Cry Me a River

You can never set foot
in the same river twice
with dreams underfoot
and genes that are spliced;
perhaps you may try
but it will not suffice…

You can never set foot
in the same river twice.

People cross bridges
before they arrive;
they make split decisions
and think they will thrive;
Perhaps it’s success
that they get out alive…

People cross bridges
before they arrive.

When people cross bridges
they often are scared;
they change their positions
but are not prepared;
too big for their britches;
too young to be spared…

When people cross bridges
they often are scared.

To those who cross bridges
before they can come,
they seem smart for wishes
when really they’re dumb;
they jump out of fear
because tears make them numb…

To those who cross bridges
before they can come.

Those
who
cross
bridges
before
they
can come
to them,

Those
who
choose
ig.nor.ance
rather than
con.se.quence,

half-assed and shivered
with current despair…

They pass over rivers
that weren’t even there.

Written by Jason Wright
April 14, 2019

For River Phoenix,
whose death at age 23 affected the end result.

For Anna Suisebrick,
who provided part of the concept.

For Celine Tobias,
who has shared her fear of crossing over bridges.

and for Carol Jackson,
who once shared this sentiment,
which I never forgot.

All my love!

Edit: Carol Jackson passed away in August of 2024, but she definitely saw this. She had no memory of passing on this wisdom to me, but I assured her that she definitely had and she kindly took the compliment. I didn’t see her often as an adult but I’d have liked to and when we did see one another, it was always a moment filled with love.

Coffee is Criminal

Bleeding and breathing and moving
to accommodate secret meeting of strangers
who are smart enough to avoid
hospital television ramblings
I block out with Endgame trailer music.

I’ve never seen an experienced barista
struggle so much with what was right in front of them – –
the instructions are right there on the side of the SHORT cup
but she removes them to apply them to a TALL
before being told politely that it’s meant to be short –
as she then awkwardly corrects that bizarre error
and then proceeds to get everything else wrong –
which I will not allow.

I paid $4.00 for that
so please fill it to the top
like I asked.

Thank you so much!

Waiting room madness continues
as we’re all pressed into service
for mysterious summons
whose purpose, when inquired
is refused by staff
who ask that we cease to congregate
near the windows…

What are they hiding from us?

Not long before two police arrive,
and then two more…
and then Anna asks me into her office
so we miss the exciting conclusion.

With procedural horror drama behind us
we fall into productive discussions
of PTSD, hot urologists,
respectful penis inspectors,
family dinners and reinforcement –
positive vs. negative –
bleeding and breathing and moving
to accommodate my future integration.

When I reach the ground floor lobby,
the fantastic woman named after an
ancient female vampire asks me for my details
and we witness man being seen to
by a horde of police men
surrounding an ambulance.

Some people need more attention than others.

Written by Jason Wright
December 11, 2018

Life Amongst Memories

I

Tumbling through my phone
I notice that Jamie Bloom
is still listed amongst my favorites
and I realize it’s been more than a year
since I’ve seen her.

The realization is somewhat jarring
but I choose to smile as I look back
on a year that was some kind of trial by fire;
August in one year, October the next.

“Do you have a worksheet?” I ask Anna,
who tells me that I’m six steps ahead of her,
just like Jamie used to do!

II

I jot these things down in my notebook
on October 9, 2018,
but when I transcribe them to this work,
it’s more than a month later
and when I search to spell her name correctly
I find video message
singing amongst sleeping cables
and smile for all those she’s likely to help
save themselves.

Written by Jason Wright
October 9 & November 29, 2018

For Jamie, obviously,
but also for my selves
and for Anna.

It was a tricky year
but we made it!

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