Poetry selections from
Chronicles of a Loser
In Joseph’s debut novel, you will encounter Caleb, the main character, and his hobby of finding poetry in life’s less-than-desirable situations. He dabbles in haiku, sonnets, and free-form poetry. His collection is called Chronicles of a Loser.
Why such a title?
Caleb is a loser, but not in the way you think. He’s not a loser because he has undesirable qualities or is in some way ‘less than’ others. He’s a loser by the literal word. He has lost friends, family, housing, esteem, and purpose. These poems are the missives of a person trying to regain parts of his life lost along the way.

Vast
Cold, colder, coldest.
Ruddy cheekbones,
journeys of a body,
loose on the wind,
drifting with the current.
Obsequious in nature,
unbound by logic.
Vast is the abyss in which I dwell.

Lies
Mercurial words slipping over tongue tip
aimed toward subterfuge
flowing from inward darkness
born of sacrifice
nurtured with regret
spreading wide
finding purchase
in receptive, withering ears
meaning to meaningless
truth to fiction
love stops.

Stepping Stone
A stranger at your door
broken, tired, and bent.
Knocking knuckles now,
all energies spent.
Refuge from the madness,
calm respite now sent.
Footsteps fairly falling
where they were never meant.