Lonely Hearts Chapel

Verses

Below are some poems from my first collection of poetry, which is spiritual in nature because it’s based on my grandma’s book of Christian poetry (My God is Real.) My collection deals with my own burgeoning social conscience and spiritual identity. I wrote these poems while completing the bulk of my first novel, so I consider them companions to it. The collection consists of two books: My Love is Real, and RESPONSIBILITY.

Book 1: My Love is Real

Cover art, by Lauren Olesh

PART 1: I was the Beginning and

1. I Love Myself, the Real
2. I Know Why People Love
3. I’m the Tree of Life
4. I Walk With the Dead
5. I Conquer the Lawless One
6. I See the Silence Coming
7. I Make Vows For You

PART 2: Miss Lonelyhearts is a Symbol

1. Miss Lonelyhearts Shepherds the Lamb
2. Miss Lonelyhearts Swallows the Fat Thumb
3. Miss Lonelyhearts Always Returns
4. Miss Lonelyhearts Embraces the Cripple
5. Miss Lonelyhearts Pays a Loan
6. Miss Lonelyhearts Attends a Party Alone
7. Miss Lonelyhearts Wears the Party Dress

PART 3: the ending is alone me.

1. My Mom Has Gifted Me:
2. You Say You Love Me,
3. The Devil is Inside Me!
4. Wish You’d Come Help Me–
5. The Meteors Battered Into Me;
6. Heaven Reminds You of Me,”
7. Understand Why People Love Me?

Book 2: RESPONSIBILITY

Cover art, featuring sketches of the Statue of Responsibility

1. AMERICA
2. Something Really Important
3. The Evil Dream
4. Re-branding
5. The Hope Does Not Spill
6. The Other Side
7. Responsibility II
8. Million-Years Masquerade, pt. 1: Vanity
9. pt. 2: Mister Lonelyhearts Talks About Privilege
10. pt. 3: Realities for Men
11. pt. 4: Prelude
12. The Two Voices Inside You
13. From Monsters
14. Everyday
15. Everywhere
16. Everybody
17. Lovemaking
18. WRITING
19. Desirous
20. “Angels,” for Mara and Lauren
21. Next Thing

Love always,

your Mister