falls off my teeth

In a way

That is synonymously

Stereotypical

Of all of the videos

I’ve seen online

Showcasing slam poetry

Except I’d have to twist it

A bit

And squeeze it like a lemon

And make it a bit lemony

But not like snickett

No this is no travesty

But I need a theme!

Ahhhh yes

A THEEEME

Every good spoken piece has one

A theme

Isn’t it weird

How when you repeat

A word

That it begins losing

It’s meaning

Theme

How do you even spell that

Theme

Theme

Theeeme

…

Theme

Anyways,

Where was I

Oh yes

A theme

I think for this piece

I will choose rhyming

Because

Well

That’s my comfort zone

Inspiration came to me

When I was washing dishes

And I thought of where I’m from

And that being Wilkes Barre/Scranton PA

Where we have a town spelt like Throop

But it’s pronounced Troop

And where we go to duh batroom

And if you’re eating eggs in the morning

I’ll have a couple two tree

It’s hennabonics

And that’s the grand ole NEPA

Theme

We love drinking

And banking

And fried foods

That cause heart disease

And Mohegan Sun gambling

An isolated demographic

That is riddled with addiction

And corrupt politicians

With corrupt policies

Don’t ever forget

Mark Ciavarella

And his kids for cash scheme

I sit awaiting

This tri tip hoagie

From one of my favorite joints

Suraci’s

And I pick up this piece

Where I left it yesterday

And my eye is twitching

It does that from time to time

Kinda like when biting into a lime

After a shot of Cuervo

I find

That salt on the rim

Doesn’t do much

Of anything

Besides make me feel

As though I swallowed

A bit of the ocean

Oh how I love tequila

And how tequila loves me

So I steer clear of it

And defy NEPAs grandest notion

Alcoholism

I’ve survived the cataclysm

That was my upbringing

At least thus far

And I couldn’t imagine

Where I’d be

Without Jerry and Nancy

And Kylie

And Carrie

And my friends

Surely I’d been dead

Already

However I still breathe

In the land of Wyoming Valley

And I have seen

A great many things

A great many places

And I remind myself

That I can continue

To ween

Off of nicotine

Even though

My brain tells me to succumb

To its whispers

And buy another can

Daily

I want to write a spoken word piece

But I need a theme

Theme

Theeeeme

Yes

A theme

I say this to myself

Before I begin typing

But really

I just put whatever

My fingers tell me

I am a rhymer

Who likes rhymes

And rhyming

Like a monkey

I am climbing this figurative tree

Hoping to find berries

That would provide

Vitamin C

So that I can begin

Wound healing

I want to write a spoken word piece

That encapsulates me

And as that sentence forms

I am once again receiving

A spam caller

Calling

One of my biggest pet peeves

How did we get here

As a society

I sigh deeply

The time for work is creeping

And like a fisherman’s hooked line

I must begin reeling

Even though my passion

Is evidently seeping

[jdaviswords]

