poems written on the fly

Archive for the ‘art’ Category

nothing and nothing at all

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 February 2012 at 4:10 am

nothing
no thing
no nothing
no

begin
at the middle
go back
to the end

then circle round
to finish
at the beginning

once you figure
it out
let me know

I’ll be waiting

(D James)

over before you know it

In poem, poetry, art, d. james, writing, literature on 3 February 2012 at 2:01 pm

where does it
go
the time

seems like it
used to crawl

now I lose
track
of the days

and memories
are like stories
someone once told

I’m not even
certain
I’ve not written

this poem
before

(D James)

life in the city of cities

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 30 January 2012 at 3:06 am

the subway rises
from the mouth
of darkness

pulling cars across
metal track

to the top
of the mountain

the skyline
like a picture
postcard
at sunset

a symphony
at full tilt

a mass of steel
and glass
thousands
of lighted squares
and twinkling
red lights

reminds you
that this city
in its ebb and flow
was here before you arrived

and will remain long
after you are gone

(D James)

and so goes the morning

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 January 2012 at 3:30 pm

staring
out the window
watching the light change

bare trees
drag shadows
across gray
roof-tops

sunlight glints
off passing cars

the day goes on
with or without us

(D James)

climbing the mountain

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 24 January 2012 at 2:06 pm

the blank page
stares back at me

silently mocking
my attempts
to scribble
something

of weight

the blank page
like a snow-covered
mountain

challenges my ability
to communicate
and whisper-laughs
at my thoughts of words

until I say
to the blank page
“ok, you write something”

then there is silence
and I can finally settle down
to begin the work of stringing words
together into something that makes sense

to someone
somewhere

(D. James)

what are we

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 24 January 2012 at 3:57 am

light and dark
laughter and tears

never and always
right and wrong

bone and dust
blood and guts

intransigent and flexible
solid and liquid

everything
and
nothing

(D James)

the sound in between

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 20 January 2012 at 4:33 pm

there’s a moment
between the notes

when what lingers
is the dying vibration
of a sound

before the next key
is struck

when the world
makes sense

and life is found
in the silence

(D. James)

more questions than you know what to do with

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 January 2012 at 11:23 pm

white sheet
blank paper

and the
screen in your head
goes black

who ever said
you can’t get there from here

didn’t know where you were
to begin with

so how did they know
where you’d end up

(D. James)

this is a test

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 6 July 2011 at 4:23 pm

this is a test
there is really
nothing
to say

if this were
an actual poem
we would tell you
how to feel
about it

or at least
express something
worthy of an
emotional response

(D. James)

putting it together

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 29 May 2011 at 3:55 pm

and and and
adding to what
was said

and and and
bringing together
disparate thoughts

and and and
an endless string
of ideas

and and and
where I’ve been

and and and
where I’m going

(D. James)

fear fear

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 24 January 2011 at 5:23 am

fearing fear
it morphs
into pain

fearing pain
it morphs
into anger

forgetting compassion
until there is nothing left
but rage

and this I fear
more than all the rest

(D James)

wandering through to the end

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 20 January 2011 at 10:56 pm

lost under a sea
of unfocused thoughts
mind-numbing wandering
through disconnected
days of fear and self-loathing

wondering
where it went wrong
where I went wrong

feeling out of place
out of time
out of my mind

like a character
in an unfinished
Beckett play

waiting for something
like life
to begin
unable to go on
with no choice
but to go on

immobile
immovable
immature

with all the courage
of a well-fed
old house cat

wanting to know
how it all ends
when I should be thinking
where to begin 

(D James)

dark places

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 15 December 2010 at 9:06 pm

my pen falls
from the table
into a dark shadow

kicking
to catch it
with the side
of my shoe

spinning
it skitters
into the light

much like my thoughts
on this deathly cold day

(D. James)

loss of balance

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 2 December 2010 at 7:01 pm

it could break,
a mind,
from the pressure

all those thoughts
of what I should
be doing
what I did
wrong

asking why

the grace and ease
so longed for
seeming far off
impossible

hoping
for change
and then
don’t want
the kind that arrives

realizing
finally
it is not an answer
I seek
but a way to live

to think thoughts
and take action
generate some
confidence

take some
responsibility
for my life

because if I don’t
who the hell will

(D. James)

make it up

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 November 2010 at 7:42 pm

how much time
do we waste
thinking of the things
we’re not doing

the shoulds
the can’ts
the don’t want tos
the don’t have time
or money for

how much energy
is spent
on thoughts and worries
of that
which exists only
in our minds

how far
from reality
can we go
and still be considered 
rational

doesn’t it depend
on whose reality
we measure from

if life
is primarily
the stories we tell
then what kind
do you want
to make up

(D. James)

left behind

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 23 November 2010 at 12:06 am

I remember
the past
as if it were
some one else’s
story

as if I
were some one
other than me

those days
and days
of years
the many nights
the horrible “mornings”
of the afternoon

washed clean away
by different thoughts
other actions

I remember a time
when I was
some one else
when I told
a different story

I remember as if
read in a novel
or seen in a film

I remember
so as not to forget
so as not to become
what I’ve been
what was left behind

