Joel Rivera, NY, USA

                             untitled

                        all these crutches

                        stop me from living...

                        i am still waiting to be born.

                             untitled

                        timeless trials

                        slipping through the buttered

                        cracks of my fingers.

                        suddenly,

                        awaken to

                        happenings of breath,

                        and my resistance is proof of

                        my existence.

                        timeless trials

                        finally,

                        gripped by the

                        dry hands of experience.

                        a venture, to sojourn tomorrow,

                        if i am gifted.

                            love poem#7

                        A circle of paths,

                        so sweet of the wind

                        to blow you my way...

                        in spinning joy with

                        connecting our time lines,

                        I melt down

                        to the realness.

                         A circle of paths,

                        so sweet of you

                        to bring rejuvenation.

                        I'll store the moments

                        in my bones,

                        and summon your scent

                        at a heart's calling.

BIO

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Joel Rivera set out to

find his place in this world.  He found his gift of

poetic writing during his teenage years but

never thought to pursue it until about a year ago

when poetry became a catalyst for his personal

development and spiritual evolution.  His love of

words has propelled him to begin a compilation with

other poets and writers; the collective work aims to

reflect life's pains, joys, and everything in between

through candidly conscious eyes. He currently resides

in Staten Island where he continues to write

poetry and short stories.