Knuckles pull their power from the upper limb,
untie the knots, gnarled and unresolved.
Oils from the Garden of Eden
trickle into every hidden crevice,
tributaries feeding into the river of life.
Palliative petals and stones rounded by the sea
cover each self-inflicted wound.
A voice as ancient as crackled glass
whispers
turn over
to the other side.
You know the one
neglected for so many years,
the back that needs to be walked upon
hiding the bones closest to brokenness
many of them beyond repair.
Numerous short stories and poems written by Jack Donahue have been or are soon to be published in journals such as: North Dakota Quarterly; Laldy (Scotland); Prole (U.K.); Poetry Salzburg Review (Austria); Armarolla (Cypress); Bindweed (Ireland); The Almagre Review and others throughout North America, India and Europe. His first book of poems, “Just Below the Surface” is set for a fall 2018 launch. A children’s picture book, “Come Play With Me By The Sea” will be published later this year. Mr. Donahue received his M.Div. degree from New Brunswick, Theological Seminary, NJ in 2008. He is married and resides on the North Fork of Long Island, New York.