Souvenir Bandit

The used to call me

Sticky D

behind the wheel

of the Saturn

shifting

five speed

Up Larksville mountain

and back down

yet high as a kite

rounding bends

like Ricky Bobby

in Talledega Nights

Dip in the lip

that I just poached

from behind the counter

at Heffron’s

a menace

that can do no wrong

sippin tea

ooooooolong

Good golly me

who’s in the back seat

prolly

scruffy puppy

bone buddi

and maybe Kleech

I reach for the stick

stop quick

pause for a spit

hawk tuah

ahhh shiiiiit

that ain’t it

fuck that bitch

sike nah

I kid

it ain’t her fault

she became famous

In this society

we praise ignorance

and belittle intelligence

like a souvenir bandit

catching stray cats

and feeding them

cat nip

Drugged and crazed

lost and gazed

hazed by insufferable

people

and yet

expected to behave

a certain way

I remain the same

because those

who imitate

are unsure

of themselves

and I forbid that notion

to be entertained

Forget the dragon

to be slain

I am the dragon

remember the name

it’s Jdav

with a capital Jay

a lowercase D

But don’t get it twisted

it’ll tickle the inside middle

of your moms belly

Ha

Ego aside

I am Ron Cheese

comin atcha raunchy

like Willy

I get a little Wonky

bitches call me daddy

as if I owned a donkey

sike nah

I am just flaunting

just wanting

to be heard

ya heard

random but valid

fuck Colin Cowherd

I swear that dood

ain’t nothin

but a spike-less spur

Anyways

back to the original programming

I swerve

now I see lights

because I had a padiddle

and now my friends

are being cuffed

I get patted down

no officer

no drugs on me

I bluff

I felt bad

as I drove off

leaving the rest

of my friends

in the dust

but I didn’t sip

from the bottle of lust

‘twas a lesson learned

for all of us

Fuck the police

no justice

no peace

I’m the souvenir bandit

fresh off the leash

I yearn to sink

my teeth

into the bullshit one percenters

neck

the few

the proud

the corporate elite

I swear I’d bite

off their teet

and smear the blood

across my teeth

and smile

as I watched it

drip from my canines

as I laugh menacingly

Hahahaha

Wow

I say to myself

I speak

to myself

I keep

to myself

I seek

to seem

myself

I believe

in nothing

but authenticity

They used to call me

Sticky D

I’ve since buried

the Saturn

the Malibu

the Altima

and left a joint

behind the seat

of my moms Jeep Liberty

And when she showed me

I took it

and went to the tracks

down the street

broke it open

packed it in the bowl

and smoked it deliberately

with the homies

But that was the old me

when I used to ride around

with the souvenir bandit

unknowingly

[jdaviswords]

Ego aside

I chew apart this Orbit

as I attempt

to forfeit

my dedication to nicotine

again

for the whatever time

this is

I look right 
and then left 
and now I smile

as the words start

to pile up

like a car crash

I chuckle

cuz I know

that in a few moments

subliminally

you’ll know

I’m really tellin

someone to go

blow it

unless you’re full of it

in which case

nothing here

will show it

Chat GPT

write me a story

make it corny

and let it be told

by a phony

who really is just

rather lonely

but on the surface

is confident

successful

and free of worry

Hurry, my AI friend

I need it now

I’ve forgotten my pen

and found it again

but I take too long

to write

or draw

I mean

golly

sorry

I don’t know what I mean

I cannot see the reflection

the mirror is blurry

and muddled

by my pompous

and incentivized

mentality

that my creativity

is humanities

greatest gift

…pffft

I wish

I wish I knew

the first thing

about slam poetry

and what it means

and how it doesn’t

need to rhyme

but be ribboned

through emotion

and truly embrace

the notion

of connectivity

Oh wait

I do understand

the definition

perhaps then

I am not speaking

of me

but rather that other person

who

unknowingly

has inspired me

I’m on the road

to nowhere

and you can’t prove it

but these little creatures

can

Dave Byrne

you’re the fuckin man

I funk around here

and I funk around there

I am losing my hair

but gaining wisdom

and confidence

a better me

is surfacing

I’m a bad fish

with two pints

of booze

sitting in the fridge

I continue to live

through all the trials

and tribulations

yet I do not seek

validation

only peace

Weeks and weeks

of mental torment

of being unkind

I searched inward

instead of cascading outward

to find

my own security

because

that’s genuine

and true

unlike Facebook likes

and all that hubba-baloo

Woo

I am me

Ego aside

living vicariously

through gratefulness

and generosity

[jdaviswords]

Clouds do part

Over a cup of tea

conversing honestly

sharing with the homie

speaking about uncertainties

rhyming and riddling

in between my brain

and it’s cavities

I reveal

that I have been mean

to myself

recently

A combination of holiday stress

self induced mental debt

work schedule being a mess

planning towards the future

but trying to stay present

I continue to vent

He blows O’s out the window

another fellow

outside creates paranoia

and I apologize

for the foam

that is spewing

from my mouth

He says nah fam

keep goin

I’m here

to hear you out

I ask about

what he’s sippin on

he says somethin

about a cloud

and how they part

so that’s what this

is about

I’ve heard and said

that doubt

kills quicker than a germ

as I attempt to unlearn

self deprivation

and cure

the funk

and wipe away

the blur

that fogs clarity

I tell him about Carrie

and how proud I am

to stand where we now stand

about our effort

and resilience

and he says

that’s so great

man

I’m proud of you

We talk about weekend plans

and I ask when he’s coming in

so we can get together

and so that time can be spent

It’s a 31st birthday

for the young feller man

the night before Christmas

as if he were blessed by Jesus

And I can’t believe it

Two decades of sharing

with buddi Bone

in the darkest times

of being alone

and in the happiest of times

leaving no unturned stone

Clouds do part

this we know

molded by the struggle

yet still willing to go

the extra mile

to be there for our people

and to make sure they know

that even when they cover

the sun

eventually they dissipate

I told him I haven’t

found the urge

to create

he said that’s okay

but here’s some homework

young feller

do what you do

‘cuz what you do is great

And I said ight bet

Clouds do part

and to that

we both relate

All that’s left

is a copy

and paste

[jdaviswords]

