Nate Spears’ most recent poem to appear here was “By the River” (January 2017)

This Is What Hurts
By Nate Spears

One day I realized I have to live or die for
One day I realized
I could have done more
More to save my kids
More to save my love
More to be a man
More to keep us going

Now I have to die
Knowing I killed my life
Knowing I will never get the chance
To right what I know is right

Leaving my home alone
Should have never been never
Issuing some of the best lies
More sophisticated than clever
Killed my love unto us
As this picture melts in my mind for eternity
Burning me
Learning me
Then continue
Burning me
This is what hurts
The most.