those of us who are left

hideous creatures with huge gaping mouths
swallow the ocean whole

those of us who are left
stare at the barren landscape

and
cry

© 2007 Jim Wittenberg

the morning chill has arrived

memories baffle the monster

he remembers anger
and unforgiveness
sunbathing all summer in his backyard

now that the morning chill
has arrived
along with the cold wind
and the occasional threat of rain
they don't visit him

he wonders if they prefer a warmer
climate
or if they're too lazy
to help him prepare for winter

he notices that he feels better when
they're absent

© 2007 Jim Wittenberg

a mistake

the ending was a mistake

it lacked the excitement and action
a story needs
to conclude
properly

I should have written in a cannibalistic giant
or a fire-breathing dragon

it would have sprung from the middle
of the earth
and devoured
all the characters

so I rewrote it

it was one hundred percent
better

I changed the beginning
and the middle, too

© 2007 Jim Wittenberg

deep inside me

deep inside me are secrets
I want to keep deep inside me

the sun and moon reveal too much

I hide myself in the shadows
and these words

no one looks for me here

© 2007 Jim Wittenberg