Trash Bag

I tried to pick up

Where I left off

On another piece

But I hate it

It’s probably not as bad

As my mind is making it

To be

But I’m sad

And that makes things

Hard

I told myself

That one day

I’d write a work

And title it

The Things I’ve Said In My Head But Never Out Loud

But tonight’s not that night

To be honest

I’m not entirely sure

What night tonight is

I struggle remembering

The days of the week

Anymore

It’s just all

Blurry

Like Puddle of Mudd

Come clean

I’m pausing for a second

And running my fingers

Through my own hair

And I’m sad

To my core

It feels as though

A rhino is sitting on me

Pinning me

To the floor

And the more

I try to sit

I just

Sink deeper in

I imagine

The worst insanity

For an alcoholic

Is an empty bottle of gin

But for me

My worst insanity

Is to imagine

My final breaths

Wondering if

And when

What could have been

Or what would I have done

Until I am pronounced dead

Like on Elm St

It’s often a nightmare

In this head

But like Jim Carrey

I usually mask it

Another classic

Wreak havoc

Shout out Bone

The car may be gone

But losing you

Would have been tragic

I am sadness

It encompasses me tonight

And I know I’ve mentioned this already

But steady with the pen

And usually

I begin to feel less heavy

Tonight I am sad

And I am turning to my writing

Finally after some time away

And it’s doing the opposite

Of what it normally does

But that’s okay

Patience is a process

And to follow the process

Patience it takes

Who the fugg knows

How sadness and patience

Relate

But that’s okay

I have to be nicer to myself

Ah yes

That’s what I’ll say

I’m frustrated

And I’m sad

I hope that’s okay

I feel like Kleech

Repeating rapidly

And also like a declawed cat

At the post scratching

I wake each morning

And I know I’m depressed

The mattress

Oh the mattress

Caresses me with faux comfort

My alarm alarms

Over a dozen times

And I cannot peel myself off

Until absolutely necessary

My cheeks are stiff

From dried tears

My stomach growls

From hunger

But I don’t have an appetite

And when I eat

I inhale so fast

That

I feel like it’s going to come

Right back up

I’m not one to give up

And though I don’t feel like I am

It also feels like I am

My mind tricking me

Like an elderly

Falling prey to a scam

I’m driving home now

And texting

There’s a part of me

That wishes I would crash

But I quickly retract that

One thing was just said

That I never vocalized from my head

At last

I do love life

Even though

Right now

I feel like

A trash bag

And a half

[jdaviswords]

*PSA - Long post warning*

Man, no lie…I’ve really been mulling over how I was going to type this out that would appeal to folks scrolling through their timelines for weeks. And I’ve figured that the best way to do that would be to compose what I’m thinking/feeling right now concisely. Unfortunately, it’s just not going to be something I am able to do. So while I appreciate you reading this far, you’ve been warned should you continue.

The Leftovers is a sequel to another project that I worked on called The Funnies. It was spearheaded by one of my closest friends, James (also known as, Bone). The Funnies was a culmination of both of our works that were written over a decade ago, sewn together, and highlighted James and myself as artists. It connected musical composition and spoken word. In our opinions…it was unique.

Before I continue, I must also emphasize that James and I are not the only two involved in the making of The Funnies or The Leftovers. So many folks played part in them for no other benefit than to be a part of expression. And should The Funnies or The Leftovers be listened only once, that notion itself is a victory for us.

The Funnies left off with the character I created standing at the top of a volcano, hence the inspiration behind the album art cover for The Leftovers (shout out Kojau). The Leftovers was inspired by two major things:

a.) An excess catalog of work that was in consideration for The Funnies that never made it

b.) James McCann

It’s nerve racking putting yourself out there and without my friends and family supporting me on this, it doesn’t exist. Setting that aside, I’m putting inside this ramble, that I am proud of myself. Because I am. And also for future reference on those tougher days.

If you’re still here, I would like to elaborate just a little bit more…

The Leftovers is purposeful in its design. It’s chronology has been discussed at length, and so from the intro of Impoverished War Machine to the outro of I Write, it is intentional how they sequent one another. With that, I do believe the individual pieces can stand alone, but are better served collectively (like a pin collection). Those last parentheses won’t make sense to the most of you, unless you take a dive inside that volcano with me. Then I’d have no other choice than to Call It like it is, state a welcome, and then ask…Where Have You Been?

Now that you’ve left behind your Intimidation to Jump, Where Are You Now? Where Do You Go when you’ve lost The Idea Of Me? I type this as tonight’s version of Night Thoughts and I am so thrilled to Mash Up these song titles as I take a deep breath of Oxygen and exhale. I figured after I couldn’t put the words together originally, eventually I’d find The Right Way. I knew that once I started, it would roll together like A B C and it would showcase again me being me Unapologetically. I’m steady running now, like Two Knobs and a Faucet.

