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Diamonds from Coal

by Jonathan Bolick

Samples from "Diamonds from Coal"!




an excerpt from

"1/31/03, UNCC campus", pg. 46

As he struggles with his steel chariot
he makes his way, chilled
around students, up walkways, wet
using hands, feet, arms, heart
  
Suddenly, as a warm shower
On this cold day, a face...



an excerpt from

"Compartment of Health", pg. 66

...Life has been taken
from embarrassment
her life-partner, her friend
she waits for the paper
  
Feelings rolled from their
eyes as would tears
  
As they call my number
I leave...



an excerpt from

"Sleep Awake", pg. 39

...As Scrooge once so fearfully said
"You are but a piece of meat or bread"
but later he found, alive not dead
t'wasn't bread, but revelation instead
  
Such is my writing, this early morn
still hours away from the beautiful dawn
I sleep awake, write, erase, yawn
later I'll read and wonder what went on
  
Then maybe my revelation will be seen
clear as a bell, but without the ring
poetry, wasted lead or something between
will I shout for joy, or scream words obscene...



an excerpt from

"Fight and Die", pg. 77

...blessed journey along the ashes
placed but here amidst the masses
all go bravely to whence they came
fearing not what bears its name
  
duty right from what they feel
left to close what cannot seal
driven on by force unseen
answered oft by selfless means
  
pray thee for their very souls
just as when the bell first tolled
upheave the wicked, toil be done
fight and die yet carry on...