(D. James)

dust

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 11 November 2010 at 1:38 am

to dance
like the bones
don’t ache

to run
with the speed
of a panther

to laugh
with the abandon
of a child

to work
and play
and love
as if
I cannot fail

to sleep
like the dead
and dream
as the mystics do

this is how I wish
to spend
the days and nights
before returning to dust

(D. James)

train of thought

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 1 November 2010 at 3:50 pm

thinking thoughts on
trains in tunnels
that take us to
toiling tasks like tinker toys
trudging to their terminus

can we keep
clear of calamity and
concious of creation or

will we wile awhile then
whip ourselves or

take the time
to think thoughts on
trains

while wishing
we weren’t wending our
way to work

(D. James)

short time now

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 30 October 2010 at 5:36 pm

shorter the days
become

longer my heart
yearns for sunlight
and warmth

can we have life
without loss
and struggle

or is this all
just a matter
of how it’s seen

(D. James)

dream #1

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 August 2010 at 3:40 am

if I told you again
would you know then

if I laid down and died
would you hole up and cry

if I loved you forever
would you do the same

if I made you my dream
would you sleep through the night

(D. James)

reminders

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 29 July 2010 at 6:19 pm

flame under
black kettle

waiting for you
to come through
the door

the sound
of water
about to boil

your scent
permeates
the apartment

the water
whistles

everywhere
reminders
of you

this
is what I
came here for

(D. James)

a far goodnight

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 July 2010 at 12:51 pm

dreaming
of the nights
to come

when you will sleep
next to me

praying for solace
in a distant land

too far from home
too far from you

wishing to wake
into the dream
of finally being
there

(D. James)

four day wait

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 July 2010 at 12:38 pm

counting the days
until
we are together

this
the last time
we will be separated

seems longer
than all the others

how can twenty years
apart
seem shorter
than
the next four days?

(D. James)

glorious

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 July 2010 at 1:05 pm

talking
through static
for hours

about life
about love
the past
the future

everything
and nothing at all

of all
we could do
with the time

there is nothing
better
than this

(D. James)

hold on to it

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 2 July 2010 at 1:10 pm

there is a hole
where my solar plexus
should be

a missing part
of me

left behind
like something
I forgot
to pack

a piece
of my soul
resembling lack

hold on to it
I promise I’ll
be back

(D. James)

never want this to end

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 28 June 2010 at 1:38 pm

there seems
always a deadline

a date
in the
too near future

not wanting to board
another plane away from
you

how do we
stop Wednesday
from coming

(D. James)

limbo

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 June 2010 at 1:52 pm

another day closes
and my heart
is elsewhere

being neither
here nor there

stumbling
from sunset
to sunset

just waiting
to board
the next plane
to you

(D. James)

3500 miles

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 14 June 2010 at 11:41 pm

the time
between here
and there

from you to me
and back again

a journey
leading
to us

feeling
the fear
diminish
like distance

when we are
together
at last

(D. James)

small things

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 June 2010 at 11:06 pm

cup of tea
on the table

burning cigarette
in hand

remembering
a gentle touch
a particular look
a simple word

realizing
it’s the small things
that make you miss
the one you love

(D. James)

coming together

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 June 2010 at 9:53 pm

waking with
thoughts of you

longing for
next time

dreaming
of the day

when the distance
is measured
by the length
of a room

instead of
the miles
of a country

(D. James)

contradiction of terms

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 24 May 2010 at 2:21 pm

messy business
this thing
called
life

no straight lines
or perfect circles

unchartable
unpredictable
erratic

like a riff
beauty
between
sour notes

brief
unyielding
amazing
painful
joyous

full of love
and contradictions

it couldn’t be
any other way
so why look for
what isn’t there

(D. James)

the varying movement of time

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 May 2010 at 1:25 pm

how it is
that time
moves
at different speeds

the hours apart
seem as days
days as weeks

then
suddenly
you

in my arms

and the days
seem as hours
hours as minutes

then I am gone
lost in a calendar
of waiting

until
I see you again

(D. James)

following a path

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 May 2010 at 1:25 pm

years ago
skinny kid
thought he knew
everything

full of bravado
and half-believing

how is it
we lived
through all that
and have come
to this

desire
still tugs
at us

reaching across
the years
the miles

our lives
converging

this path set
before we walked
upon it

no idea
where it leads
only where we’ve
been

maybe
this time
we’ll get it right

(D. James)

cycles

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 17 May 2010 at 2:20 pm

out the kitchen window
the late afternoon light
plays like a sax solo
against the building
across the way

cloud wisps
catch pink
as the sun hits
the horizon

the azure sky
goes darker
by degrees

evening comes
stealth and still
like a beautiful lover
passionate, intense

another night
lies ahead
awaiting the dawn

(D. James)

distances

In art, audio, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 14 May 2010 at 1:59 pm

counting
the hours
between
here and there

more than
time
and greater
than mere
geography

wondering
how long
how far

before it all
comes together

(D. James)

