go ahead. underestimate the quiet ones.

‘back off’

got a scotch in one hand.

a bad attitude in the other. 

*

#barflypoet

#josephapinto

© Joseph A. Pinto

*

'Dead Bird,' 'From My Front Steps,' 'Scotch and Scars' and 'A Distilled Spirit' poetry collections available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

*

instagram at joseph_a_pinto

*

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 *

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all of me, nothing but shadow…

‘worthy’

my expression, nothing that is

worthy of a beautiful breath;

these days displeasure crosses me

as most women i have loved,

locked under the 

furrow of my brow

eyes each a shuttered house

i live as a candle blown out—

a statement to which no response

will ever materialize,

unfazed even by the splintered cork

spoiling bottle,

penciled figure awaiting color,

a silent star from which hope

perpetually collapses.

*

#barflypoet

#josephapinto

© Joseph A. Pinto

*

'Dead Bird,' 'From My Front Steps,' 'Scotch and Scars' and 'A Distilled Spirit' poetry collections available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

*

instagram at joseph_a_pinto

*

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JosephPinto

 *

subscribe to the ‘Joseph Pinto, the barflypoet’ YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/y2stm5ms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

you claim it’s communication. i beg to differ.

‘unconditional coldness’ 

objections like leaves fall

from mouths unconscious droughts

pestilent assemblages of air,

swirling

intention prohibited 

our feet gifting unconditional coldness. 

*

#barflypoet

#josephapinto

© Joseph A. Pinto

*

'Dead Bird,' 'From My Front Steps,' 'Scotch and Scars' and 'A Distilled Spirit' poetry collections available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

*

instagram at joseph_a_pinto

*

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JosephPinto

 *

subscribe to the ‘Joseph Pinto, the barflypoet’ YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/y2stm5ms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

i can’t take it anymore.

‘taking’

the drive is mundane

the scenery is mundane—

he takes the trash pail from the driveway

she takes mail from the box

the dog takes a shit on the grass

the family takes the walk 

and takes the shit from the lawn

he takes time from the neighbor

she takes heavy bags to the door

everyone is taking something

from everyone somewhere.

you take it all in. 

*

#barflypoet

#josephapinto

© Joseph A. Pinto

*

'Dead Bird,' 'From My Front Steps,' 'Scotch and Scars' and 'A Distilled Spirit' poetry collections available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

*

instagram at joseph_a_pinto

*

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JosephPinto

 *

subscribe to the ‘Joseph Pinto, the barflypoet’ YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/y2stm5ms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

smooth. she’s so smooth…

‘she walks’

she walks with summer's 

swoon, breeze at her back

regal considerations always

on her tongue and 

you would certainly fall in 

line behind her, mesmerized

by the cadence of her stilettos alone;

alone, she thinks.

she rips the 

cigarette from her mouth and 

crushes it 

against the sidewalk, 

stained red from an unloved mouth. 

*

#barflypoet

#josephapinto

© Joseph A. Pinto

*

'Dead Bird,' 'From My Front Steps,' 'Scotch and Scars' and 'A Distilled Spirit' poetry collections available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

*

instagram at joseph_a_pinto

*

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JosephPinto

 *

subscribe to the ‘Joseph Pinto, the barflypoet’ YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/y2stm5ms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

concluding shameless book promotion time from my 2020 collection ‘scotch & scars!’

what is said when nothing is said at all? how could a vacant look carry so much weight..?

‘scotch & scars’ is available on amazon for your reading pleasure. if you enjoy it, please indulge me the favor of a review.

today’s selection is:

 ‘scotch and scars’

in the lonely you’ll find me

shuffling in come bones

eyes congealed with secrets

contained from spilling lips sewn

save corners there the mouth parts

awaiting counsellor’s twist of cap

spilled not poured we drink all

our scotch and scars

filling glasses, raising flesh

to the brim. 

