JAMES CROAL JACKSON

I Wait for the Gate to Open After Work, and Cicadas Sing All the While

it has been seventeen years
since I went to work
this morning

I am ready to party
with ten billion members
of my closest family

the moon’s red clay
the sky a lavender
making me uncomfortable

the boss who stresses me out
said today stress’ll kill you
man that’s why I spend

all my free time
trying to relax as hard
as I can

god this city’s loud tonight
with hospital vibes
drums and hums

throes of
let me in your arms
so I can drink

I miss the stranger
side of living
I tried to do a special thing

this morning
before my shift
I wanted a massive

mocha to help
me be alive again
I mailed a postcard

and left in morning breeze
but I left my keys
inside I had to wake you

it was too late
I had to fly across
the bridge 

to my manual
slumber for the day
thick in the trees

to pass the time
I wanted some
thing sweet

to drink
and so
the rain

James Croal Jackson is a Filipino-American poet who works in film production. He has three chapbooks: Count Seeds With Me (Ethel Zine & Micro-Press, 2022), Our Past Leaves (Kelsay Books, 2021), and The Frayed Edge of Memory (Writing Knights, 2017). He edits The Mantle Poetry from Pittsburgh, PA. (jamescroaljackson.com)