in the dark warmth
and unsung beauty
of small town back alleys,
behind the grocery stores
as the overnight crew
burns one by the door,
in the midnight breeze
rustling the high branches
of the downtown park,
on the lips of the lovers
lying momentarily silent
in the aftermath,
under the bleachers
where forgotten promises
percolate for eternity,
underneath the overturned car
forever remaining
in the overgrown ditch,
in the middle pages
of yesterday’s news
fermenting for future poignancy,
in the man’s eyes
as he ladles out more soup
at the shelter,
in the decaying final note
of her thrift store guitar
on Saturday night,
on the often silent tongues
of anyone seeking
anything more.
You will find it
if you open your eyes,
and if you’re lucky,
it will find you.
~ James Benger
James Benger is the author of two fiction ebooks, and three chapbooks, one full-length, and coauthor of three split books of poetry. He is on the Board of Directors of The Writers Place and the Riverfront Readings Committee, and is the founder of the 365 Poems In 365 Days online workshop, and is Editor In Chief of the subsequent anthology series. He lives in Kansas City with his wife and children.
The Coop: A Poetry Cooperative 
A beautiful, powerful poem.
Thank you!