Tomorrow I will have words.
But for now, The Quiet World
In an effort to get people to look
into each other's eyes more,
and also to appease the mutes,
the government has decided
to allot each person exactly one hundred
and sixty-seven words, per day.
When the phone rings, I put it to my ear
without saying hello. In the restaurant
I point at chicken noodle soup.
I am adjusting well to the new way.
Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.
When she doesn't respond,
I know she's used up all her words,
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.
[Jeffrey McDaniel]
to allot each person exactly one hundred
and sixty-seven words, per day.
When the phone rings, I put it to my ear
without saying hello. In the restaurant
I point at chicken noodle soup.
I am adjusting well to the new way.
Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.
When she doesn't respond,
I know she's used up all her words,
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.
[Jeffrey McDaniel]
Posted in: a loss for words, babyporridge, jeffrey mcdaniel, nikki malvar, poetry on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at at 10:19 PM
Thanks
I have yet another writer to acquaint myself with. There's a strange sadness and oppression to this poem. Yet it highlights the abuse of vocabulary that lessens the power of words. I've gotta go continue abusing my comprehension skills aka getting through the "intrigue" of Shakespeare's Richard III
hell yeah, jeffrey mcdaniel! i particularly like his poem the jerk. :)
Possibly the prettiest blog entry I've ever seen. If I make that photograph my desktop picture, is that weird?
That was a beautiful post - bonus, now I've heard of another poet that I should go read.
That picture is beautiful.
that picture is just beautiful.
hope your next words are your own poetry...
I love this so much. The picture, the poem. I will read more of this man.
By the way, I just thought you should know that I've had the song from your video, 'THIS IS NOT A SONG. THIS IS AMBITION.' stuck in my head for a couple days now. It has been making the ears inside my brain very happy.
Very interesting photo Nikki how long did it take to put that black henna on?
You lied.
This is gorgeous, though, so it's okay.