Snow

Slippery People

The Only Thing I Need
Sitting on the beach
counting grains of sand
trying to remember
if I’ve ever held your hand
The rhythm of the ocean
is impossible to count
like the endless awkward moments
like all my fathomless doubts
chorus—
The only thing between us
is a question or two
wish I knew the answers
before I ever asked you
but
I’m not that lucky
and you’re too hard to read
so the only thing between us
is the only thing I need
I’ve written several letters
tried to write some poems
They never came out perfect
so they never left my home
My eyes are like secrets
that I’m dying to let you know
‘want to leave you breathless
for fifty years or so
chorus—
bridge—
All I need are my longings
all I need are my dreams
all I need is assurance
that you’ll say no to me—
Then it’s best I don’t ask you
then it’s best you can’t see
that no one in this lifetime
is as good for you as me
chorus.
James Yarsky

The Only Thing I Need

Promised Land
We met in East St. Louis then we moved east to New York
we quit high school and a descent place to work—
I sewed up all my oats in a bus pan full of plates
and an accidental visit from the stork
Your pride was locked up in your jaw with muscles hard as steel
and you wondered if you’d ever learn to feel—
my mind was on the paper flood of bills and parking fines
while our son grew up with wings upon his heels
The cops came by one night with you on their hands
you took off all your clothes in the promised land—
you took off all your clothes in the promised land
and you promised me you wouldn’t do that again.
Well sixteen years went by so fast with you waiting on the train
that our son just hopped one night in the rain—
you wondered how he saw it, you’ve been standing there for years
but all you’ve ever seen was that broken water main
A boy came here that night with a scared look in his eye
he said, “Mr., I think this woman is your wife,
I found her face up, laughing, in a fountain at the park
her blood alcohol level on the rise”
The cops came by that night with you on their hands . . .
Then last night you went out and said, “Wait up for me hon’”
and when I saw your face, you never looked so young
I found you in the morgue with a toe-tag on your feet
and a picture of our long lost son.
The cops came by tonight with you on their hands . . .
James Yarsky

Promised Land

Raccoon
I had a dream I married a raccoon and she stole my heart away
I heard her out rustling in the back of my house and I ran out to chase her away
but I
loved the way her hands kept moving as she talked her way into my life
and before I could see what was under her mask that raccoon became my wife
had a dream had a dream had a dream I married a raccoon
had a dream had a dream had a dream we stole the night away
we spent our nights in the neighbors’ backyards searching through garbage for dinner
we ate like kings and she sang her strange songs and I tagged along like a beginner
then one night she got caught in a snare and I found myself angry and scared
I pulled it apart with all of my might and nursed her to health with great care
had a dream had a dream had a dream I married a raccoon
had a dream had a dream had a dream we stole the night away
then one day
while she was sleeping
I took a peek under her mask
I saw the angels and demons 
of a lifetime of night skies
arguing over her past
when I woke up I looked around but there was only me
got out of bed and went to the mirror afraid at what I’d see
I laughed at the lonely stranger with the dark circles under his eyes
I kept my hands moving wiping tears from my eyes as I went about changing my life
‘cause I
had a dream had a dream had a dream I married a raccoon
had a dream had a dream had a dream we stole the night away
had a dream had a dream had a dream I married a raccoon
had a dream had a dream had a dream she stole my heart away.
James Yarsky

James Yarsky

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