Phillip Erb Poems

Creeping through my window softly,
the morning is born again.
My computer is playing a sad song
about fake plastic watering cans;
...

If you would walk on in
You must remove your shoes
Party members come in pairs, in threes,
at the neighbor's house next door
...

A golden locket makes its way to the walk
After the chain that held it captive to a neck for so many a long and sweaty year
Snaps under the stress of time, salt, and gravity.
It cathes the light thrown from the sun and sends the entire spectrum across the street to me -
...

Mister do you have the time?
I've looked all over, but I just
Can't seem to find mine.
When I was last here I knew
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Pairs of two, groups of three, all alone
Friends and familiar faces disappear
Over the hills into valleys miles away
Practicing for the last dance we'll share
...

When rooms fall silent,
lights go down and out,
I miss the almost undetectable
pitter-patter of four tiny paws
...

Where a thousand shadows once followed at leash's length behind four-legged friends is a quiet place posing as a home to strangers and me.
The people here are struggling with their decisions; questioning themselves behind the guarded gates of heart and soul who they are.
Each one a different part of greatness we'd rather deny than embrace,
dream up a place that fits together perfectly, without any missing pieces: where silly little things such as dreams are effortless to believe.
...

If you follow the Ohio river from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
South around the Appalachians and west to the Mississippi
You will see people who give you the finger who would
Just assume spit in your face as ask you how you are today
...

The acerbic odor of urine and life
Enters her nose and heats her toes
She doesn’t believe she can forget
To notice what she breathes
...