*** 

By J. J. STARR 

in faith             i pray for you… 
i wasn’t            aware of you 

i think of you free 
a song     a night           you… 

pieces, i can share  
just some with you… 

i am not a victim            all my struggles   
might  one day              envelope you 

a noise     a name     physical     right      there  
take me            with you 

what WAS        that way         to keep demons                away 
…        …..i fasten my mind to you  

those who don’t heal   prefer    the temporary 
understand me     …there is no           other      no i      no you     … ….. 

when did i start loving               affliction           as companion 
what meaning did i leave                        to you 

i’m exhausted… symptoms     short term disability       long term disability     medication costs 
it attacked me    … you don’t believe me         do you? 

Jessica     i thought of you                   knew you        would seek after 
….. if this      is to end             let it                             can you? 

 

[Purchase Issue 31 here.]

 

J. J. Starr’s poetry has appeared in The Common, Juked, The Journal, and 2River, among other publications. She studied at the NYU creative writing program, where she was a Veterans Writing Workshop Fellow.

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