This poem is a lyric poem, with strong elements of confessional and gothic poetry. Its central theme is the cyclical nature of suffering and redemption—specifically, the journey from suicidal despair and imprisonment toward spiritual rescue through love. The voice is a first-person speaker, who oscillates between raw anguish and hard-won salvation. Structurally, the poem uses stark rhyme, repetition, and fragmented imagery to mimic obsessive thought and emotional relapse. A new work, “Time And Time Again” is not yet assigned to a chapbook.
“TIME AND TIME AGAIN”
the darkest night of all my days
mousetrap house rat in a maze
some angel shoulder old crow sings
one-eye jack go suicide king
the knight is still without the moon
lately death can’t come too soon
an ounce of cure, a pound of rock
beat the dead horse, beat the clock
marking time and time again
i’m living hell and back again
again and again
and again
again
the prison gate reverberates
scared straight date where fate awaits
lightning striking, hallowed hall
shadow creeping up the wall
she sat beside me on death row
her eyes a blue electric glow
my heart plugged into supercharge
the second hand remains at large
travel time and time again
i’m back from living hell again
again and again
and again
again
she stood to rise and took my arm
and led my spirit clear of harm
due time done did doing time
a simple love, a simple rhyme
energized amazed enthralled
her picture nailed onto the wall
the undeath of the valley stir
every time i think of her
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