Unraveling by Joan McNerney

all those mundane strings broken
mores manners, perhaps it is better
to forget names dates skills scores

we who are human who have
spoiled and squandered so much

do we long to become those primal
creatures as we were meant to be?

simply swaying with winds breathing in
flowers gazing at birds tasting raindrops
gathering sunshine on our faces

Joan McNerney’s poetry is published worldwide in over thirty-five countries in numerous literary magazines. Four Best of the Net nominations have been awarded to her. The Muse in Miniature, Love Poems for Michael, and At Work are available on Amazon.com. A new title Light & Shadows has recently been released.

Blur by Joan McNerney

this blur of hours, this waking sleep
sometimes in & then out of this world
we are dragged across another night

black wells roll thru eyes…trains
whizzing at 11 o'clock 1 o'clock
winds trace tree shadows over walls

on that white trapeze afraid to let go
afraid to drop to nightmares lodged
in corners shrunken wide-mouthed

cars creep down streets as first
weak light s t r e t c h e s over roofs
& the radio provides some likely song

there is no time to find what is lost
we march like tin soldiers in an
ungodly war with eyes slit at 6 o’clock

dry mouths, throats burning, dazed as
sirens screech pass another morning
warning of another day of quiet storms

Joan McNerney’s poetry is found in numorous literary magazines  She has four Best of the Net nominations.  Her latest titles are The Muse in Miniature and Love Poems for Michael both available on Amazon.com and Cyberwit.net. 

Clandestine by Joan McNerney

In the rinse of another grey day

unrolling before us like an empty film.

I want to scream out against

flat skies, tear up coarse air.

Another grey day gnawing

at me sounding metallic beats

putting me through its paces

with long lists of minutiae.

Today marches forward...another

tin soldier knocking yesterday aside.

Each night coming faster, faster.

Winds blowing stronger, stronger.

Cats howl in cold circles as

ragged leaves cling to boughs.

Raindrops fall like black ink

under small pools of lights.

Darkness gathers close…

my shadow, that long black

silhouette slanting down 

follows me into the night.

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary magazines such as Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Poet Warriors, Blueline, and Halcyon Days.  Four Bright Hills Press Anthologies, several Poppy Road Review Journals, and numerous Kind of A Hurricane Press Publications have accepted her work.  Her latest title, The Muse In Miniature, is available on Amazon and she has four Best of the Net nominations. 

Bewildered by Joan McNerney

I am driving down this road

but I cannot remember why.

There must be some reason

for all this movement.

Where is everybody going?

Should I just follow the others?

I must remember to stop

at red lights.  Why are these

street signs so small?  Is that

why people are walking around

so they can read those signs?

How can anybody get anywhere

when every sign is blurred and

there is so much noise.  How

can anybody think?  Too much

noise, too many signs all so small.

Thirsty tired … can I just stop now?

I must find a quiet place and drink

some water.  They sell water now. 

It is not right but don’t say anything.

Two  bucks for a bottle of water.

That would have been a morning’s pay.

Remembering the past is no good.

Living now is no good either.

All the threads are scattered.

I will stop soon and not be lost.

Joan McNerney is the recipient of three scholarships. She has read her work at the National Arts Club Gramercy Park, State University of New York at Oneonta, University of Texas in Houston and The Mc Nay Art Institute in San Antonio, Texas. Her poetry has been included in over two hundred print literary magazines, journals and anthologies.  The internet has provided an even wider platform for her work and she has four Best of the Net nominations. Her latest title, The Muse In Miniature, is available on Amazon.  

Winter in New England by Joan McNerney

Night drops like a hammer.

All day sludge grey snow,

slivers of ice.   Fear of falling

on paths covered with snow.

Night drops like a hammer

Driving through white outs

listening as the car motor

wheezes while climbing hills. 

Night drops like a hammer.

Home now with only my

strength, my silence and

no trace of blue in the sky.

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary zines such as Moonlight Dreamers of Yellow Haze, Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Blueline, Halcyon Days and included in Bright Hills Press, Kind of A Hurricane Press and Poppy Road Review anthologies. She has been nominated four times for Best of the Net.  

Nightscape by Joan McNerney

Fog horns sound though

air soaked in blackness.

All evening long listening

to hiss of trucks, cars.

Shadows brush across walls

as trees trace their branches.

Gathering and waving

together then swaying apart.

While I sleep, stars glide

through heaven making

their appointed rounds in

ancient sacred procession.

Dreams as smooth as rose

petals spill into my mind

growing wild patches in

this dark garden of night.

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary magazines such as Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Moonlight Dreamers of Yellow Haze, Blueline, and Halcyon Days.  Three Bright Hills Press Anthologies, several Poppy Road Review Journals, and numerous Kind of A Hurricane Press Publications have accepted her work.  Her latest title is Having Lunch with the Sky and she has four Best of the Net nominations. 

Falling by Joan McNerney

Down through blackness

into dusty subterraneous

passages where trains raced. 

Silver rods sped through dream

stations transforming tunnels

with bolts of blue white sparks. 

Falling

On a steel car looking out the

window. How many times have

I seen my train reeling off track?

How many times have I ridden

the dark horse called nightmare? 

In air off track tumbling down falling. 

Falling

Dangling on thick utility cables

on edge, through trees into lights,

crashing fast against buildings. 

Now flying through space.

Careening in pitch black night,

my silver train shattering glass.