Today I turn 31 years old. It is my birthday and I’ll admit that it’s the ugliest feeling birthday I’ve felt yet. I know that’s a feeling which will subside. In the interim, I am choosing to focus on my next Smoothie Sip, and not be bogged down in negativity like a sailor walking The Plank.

I am so grateful for what writing has given my life. And while the vulnerability of this project is evident, being able to share with you a piece of my passion is both a blessing and an honor.

Lastly, (and I swear I am done after this) I would like to leave you with the mission statement for The Leftovers, as I truly feel it encapsulates the album in a shortened version of what is written above:

The Leftovers is a project inspired by spoken word, music, and friendship. The album is a unique interpretation of slam poetry and meshes with it, the love of music. It is captivating, playful, and thought provoking. Its design is geared towards the premise of embracing vulnerability and showcasing artistry. The Leftovers will take the listener to a place of reflection and enlightenment driven by its rhyming and word play. It highlights the art of writing and touches on aspects of expression, mental health, politics and more.

Inspired by a passion of words, The Leftovers (as already mentioned) is the sequel to another project called The Funnies. While similar in design, The Leftovers is my first ever fully spoken word album that truly embodies myself as a writer.

“…but even in my uniqueness, it means nothing, unless it reaches someone…and teaches them…something…or breaches a curiosity. I hope I can be inspiring for those who are tiring from the beat down of this crazy society.”

– Intimidation to Jump

One Love,

-Jdav (Justin Davis)

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/31kzYT00XSU74Q0quHOsZx?si=5wlZxGpkTJ6UPdVnSXGlPg

Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-leftovers/1728930211

YouTube Music - https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mQGXZqAuqFFrx8uTBnmryBm0_y5ET3R5w&si=diM1dAqinak8FZe4

Distrokid - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jdav3/the-leftovers?fbclid=PAAaYZQ2K1X81V6Zco3hM8_ywdyo7QGUJUOT-C8E4y7AOgLTu8eQKHrmiLhRE_aem_ARIv9F3Eyu9tEjMzdhzZXBDDN-QmP3MpQwijMM9oZZvswaxYo2v44018mRnWtQ_zK-g

[jdaviswords]

Betty & Poetry

It was the coldest day

of the year so far

and I found myself

inside a shoe box

of an office

collaborating with strangers

The sky was grey

as it had been for weeks

as it still is

and there was a mist

of sleet softly pelting 
the front window

I was invited by a coworker

who I consider

my twitchy little brother

a guy who I thought

not to make it

in this industry

I picked at the cucumber

and celery

and grapes

and other holiday fixins

meandering between person

to person

introducing myself

and asking them

why they were also here

at Storage King

An elder woman

named Betty

turned face and aggressively joked

“who’s askin”

I chuckled

something about a five foot nothing

spunky elder woman

gets me laughin

she reminded me of

my grandmother

She returned the question

as if it were Nadal

returning a serve

and I had explained my profession

my title

my role

and inevitably

how I got there

Betty inquired

about my schooling

my whereabouts

and in a short five minutes

she nubbed me as a poet

stating she could hear

calmness when I spoke

I laughed again

perhaps I am more

of an open book

than I realized

Yes, indeed

I have a writing degree

that’s proved nothing

noteworthy

yet

Her trembling hand

rose to my shoulder

and she pulled me closer

so that I was eye level

“Go do it”

it echoed the shoe box

as it was one of those moments

where conversation ceased

collectively

at the same time

simultaneously

I grinned

I haven’t had someone

push the envelope

in awhile

and from there I smiled

at the notion

that someone wanted the best

for me

without even quite knowing me

I want to read your stories

watch your plays

laugh at your poetry

and I want it today

she said a version of this

I swear

I heard the ticking

of the clock

and I realized I had

been away

from my office

for too long

and needed to get back

I bid farewells

and Betty hugged me

pinched my cheek

gave me a nod

of approval

and I was on my way

I stepped in the foyer

the roads were wet

it stopped sleeting

and I couldn’t think

of one thing

I’d rather be doing

than writing

I tipped my fingers

to Michael

and we went our separate ways

I sat in the parking lot

quickly examining

how I got here

what I did to get here

what I had to do when I got back

and I realized then

how much

corporate America has stolen

from me

I rationalized falling prey

by being able to pay bills

and support myself

and to build a future

potentially have a family

and keeping food on my plate

The road was silent

as well as the inside

of the car

autopilot brought me back

to my workplace

I can’t remember my thoughts

from point A

to point B

I only remember feeling empowered

to take ownership

of what I am

and what I can be

And if I am nothing

but a man

with some words to share

then so be it

as my only truest love

is poetry

and evidently

that’s all I need

Thanks for the reminder

Betty

[jdaviswords]

