Bleeding Summer City Sidewalks
David (the stresses)
Nibbling hard on frozen lips, little veins with child bearing hips She was walking into the eyes of the Queen city. Being judged by the hustlers and the wandering hands. Her feet can’t shuttle fast behind her buried toes. Bunched up and forgotten. Where is the heavenly triumph? Let me live again. Shedding fingernails onto the street again. Shedding heartaches by the fleeting men. She watches children grow and wonder if they even know. When will dad be home behind the banging doors, leave us some Old shit from bargain bins. Can’t sing the gospel . Can’t paint away the sins. Of the bleeding Cincinnati. Begin to rewrite scripture in every bead of our sweat. Left behind in Covington is her Lil' sis Working a tavern til the morning shift She has an ex with a heart, and an ex who don't. One has the check, one has the knife to her throat. Threats, threats, so many threats. When morning divorce ended with midnight clips. Not for cuts, but a finality. She closed her eyes and swung for the totality of him falling to the past, fall to the river. He stalked her down and she won. Or she thought. Blue lights boom can they tell the hero from the felon? Let her talk, just let her talk. You yell shut up and don't let the lady talk. She was bleeding for Cincinnati. And they say they have to wait for some cold hard truth. Like the hours of ignored calls them weren't convincing. R.D (the recovery) Bleeding but not broken Every bruise shows her journey The perseverance The adversity she overcame to arrive here She wasn’t washed up by the Ohio River from the Kentucky side She arrived with a purpose A sentiment to her past In how she will not go back to her former life Onward and upwards Cincinnati is the land of hills and valleys She knows them all too well She finally was heard When she met with the many women of the Midwest The union instilled a sisterhood amongst them that was an unbreakable bond The bleeding had to stop Now, Cincinnati can be strong Covington can be strong Lady Liberty will let them all be strong Bios: Follow R.D. Johnson on twitter @r_d_Johnson R.D. Johnson is a pushcart nominee, a best of the net nominee for Fevers of the Mind "(Not Just On) Juneteenth" Reggie is an author reigning out of Cincinnati, Ohio. At the age of 9, he found a love for writing while on summer vacation. With influences from music, Reggie has created a rhythmic style of writing to tell his personal experiences and beyond. Reggie has several books available on all major online retailers and his work can be seen in various literary magazines. He currently has two columns, Drunken Karaoke featured on Daily Drunk Magazine & REPLAYS featured on The Poetry Question. https://thepoetryquestion.com/category/replay-rdj/ Current bio for Fevers of the Mind’s David L O’Nan editor/writing contributor to blog. Hard Rain Poetry: Forever Dylan Anthology available today! Available Now: Before I Turn Into Gold Inspired by Leonard Cohen Anthology by David L O’Nan & Contributors w/art by Geoffrey Wren
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