Word Thief

I listen to your words 

As they tear through you 

Dragging emotion with them 

Laboriously delivered 

Exhausted 

You leave them there 

I take them uninvited 

I drink them in 

I overlay them with my stain 

I plait them with intonation 

I write them with rhythm 

And claim them for my own 

I am merely a word thief 

The upheaval and turmoil 

I have not earned 

I could say I’m only borrowing~

But who has ever owned words 

But, someone paid for these words 

Someone gave heart and soul 

Someone paid with pain and grief 

Making these words their own 

What liberty do I have to this pain 

How do I intrude on this grief 

And play it as my own 

As if I paid the dues 

I am merely a word thief 

Yet, here I am 

Borrowing once again 

Painting the words 

With my hurt and my sorrow 

Interweaving the thread 

Of my experiences 

My pain, my hope 

My loss, my love 

And someday my words

Will lie scattered in the open

Waiting for another hand

To lift them, stain them, claim them

As if they were always theirs

They are merely 

the next word thief 

© Ron Simpson Jr. 

Current Word Thief 

January 20, 2026   

Fidelity, Unadorned

If you would seek me in comfort 

Among what is warm and familiar 

You will not find me 

I have retreated 

This world demands struggle 

Daily, we fight for direction 

In the multiplicity of paths 

It’s a war to keep our place 

Some days 

My life feels like I’m stuck 

In the bombed out wreckage 

Of what could have been 

Even there 

There are parts I would keep 

In the shell, I still find peace 

In some measure 

Some ground 

Even broken 

Is not negotiable 

Then there are days 

My life feels like I’m moving 

The question is 

Whether I’m moving out 

Or folding further inward 

Am I walking away 

Or am I digging in 

Is it right 

Is it wrong 

Is no decision 

Actually another choice 

Or is it simply 

Fidelity, unadorned 

© Ron Simpson Jr. 

January 15, 2026 

Real

You see me 

Or do you 

You see the picture I create 

You see the illusion 

Carefully constructed imagery  

An intricate facade 

Will you be taken in 

By the bright sparkly lights 

Fooled by the spackle and paint 

Concealing ancient cracks 

“I want to know the real you” 

Your hollow words say 

From your equal veneer 

Of lies and polish 

Real reaches out to real 

Truth is touched by truth 

And for all of our bravado 

We still speak 

from behind the curtain 

I want to be liked 

I want to be loved 

Yet, when I wear this false front 

Those never ring true 

Do you like me 

Do you love me 

Do you see me 

Am I real? 

© Ron Simpson Jr. 

January 13, 2026 

An Uninvited Guest

I do not recall issuing an invitation 

Yet, here you are among the passengers 

Riding along in the journey of my life 

I eagerly invited love to ride 

To be a close companion on this trip 

For love smooths the 

I do not recall issuing an invitation 

Yet, here you are among the passengers 

Riding along in the journey of my life 

I eagerly invited love to ride 

To be a close companion on this trip 

For love smooths the road and warms the air 

Happiness also received a summons 

To lighten my spirit and balance life's sorrows 

Always a welcome addition to the party 

Peace was solicited to join the voyage 

Always traveling with calm and serenity 

Making easy an arduous excursion 

Joy, harmony, and friendships were requested 

Expected to tag along as well 

Creating a space away from sorrow and grief 

Then there was you 

An Uninvited Guest 

Seeking to be a close companion 

I did not invite you 

I did not summon you 

I did not solicit you 

I did not request you 

Pain 

Not the villain 

Not a monster 

Not even a force of nature 

But still, there you are 

Never content to ride quietly 

Always with an opinion 

Always ready to be heard 

Rarely willing to stay in the back 

Irritating 

Exhausting 

Uninvitingly intimate 

I did not ask for you 

But I have learned to navigate 

With you in the backseat 

But you are observant 

You notice every pothole 

Every crack in the pavement 

Every mile marker passed in silence 

You remember 

What I try to forget 

You replay conversations 

Rewind moments 

You pointed out 

Where the road was bent 

Before I was ready 

You have no map 

But know every detour 

You have no destination 

Yet you recognize arrival 

Before I do 

I do not trust you 

Still I listen 

Not because you are wise 

But because you are persistent 

You have taught me nothing gently 

But you have taught me thoroughly 

So stay 

(Because you will anyway) 

But stay seated 

Do not touch the wheel 

Do not choose the music 

Do not speak unless spoken to 

You are not my guide 

You are not my purpose 

You are merely 

The uninvited guest 

You refuse to be ignored 

And somehow against my will 

Although you arrived uninvited 

You have made me 

Watch the road more closely 

© Ron Simpson Jr. 

January 10, 2026