Words of a father written by a guy without a kid

If I had a kid

which I am unsure

I will be granted

such a gift

I’d

…well

…I don’t know

I think I’d be scared

and excited

and scared

and probably happy

and definitely scared

I’ve heard

parents professing 
the love of their child

is indescribable

as almost all of them 
clamor through an explanation

of their feelings

riddled and restrained

by a wall to wall

or rather

ear to ear

smile

Kylie and Kyle

have given me

a taste of parenthood

with the addition

of my Nephewson

Maddox

I knew I had it

in me

to care for

the little lad

but I’d be lying

if I could have

predicted the weight

that it brought

As an uncle

I feel a different person

more sure

of being unsure

and confident

of not knowing

much else

other than

I know the meaning

behind the phrase

“I’d take a bullet for you”

And it’s not that

I wouldn’t take one

for others

in my life

or

that I’d second guess

it

it’s just that

I didn’t know

how deeply

his presence

would root

so quickly

I think

different things

it must be this

turning of 30

that has spiraled

a more logical

thought process

and coupled it

with gratitude

Most of these thoughts

are identified

in the shower

and in an hour

they expire

like the remaining

droplets of water

on the handle

evaporating

I wonder

how a father

thinks

in between

body wash

and shampoo

I imagine

there are moments

as he rinses

his hair

he can still hear

their first

baby belly laugh

or perhaps

they ponder

how to save

for college

or maybe

the traumatic event

of last summer

creeps in

and as he adjusts

the temperature

cooling it down

he begins heating up

anxiously concerned

that he hasn’t

spent enough time

said the right thing

demonstrated the proper example

or maybe

that is just me

Preemptively

I know in my core

in the confines

of my stomach

I can feel

the presence of fatherhood

growing in me

like a seedling

and on the flip side

of that warmed pillow thought

I know

in this world

under these lights

strapped by these conditions

there is nothing scarier

than bringing

a miracle

into this life

And

beyond uncertainties

the remaining struggle

is the never ending

hum

of asking myself

is it selfish

to play second fiddle

in the creation

of a human

just to fulfill

what I feel

is my truest

destiny

as positivity

and security

are diminishing

Is it enough

to love them

to guide them

and if not

what is enough

when is enough

and if not enough

what is enough

I flounder

I am not a flounder

just like I father

but I am not a father

For the presence

of a kid

makes one not a father

but rather

the demonstration

of imposing

never ending care

unyielding support

and a recognition

of what it takes

while

understanding what it takes

usually means

having an understanding

of what it is

…and by is

I mean

the situation

If I had a kid

which I am unsure

I will be granted

such a gift

I’d

…well

…I don’t know

I think I’d be scared

and excited

and scared

and probably happy

and definitely scared

but

while I know

that I know

relatively…

…nothing

I know that a father

I’d be

undoubtedly

[jdaviswords]

Bloodforge

A few months

sprinkled

since the last

wordly twinkle

under the scope

microscopically dissected

like a frog leg

I hope

I am not fecal

Lethal observations

locked and loaded

from previous ages

ah ha, the pages

the resemblance of the past

the gory phases

flipped scripts

I am patient

and a patient

scraping my sides

buzzing

like in Operation

I would suggest medication

after all

we are the drugged generation

dismantled mentally

by overstimulation

reactionary accusations

incapable of healing

from previous devastations

as they roll

from one year to then next

repeating themselves

this has to be

a simulation

Stuck in VR

far removed from RR

which stands for “real reality”

if you could believe

in a fubar

society

Quietly hooting

is the owl

nightly

and outside the window

is a family of crickets

seemingly conspiring

chirping their tune

as the owl watches

intently

at least one of them

is breakfast

that’s the food chain

hierarchy

Malarkey

blasphemy barkley

pandering partly

splitting my hairs

hiding the balding

falling into a progression of age

I notice more wrinkles

and white hairs starting

to form

It’s weird to conform

at least for me

I always adore

and desire more

while simultaneously

making sure

that enough is enough

and I have formed

myself

Little bit of guidance

from those who know

exactly what I’m saying

and for those who don’t…

…maybe that’s good

…ignorance is bliss

especially when everything else

is fraying

No sense in complaining

negativity broods like germs

and it invades

until you are changing

for it is easier

to highlight difficulties

than it is to encourage growing

because stagnation is comfort

and growth can be paining

A quick brush struck

you guessed it

to the painting

final touches with dots

the picture is next up

for framing

except the border is chipped

so you curse it

as if it deserved

to be subdued to excessive shaming

So easy it is

to take for granted

the consistency

that dangles dangling

in front of our eyes

on the daily

So easy it is

to highlight the flaws

and forget

all about

what matters most

blinded by

incessant blaming

[jdaviswords]

