Poetry Reading: Can't Stop

A Poem From Like A Bird Knows To Sing

Hello Friends—particularly those of you who have made your way to my work via

Poetic Outlaws

, I hope you will join me in this reading of a poem of mine, Can’t Stop. Be sure to let me know what you think about it or how it makes you feel, if it does any of that at all. The video is below and underneath it is the poem in text, if you care to read it for yourself.

Filmed by my wife, Yasmin Vereen, at our apartment in the state of São Paulo, Brasil.

Can’t Stop

Can’t stop thinkin’,
can’t stop drinkin’
can’t keep swimmin’,
can’t stop sinkin’

ain’t no joking
can’t stop smoking
can’t stop chokin’
lungs are broken

can’t stop leanin’
can’t stop walkin’
can’t stop mutterin’
ain’t no talkin’

can’t stop howlin’
can’t stop jowlin’
can’t stop foulin’
can’t stop growlin’

can’t stop sinnin’
can’t stop women
ain’t no winnin’
can’t keep away from my love
can’t stop grinnin’

can’t stop lying
can’t stop crying
can’t stop living
can’t stop trying

can’t stop losing
can’t stop boozin’
can’t stop coke
can’t stop choosin’

can’t stop breakin’
can’t stop faking
can’t stop destroyin’
can’t stop making

can’t stop momma
can’t stop poppa
can’t breathe in here
the air is awful

can’t stop nicotine
can’t stop dopamine
can’t stop rhythm
can’t stop melody

can’t stop the ocean
can’t stop coastin’
can’t stand still
can’t stop motion

can’t give up on life
can’t stop trying
(Enough is enough)

No more crying
Enough is Enough

(Enough of this dying)

JSV
2022

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Like A Bird Knows To Sing is available here.

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