Overcome

Lying here cuddled with you 

I am overwhelmed 

Inhaling the scent of you 

Absorbing the warmth of you 

Swimming in the gentle roar of your breathing 

Adoring the soft touch of your fingers 

Feeling your skin next to mine 

 

In this stillness 

Fervor  rises once again 

Desire is sated 

And reborn in every touch 

Passion explodes 

And rekindles in every kiss 

Want empties  out 

And refills  in every caress 

 

I know love is a feeling 

I know it is supposed to be intangible 

I also know I feel it against me 

I breathe it in like rain-soaked earth 

I taste it, sweet and unending as honey 

I am compassed by it 

I hear it like the crescendo of a symphony  

I see it sparkling in your eyes 

And in mine 

I am assailed 

My heart races 

Unguarded 

And I surrender 

Completely 

Instantly 

© Ron Simpson Jr. 

June 14, 2025

Anger

Well … it is back 

The anger has returned 

I can feel it 

trying to eat its way 

into my soul 

trying to cloud 

every piece of my life 

It was created decades ago 

It was born of frustration 

It was born of fear 

It is a long line of ancient anger 

I foolishly thought I had banished it 

It seems I only chased it deeper

 into the caverns of my soul 

where, until today 

it patiently licked its wounds 

and waited 

It waited for a sound 

a sound that goes beyond frustration 

a sound that lies lower than fear 

It is spurred on 

by the actions of many 

but it still lives 

and feeds on me 

When I let the actions of others drive me, 

I feed it 

When I close my heart to the pain, 

I feed it 

When I will not face my shortcomings, 

I loosen his collar

It is the beast 

I do not want to own 

yet am unable to destroy 

Long ago, I thought I killed that beast 

Today, he reared his head 

and devoured all within his reach 

before I could stop him 

He is not wanton 

He does not strike without purpose 

I have allowed him to be loosened once more 

I fear him terribly 

His face in the mirror is mine 

The voice he uses is mine 

The hands of his misdeeds are mine 

The feet that carry him are mine 

He does not allow me to think 

He does not allow me to consider 

He is gracious in that he will allow me to hurt 

For hurt will loosen my grip on his chain 

Clarity is his enemy 

Clarity will allow me to see the twin collars 

and the chain between them 

The one is on me 

The other is on him 

Anger rails against my enemies 

until I can no longer see the difference 

The lust for blood rises 

until we both drown in it 

It occurs to me 

then he will be free 

He will finally be free 

of me 

 

©Ron Simpson Jr. 

Difference

It would be simple 

To point out the difference

And the impact you made

In many areas of my life

Obviously, 

As my father, the first difference 

Was the very creation of my life

Since everything else after

Is predicated on this change

The ripples of your influence 

Trace to before my birth 

As we grew together 

I, as a child, 

and you, as a parent

Our relationship changed and matured 

In some ways and places, 

we were equals 

Even in those places, 

you always made a difference

 

Throughout my life 

Other people have made differences 

None were as profound 

As the difference you made 

You were the one I could always call, 

The one I could always visit, 

With any situation 

At any time, day or night 

You weren’t my entire anchor 

But you were definitely a big part of it 

At times you were my North Star 

Other times, you were the wind in my sails 

This is my nineteenth Father’s Day since you passed 

It’s not you when the phone rings 

It’s not your car in my driveway 

It’s not you sharing something in email 

It’s not getting easier 

I still miss you 

However 

You do still talk to me 

You’re still my North Star 

Your wind is still in my sails 

You are still making a difference, Dad 

I see your influence in my decisions 

I hear your words even when they come from me 

I feel your love surrounding me, always 

Thanks for the difference

Happy Father’s Day, Dad 

© Ron Simpson Jr. 

June 15, 2025