Vonnegut said

Lost in a daze

day dreamin

now I’m stuck

in a gaze

steady peepin

like a fish eyeing

the worm

on a hook

steady streamin

Each time

a different meanin

y’all knew I was going there

unless you’re new here

then you don’t know

the feelin

yet

In debt

the cost

mental stress

a failure to decompress

leaves a top performer

thinkin

he got nothin left

So off he left

or shall he leave

once a belief

now blasphemy

the turn of the tide

a non adjusting sea

rocky waves

creating

liability

for the sailor

out pirating

Spiraling like a tornado

hurricane yesterday

but today

okay tho?

I tap like Morse code

I tap like a keg flow

I tap tap tap

with affection to show

During the rain

a rainbow

glimmers across the horizon

on the key pad

speed dialin

phoning a friend

for guidance

leading the pack

tour guidin

I think you should leave

have any of these

fuckers

ever been

steady wylin

I’m remindin myself

that there’s only

so much to give

it fluctuates crazily

like the height

of a local community park

basketball rim

some wobbly

some stiff

often taken for granted

this life is a gift

How easy a rift

could send signals mixed

even when

you’re on the same team

like peanut butter

and chocolate

I bit

into the apple

and spit it out

into my hands

well

…gross

I don’t know

much

but the most

I know

is people

Lethal eyes

cocky swag

fidgety fingers

poor postured back

rolling tongues

testicle sack

these are all features

but I’m not talkin

bout that

I observe

the unspoken language

and follow the patterns

to engage in

understanding

Like a clipped airplane wing

I am struggling

finding a landing

to put the final touches

of this rambling

so it just

must be

me again

furthering along

my own pattern

of maddening

[jdaviswords]

If you could be anything, would you?

There’s a song

repeating itself

upstairs

as I attempt

to find the start

of this monologue

The lightening streaks

outside the window

where in between

the panels

is an AC

pieces of light

peaking through

the blinds

and I just hope

it isn’t symbolic

Drunk off the sauce

like an alcoholic

I begin to frolic

through

an insightful meadow

early stages

embryonic

And I’ll be honest

I truly don’t know

what I just said

or if it meant anything

but

it is what it is

and now it’s existing

I am lifting

my spirit

and watering

my soul

I roll

like the first invention

I mull

and autocorrect switched

that to milk

Like the glass I spilt

back in the day

when the cup splattered

and I thought

the world had shattered

as the matter

continued to run

underneath the fridge

I often bridge

the gap

with two or three or four

different ideas

as I implore

they connect

At least in my head

I pledge my time

more to others

than to mine

And I think

I just needed to say that

to remind myself

to give myself

my time

So hi

hello again

my beautiful

glorious

fucking

rhymes

Ha

I’d be lesser than wise

if you left

my side

I couldn’t hide

the disturbances

that try to crack

through the surface

that is me

I’ve outgrown

hide and seek

For me

it’s about

raw

open

honesty

And I’ll be damned to present

anything else

than that

in which

I know is me

So I dare not hide

but stand for y’all

to see

me

plain as day

unlike night

you see

I want to compete

for nothing other than

to be truly happy

Piece by piece

I’ve grown to thirty

and I don’t think

I’ll ever get tired

of encouraging myself

to sit back

and type away

writing

I just wish

I knew

how to monetize it

but then again

would that detriment

the inspiring

The sandman just entered

it’s a sandman sighting!

My eyelids are heavy

and sleep

is no more

worth fighting

[jdaviswords]

One lemon zest baguette

One lemon zest baguette

and you’ll forget

the rest

One lemon zest baguette

mic test

two three four

Hodor

or forklore

I mean folklore

just an inspiring

William Faulknore

I mean Faulkner

Deterred

by being burnt

ba ba ba

Bacchus burp

a chickadee chirp

slushies I slurp

sometimes I’ll say yerp

to my boy Derp

but I really just mean yep

across the second bag

with a two step

Double play

at Yankee stadium

third base

oh yeah he’s out

and he pouts

head down

returning to the dugout

looking for some water

except the bottles a drought

Dried up raisins

stirring in some oats

stomach goin through changes

because you know me

it’s always about the changes

and ripped pages

with frayed edges

It’s a pledge

like the one in the can

spray it on your table

and it’s brand new again

and again

it’s me my friends

and again

and again

and again

In comes the pen

my holy scripter

I mean scripture

amen

Amend to ascend

or despise to demise

lend a hand or two

and speak with precise

I mean precision

for I have risen

and fallen

enough to declare

our minds equal

the true prison

It’s yard time

so I dial long distance

beep boop bop

hello?

