Joseph Hardy

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I'm Grateful

for roots in cold wind, the earth
holding me harder than I can hold myself.

While carrying my coffee up the stairs
I edge around the step or two of despair

but ask emptiness not to fade—to stay
and keep me company.

Just not speak so loudly, take up
so much space,

push our conversation
so obsessively,

to let us be more equals
until she comes.

Joseph Hardy, a reformed human resource consultant, lives with his beautiful wife Judith and wonder dog, Charley Girl, in Nashville, Tennessee. His work has been published in: Appalachian Review, Cold Mountain Review, Inlandia, Plainsongs, and Poet Lore among others. He is the author of two books of poetry, The Only Light Coming In and Becoming (Bambaz Press Los Angeles, 2020 and 2023), and a picture book, At the Reading of the Will-And a Boy's Life Thereafter (IngramSpark 2023). His graphic story, Golden, will soon be available on Amazon.