Along with reams of short stories, and longer attempts at fiction, I’ve written countless poems over the decades. The bulk were written in my teens and twenties and I literally have folders full of handwritten and typewritten compositions.

I’d been threatening to put a selection into print since the mid-90’s. I remember discussing it with an old girlfriend in ’95 but a number of things always seemed to stop me. Part of that was not really being sure if I wanted to share them with the world, part was never having the time to go through what was amounting to thousands of bits of paper – ranging from typed and formatted finished compositions to hand written stanzas on the back of paper bags, or anything I had at hand when inspiration hit.

A few years ago I finally got round to sorting out a collection and published them under the title “Wild Card Symphonies”. Consisting of three smaller volumes of my work, “Wild Card Symphonies”, “Cry To Me”, and “This Graveyard Heart”, the book totaled just over 120 poems. You can buy a copy (plug plug) through Lulu on one of the links at the bottom of the page if you like what you read and want to have more.

Japanese Inn

Once,

But never again,

I put my trust in you.

And what did you do?

You just turned and walked,

Turned….and walked away.

–

Walked away.

–

You threw me a smile

And that good-bye look.

Laughing as you left

Through my door.

Straight through my heart

Without a prayer,

At all.

–

You told them

Of our last secret

Without even touching the wine

They tried to give,

They were told to give.

–

Now as I pass

The Japanese inn,

Where the legend unfolds,

Janey’s diary is opened

For all the world.

And the secrets come out.

And the last secret,

Is told.

–

Once,

But never again,

I put my trust in you.

And what did you do?

You just turned and walked,

Turned….and walked away.

–

Walked away.

–

You threw me a smile

And that good-bye look.

Laughing as you left

Through my door.

Straight through my heart.

Without a prayer,

At all.

–

And now you’ve spilled

Innocent blood.

And instead of a letter,

Instead of Eden,

You inherit the wind

And the colour

Of the moon.

–

Now you live in sweet danger

As the sun sets at dawn.

Now it’s not only make-believe

That’s coming for you,

It’s the ruins of tarot,

And the wind

From the moon.

–

Now as I pass

The Japanese inn,

Where the stolen kisses stand,

Janey’s diary is opened

And the world understands

Why secrets,

Sometimes should remain untold.

–

I put my trust in you,

As the smile leaves your face,

As you read the words.

As you cry alone.

As the sun comes to an end,

And you scream it’s not true.

It’s a wicked heart that’s hidden

As you dance to the tune.

–

I throw you a smile

And that good-bye look,

As I walk away,

As I walk to Eden,

Without a prayer at all

For you.

–

And a sad wind

Blows from the sea.

—

(JAPANESE INN; By A R J Abranson; 06-03-91/19:19)

My poetry anthology, Wild Card Symphonies, is available to buy now on Lulu in both Softcover and Dust Jacket Hardcover.

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Wild Card Symphonies, Cry To Me & This Graveyard Heart are Copyright ©2015, Angus Abranson. All rights reserved.
Cover design by George C. Cotronis (Ravenkult Studios, www.ravenkult.com) Copyright © 2015 Angus Abranson
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
No reproduction in part or in whole without prior written permission from the author of the copyright owner.