I’m mimicking a phone call

in case you missed it

the resistance

is in the air

like an arch in a prism

Natural skepticism

of surface level

appearances

because underneath the soil

is where the nutrients is

I mean are

gahlee

sometimes I get my mix

all talked up

like Patar

talking like Squag

referencing Leif Erickson day

hingadurgadar

Ha

Yanno

I can take things a bit far

like the land

in Shrek

hardy har

Alright

enough

recoup now

that’s probably smart

One more lemon zest baguette

please

before I restart

[jdaviswords]

Ganked

Everything hurts

and is tired

Wired for sound

though deep down

underneath

a frown

a sad story

above

a grey cloud

The reoccurrence

the frustration

loudly delivered

sitting quivered

a cold wind

now a shiver

Slivers of hope

that’s multiple

as in more than one

like the Pope

nope

Stay away

back on the trail

the month of May

seems destined

as a time of change

at least for me

history resurfacing

my world feeling changing

Riddle in my bones

I am crazy

as I stare

into air

without a care

vision becoming

hazy

I like pastries

ha 
what a time

to mention

my taste for sugar

and icing

I am wising

or whining

or confiding

certainly something

as I am writing

Loop crackle skip

a broken clock

has at least

two correct ticks

The fix is in

as Vegas calls in

inbound the ball in

in the air pollen

skydivin steady fallin

tappin the hammer I’m wallin

off to the races I’m stallin

Pickin up where you left off

I mean where I left off

lollipops mixed in applesauce

restart to pause

lemony fresh

and a soft toss

On the map

X marks the spot

except this one

doesn’t have one

so I’m relatively lost

What’s the cost

I question

[jdaviswords]

Low Battery

Rumblings in my stomach

the midnight hour approaching

dazed from napping

humming a tune

attempting harmonizing

Off key

but still on pitch

earlier clenching my fist

currently

falling prey

to an itch

The scabbing

on my leg

a memory stitched

by ink

and clinched teeth

as the needle

sinks

deeper into my skin

I fade out

and think

of anything

but the pain

and I begin laughing

Running in the rain

makes difficult footing

especially after being soaked

in the hole floating

dripping wetness

like fishing for catfish

underneath the trestle

waiting for a bite

a pole I’m holding

At the river

never catch me folding

but shoving all in

taking it all in

raking it all in

and now I’m gloating

Behold!…ing

I am rowing

down the stream

and I hear a crow

crowing

or cawing

and now a buzzing

but it’s a bee

and bees are my buddies

If you’re a wasp

you get a smack

and if you’re a cop

you get a pass

oooo

yikes

let’s get away from all that

And sweep it under the rug

a magicians greatest act

Back on track

like a greyhound

chugging toward a rabbit

jack

Ha

It’s a habit

tat

to do this thing

the way I do this thing

I believe I finally have a style

and I believe

it has a ring

like the one in my ear

as I am typing

Whoever you are

speaking of me

I hope you are smiling

and cherishing

rather than frowning

and battering

Lefty at the plate

the fielders scattering

lining for the pull

except this guys good

at poking

down third

Times a charm

or a strike and out

everything has a binary

that’s really

what life’s about

Doubt kills

quicker than a germ

I’ve heard

somewhere before

It’s sometimes hard

to ignore

the gunk piling up

making us unsure

until we let it flow

and then

we are reborn

I’ve sworn

in the thousands

I’m sure

both in cussing

and expressing a belief

that this is my cure

A forlorn figure

stands at shore

as the waves tumble in

they seem to be unaware

as they ignore

the tide rising

the beach receding

a lifeguard blows

the mini plastic horn

And it’s back to reality

op

what a tragedy

to imitate Marshall Mathers

I must be maddening

Ha

Who am I kidding

that’s always been happening

[jdaviswords]