Falling

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary zines such as Moonlight

Dreamers of Yellow Haze, Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Blueline, Halcyon Days

and included in Bright Hills Press, Kind of A Hurricane Press and Poppy Road Review

anthologies. She has been nominated four times for Best of the Net.  

How Trouble Grows by Joan McNerney

Trouble is patient 

hiding around corners.

creeping through shadows 

entering without a sound.

It starts as a seed blown

by careless winds and

covers your garden with

foul brackish weeds.

Or sparks from a match

spread over fertile ground 

becoming flames speeding

through the long night.

Trouble knows where you live.

You cannot hide from it.

Gaining a foothold, growing

fat feeding on your flesh.

Watch how trouble grows

inch by inch, molecule 

by molecule coursing 

through your veins.

Trouble begins as a whisper

day by day growing louder.

Stronger than your heart beat

becoming a thumping drum.

Soon you will forget 

there was a time

when trouble was 

not at your side.






Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary zines such as Moonlight Dreamers of Yellow Haze, Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Blueline, Halcyon Days and included in Bright Hills Press, Kind of A Hurricane Press and Poppy Road Review anthologies. She has been nominated four times for Best of the Net.  

When the Moon is New by Joan McNerney

Groping through darkness

knocking everything down.

Down into enormous night

where thoughts unravel. 

Memories moan past us as

shadows quiver across walls.

We lie pinned to bed sheets

like captive butterflies. 

Dry butterflies...our throats

are brittle, eyes turning

from light.  Sore arms reach

for anything soft to hold. 

Remembering seasons gone by.

So many lost promises.

This huge moment surrounding us.

Wide awake we wait for the new day.

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary zines such as Moonlight Dreamers of Yellow Haze, Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Blueline, Halcyon Days and included in Bright Hills Press, Kind of A Hurricane Press and Poppy Road Review anthologies. She has been nominated four times for Best of the Net.  

All Fall Down by Joan McNerney

Leaves toppling from trees fiery 

leaves red yellow green flames.  

Only this remains...smoky ends of days.

Days like leaves crumbling, shriveled,

tumbling down, falling to the ground.

Scattered into an acrid mound.

An acrid mound of sour roots. Our garden

grew from the wrong side of the moon.

Brackish vines are harvested there.

Flowers of despair grew a single fruit.

It tasted bittersweet. My laughter became

harsh.  My eyes grew oblique.                                      

I want to curse and cry against this world.

Fine dreams stolen...ragged and torn

like leaves blown in storm.

Storm winds strangle treetops, shaking,

foliage pulled from boughs.  Broken

by thunder pummeled through long nights

Long nights heavy rains spilling black ink

stains.  There is no solution, another day

done, another piece of the puzzle gone

Ashes ashes all fall down 

what is lost cannot be found. 

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary zines such as Moonlight Dreamers of Yellow Haze, Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Blueline, Halcyon Days and included in Bright Hills Press, Kind of A Hurricane Press and Poppy Road Review anthologies. She has been nominated four times for Best of the Net.  

When the Moon is New by Joan McNerney

Groping through darkness

knocking everything down.

Down into enormous night

where thoughts unravel.

Memories moan past us as

shadows quiver across walls.

We lie pinned to bed sheets

like captive butterflies.

Dry butterflies...our throats

are brittle, eyes turning

from light.  Sore arms reach

for anything soft to hold.

Remembering seasons gone by.

So many lost promises.

This huge moment surrounding us.

Wide awake we wait for the new day.

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary magazines such as Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Moonlight Dreamers of Yellow Haze, Blueline, and Halcyon Days.  Three Bright Hills Press Anthologies, several Poppy Road Review Journals, and numerous Kind of A Hurricane Press Publications have accepted her work.  Her latest title is Having Lunch with the Sky and she has four Best of the Net nominations. 

Joan McNerney - Lost Dream / Eleventh Hour

Lost Dream

I am driving up a hill
without name on an
unnumbered highway.

This road transforms into
a snake winding around
coiled on hair pin turns.

At bottom of the incline
lies a dark village strangely
hushed with secrets.

How black it is.  How difficult
to find that dream street
which I must discover.

Exactly what I will explore
is unsure.  Where I will find it
is unknown.  All is in question.

I continue to haunt gloomy
streets in this dream town
crossing dim intersections.

Everything has become a maze
where one line leads to another
dead ends become beginnings.

Deciding to abandon my search,
I return for my automobile…
nowhere to be found in shadows.

Finally I look up at the moon’s
yellow eye…my lips forming
prayers to a disinterested god.




Eleventh Hour

Wrapped in darkness we can
no longer deceive ourselves. 
Our smiling masks float away.
We snake here, there
from one side to another.  
How many times do we rip off 
blankets only to claw more on?

Listening to zzzzzz of traffic,
mumble of freight trains, fog horns.
Listening to wheezing,
feeling muscles throb.
How can we find comfort?

Say same word over and over
again again falling falling to sleep.
I will stop measuring what was lost.
I will become brave.

Let slumber come covering me.
Let my mouth droop, fingers tingle.
Wishing something cool…soft…sweet.
Now I will curl like a fetus
gathering into myself
hoping to awake new born.

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary magazines such as Camel Saloon, Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Blueline, Missing of the Birds, and included in Bright Hills Press, Kind of A Hurricane Press and Poppy Road Review anthologies. She has been nominated three times for Best of the Net, Poet and Geek recognized her work as their best poem of 2013.  Four of her books have been published by fine small literary presses.