*

#barflypoet

#josephapinto

© Joseph A. Pinto

*

'Dead Bird,' 'From My Front Steps,' 'Scotch and Scars' and 'A Distilled Spirit' poetry collections available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

*

instagram at joseph_a_pinto

*

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JosephPinto

 *

subscribe to the ‘Joseph Pinto, the barflypoet’ YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/y2stm5ms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

shameless book promotion time! continuing with my 2nd poetry collection ‘scotch & scars’ from 2020.

anatomy lesson: the bones hold you up but certainly don’t keep you together… 

‘scotch & scars’ is available on amazon for your reading pleasure. if you enjoy it, please indulge me the favor of a review.

today’s selection is:

‘bone and matter’

you’re completely ignorant

to the fact that i die

death upon death after midnight

glass to lips as sweet oblivion

lulls me again.

i do not know what resurrects me;

the pain, the desire to self-medicate,

the justice of self-flagellation—

no matter the truth remains i am a corpse

white bone and grey matter;

in every way i do not matter.

in every way, i hardly matter.

*

#barflypoet

#josephapinto

© Joseph A. Pinto

*

'Dead Bird,' 'From My Front Steps,' 'Scotch and Scars' and 'A Distilled Spirit' poetry collections available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

*

instagram at joseph_a_pinto

*

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JosephPinto

 *

subscribe to the ‘Joseph Pinto, the barflypoet’ YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/y2stm5ms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

shameless book promotion time! sipping again from my 2nd poetry collection ‘scotch & scars’ from 2020.

it hits you sometimes…most times…a truth that in your sober you deny. but not anymore…

‘scotch & scars’ is available on amazon for your reading pleasure. if you enjoy it, please indulge me the favor of a review.

today’s selection is:

‘one more’

the perception is 

you drink too much 

when you are alone;

the reality is 

you are alone. 

*

#barflypoet

#josephapinto

© Joseph A. Pinto

*

'Dead Bird,' 'From My Front Steps,' 'Scotch and Scars' and 'A Distilled Spirit' poetry collections available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

*

instagram at joseph_a_pinto

*

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JosephPinto

 *

subscribe to the ‘Joseph Pinto, the barflypoet’ YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/y2stm5ms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

so tell me…how do you share the comfort..?

‘best of intentions’

repeated, her legitimate question:

“how do you console the black

streams of memory?

how do you distinguish miles from a 

slowly shimmering mirage?”

suffice to say the bright of my eyes

faded

and i softly cleared my throat

“glory and illusion are inseparable,”

i told her,

“still i’m not one to gloat.

you see, the fearless man perishes

for every right he’s ever done

recognized faith turns suicide

all convenience stripped of hope.”

her mouth churned a funeral oration

and from that moment i knew

she’d bury me with the best of intentions. 

*

#barflypoet

#josephapinto

© Joseph A. Pinto

*

'Dead Bird,' 'From My Front Steps,' 'Scotch and Scars' and 'A Distilled Spirit' poetry collections available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

*

instagram at joseph_a_pinto

*

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JosephPinto

 *

subscribe to the ‘Joseph Pinto, the barflypoet’ YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/y2stm5ms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

shameless book promotion time! another selection from my 2nd poetry collection ‘scotch & scars’ from 2020.

a hill to some is a mountain to others. light to some is darkness to others. i guess what i’m saying is please don’t ever judge unless you wear the same shoes…

‘scotch & scars’ is available on amazon. if you enjoy it, please indulge me the favor of a review.

today’s selection is:

‘bank account’

all the money in the world

why would he go and hang himself?

i pondered the question

sipped my scotch

while conversation surged through the bar

an incoming tide of bewilderment

and bullshit.

i had one more for the road.

sometimes i drive the highway

when it is empty and dark

with my eyes closed tight.

i do this without a buck to spare

in my wallet.

*

#barflypoet

#josephapinto

© Joseph A. Pinto

*

'Dead Bird,' 'From My Front Steps,' 'Scotch and Scars' and 'A Distilled Spirit' poetry collections available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

*

instagram at joseph_a_pinto

*

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JosephPinto

 *

subscribe to the ‘Joseph Pinto, the barflypoet’ YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/y2stm5ms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