76 Days

I will record this

written and spoken

and where it ends up

I haven’t predetermined

It’s often

the same

except this

is in cursive

scribbled jibberish

typically

Blabber mouthed

full of marbles

clinking around

I sound

weird

to myself

in my own head

Out loud

the pounding of tables

it seems the audience

enjoys

the message

yet I am too humble

to accept compliments

I have a great

support system

forever fans

forever friends

that inspire me

to write away

my brain

when it’s all slushy

He said buddy

I switched my status

to one love

and I couldn’t hold back

the smile

graciously I thanked him

for a long while

and we dapped up

a familiar connection

like turning two from second

style

I chose the roadrunner

tattoo instead of the coyote

while

I mean wily

I get it mixed

like a salad gummy

I mean salad funny

I mean salad

just salad

honey

In the pot

Winnie whines

whistling

why

do we sing

through a hole

in our mouth

how’s that work

science

I’m losing guidance

and I find that

when I do

I can find it

anew

And by it

I mean an understanding

And by anew

I mean

…honestly

…I don’t know

I’m rattled like a circular baby toy

tapping away on this phone

I deploy

my little writer army

that comes from a place

unknown

as if it were a drone

flying under the radar

me boy

Homehoymenyoy

sorry

It wouldn’t be a day

in the life of Jay

without at least one

SpongeBob reference

making its way

to the surface

Isn’t it weird

what things resurface

like when your phone is on SOS

and then you get back

into service

a million things

flying in

I begin to play

a figurative violin

because I’m sad

about the days events

and the current piece

I am writin

I am fightin

to make somethin

somethin that makes sense

except I got nothin

besides this fumblin

and the rumblin

in my stomach

is taking over

humblin me

to conclude

[jdaviswords]

Growth & Prosperity

If I were to die tonight

I’d be disappointed

for more reasons

than I could

attempt to explain

but none more important

than imprinting our name

From the depths it came

years of old

tales of the same

and still

even though the map was lost

back

we found our way

Some days

it takes

a vast amount of effort 
to contain this brain

but

in your presence

I am whole

I am home

I am sane

How beautifully simple

how touchingly difficult

how boundless

There are countless

and endless

reasons why

this feels limitless

when your hand

connects in mine

Time pauses

and the causes

of stress

take a back seat

and I relax

In fact

with you

I feel intact

like when a puzzle piece

meets its pairing

or like a greyhound

when it’s on the track

We are on track

to reestablish

what was

with what is

like the April fools joker

WHATS UP WITH THAT

I kid

I laugh

Who woulda thought

not me

like what the bad kid says

in denial

in the back of the class

Alas

lemme get back

to you

and to us

I must

take to the page

at times

to convey

just how much you mean to me

Each time I leave your place

I leave a piece of me

driving home

living in vulnerability

smiling uncontrollably

knowing

that I can see you

again

rather momentarily

Unknowingly

I am of the future

but I know

you’re part of the scripture

written to capture

the perfect moment

even if imperfect

but like Crush said

toooooootally

worth it

You wanted crazy

I guess you should

be careful

whatcha wish for

but

even still

through the hardest of times

we’ve endured

Now we endeavor

said in a French accent

I hope you can now hear

how I pronounced it

after the airs been cleared

If I were to die tonight

just know

I love you

my dear

When the night is cold

and the clouds are grey

know that I am here

to hold you near

or squeeze your head

and wipe your tears

I am here

to hip thrust and dance

to head butt our faces

and clack our glasses

and cheese from afar

and watch you catch

my glance

And then and then

and another and

chopping up semantics

and continuing to laugh

If I were to die tonight

I hope you would know

just how much

you are worth

how elegantly intricate

how uniquely authentic

how much you deserve

As I continue to be

your partner

through thick and thin

I can only hope to concur

that you and I are eternal

beyond this living space

and even after our time

has come on this earth

we remain connected

like we were

when the stars

first

burst

[jdaviswords]

The other side of fear

I’ll never again

shave the beard

for since then

things have gotten

a bit weird

Like weird beards

gummy sugar rush

sticking my teeth

with whatever it is

that makes them sticky

I am boxing my molars

with my tongue

hoping to free them

of the quicksand

that is caked

in the cracks

I breathe

to relax

and in fact

it is doing 
the exact opposite

On Sunday

fully confident

that playoff hopes

will plummet

as being a Jets fan

is typically nothing

but hardship

Molded by darkness

demons of thoughts

swirling like twisters

I begin to shiver

I inhale

I cough

On the path

I was found

but now feel lost

if fear is monetary

then I can’t afford the cost

Tomorrow is Saturday

but I don’t know

if I will know it’s existence

for the days are temporary

and life is fleeting

and that’s kinda scary

I’m staring

into the looking glass

I am reflected

and I notice

the aging

I haven’t turned pages

in ages

it feels

and I am staging

myself

for myself

to be there

for myself

I have lived

and felt

the wrath of me

battles between

self awareness

and harsh self critique

bordering lines

toeing them

between efficiency

and inadequacy

I can be

a bit much

like too many bowls

of captain crunch

where the roof

of your mouth

begins fraying

I am heart sleeved

ill-conceived

at times feeble emotionally

typically unbothered

but recently worried

that I am the butt

of a bad joke

like amateur standup comedy

I sit Indian style

now I stand wobbly

my knees are worsening

as I get closer

to thirty

I note these changes

scribble them down

as I trade faces

with my youth

My blood is boiling

like hot soup

Am I uncouth?