3 poems by Rickey Rivers Jr. “Sour Cup of Us” “Living in the Past” “The Thing about Us”

Sour Cup of Us

Akin to lemons from a seed
The sourness apt
Therefore we are strained

No bond here, only slices of couple
Two halves lay, a quiet yellow

Mince
Mix it all together
A nice cup, both of us entangled

Can't last much longer, this boil soon steams
We go up together, a half sick dream

Living in the Past

If history has taught me anything
It's that you'd be hated for anything
Beyond norm
Beyond complexion

History goes forward
Only bits change

Brutality is the constant

We pretend
We ignore
We move on

What a constant.

The Thing about Us

That's the thing about us
We will never be one again

That story is long gone.
That right is long wrong.

This book of lies divides.
I thought it truth
No title, just dates.

Every chapter opens eyes wider
The vise around my heart tighter

Tears hit the page
Making life blur

Fears into rage
Does the ink fade?


Rickey Rivers Jr was born and raised in Alabama. He is a Best of the Net nominated writer and cancer survivor. His work has appeared in Brave Voices, Sage Cigarettes and Hell Hued Zine (among other publications). Twitter.com/storiesyoumight Sensurlon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XDHZXHB