rushing to the end

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 May 2010 at 1:56 pm

thinking
you want
what you can’t
have

and knowing
does you no
good

trying
so hard
to make
it all
work out

rushing
to the end
is not the best
plan

letting
it play out
taking
the opportunities
as they come

leaving
behind
what doesn’t
work

seemingly
a more difficult
path
but ultimately
you get there

Only to find out
there is no there
to get to

(D. James)

wanting only waits

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 May 2010 at 2:00 pm

telegraphing
overt messages
through the ether

like talking
to you through
glass

none
but you
knowing their
true meaning

I wonder
what is
to be done

or should
I simply
be more
patient

waiting for
a reply
not an answer

for now
that would
be enough

(D. James)

it’s alright when I shut up and listen …

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 May 2010 at 1:28 pm

waiting
wanting
you

just you

but this damn waiting
feeling spun out
lost

knowing you’re there
somewhere

too far

then I close
my eyes
and listen

can see
your smile
almost hear
your laugh

feel you
right here
with me

(D. James)

a dream that dreams of some day being real

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 May 2010 at 2:43 pm

standing outside
in the rain

throwing stones
against your window

waiting for you
to open the door

(D. James)

this is what it sounds like when you’re not here

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 3 May 2010 at 12:03 pm

all we have
are words

and I can’t find
any that fit

or don’t sound
self-serving

what’s left
is silence

maddening
deafening
unbearable
silence

(D. James)

JFK – 7 am

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 30 April 2010 at 8:52 am

unfinished sentences
all these things
left unsaid

a hundred words
stale phrases
none of them
enough

talk all damn day
and I’d still
never get
to what it is
that pulls at me
makes me want to stay

should have tried
should have missed that flight
should be there with you now
should stop trying to make sense
of any of this

because all I want
is to be
where I’m not

all I want
is to be
where
I am
not

(D. James)

old flame same heat

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 28 April 2010 at 2:22 pm

a cold wind
comes through
like longing

how many years
before we’ll be together
my love

will death
take me
before I see
your eyes
once more

feel your skin
breathe you in

is there no
relief from this
yearning

is this to be
yet another
unfinished story

all those miles
all those years
all these trials
all these tears

don’t we deserve
a break in this life
or do we have to wait
until the next one

(D. James)

surrender #1

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 26 April 2010 at 12:21 pm

writing as if
tomorrow will
never come

leaving nothing
unsaid

not even sure
this is possible

if there is
more to give
you will have it

all I want
is a chance
to know

what kind of love
it takes
to give myself
to another

(D. James)

more than a thousand words and still not enough

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 April 2010 at 1:44 pm

I look
at your picture

but it’s not
enough

there’s heat
but no fire

this facsimile
flat lifeless image

I want your
breath
your scent

you
all of you

this is just
not enough

(D. James)

temporal

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 April 2010 at 2:35 pm

waiting for you
to appear

wishing contact
knowing it’s just
a matter of time

because you want
what I want

even if
it doesn’t work
right now

it will
in time

(D. James)

you could call it that … yeah

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 April 2010 at 12:11 pm

can’t eat
can’t sleep
can’t stop thinking
of you

waiting for a call
e-mail
chat
text

something
to let me know
you’re thinking
of me
when I’m thinking
of you

knowing
it’s no good
being like this

but doing it
anyway

’cause there are
no answers
only questions

so why not ask
the same one
over and over

(D. James)

what do you say?

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 April 2010 at 1:34 pm

I’m asking

I’m asking too much
but I’m asking anyway

’cause if you don’t ask
you don’t get

and I think
you want me to ask

it’s why
you found me

waiting for you
to come around again
so I could ask

so I’m asking

(D. James)

this doesn’t happen

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 14 April 2010 at 2:03 pm

to live
for a great love

something imagined
but never attained

a moment
in time
regained

an improbable
second chance

do you defy
the odds?

or is it all
rash insanity
fools folly

destined
to self-destruct

in the end
do we care?

not if we are driven
by our desire
think
this is our
destiny

perhaps then
we make it so
or burn in the fire
set so long ago
suddenly too close

(D. James)

unrequited love on a virtual platform

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 April 2010 at 2:09 pm

I look for you
or the virtual
approximation
of you

the pull
so strong
the emotional
distance bridged
through half-sentences
in a tiny window

we abbreviate
and emoticon
our way through
complex emotions
rooted in a past
long before
any of this technology
existed

years go by
and then suddenly
you are there again

always reconnecting
always
at the wrong time

perhaps we had
our chance
back then

and it won’t
come around again

wishing
it were any other way
won’t make it so

but I still try

(D. James)

somebody to love

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 9 April 2010 at 12:26 pm

wanting
someone
who gets the feeling

of all those words
in all those songs
like I do

someone fearless

who knows
the difference
between
pain and suffering

creating or courting
neither

but knowing
what it means
to feel deeply

to ache

to revel
in the glory
of being known
by another
like no other

to miss
the one you love

(D. James)

this is this

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 April 2010 at 2:16 pm

this is bad
this desire
this wanting

this is not me
this is not you
this isn’t even who we think
this is

this is some evil
this
this twist
this pain

this feeling
this ache for you

this is just a dream
this nightmare
this remembrance of you
this haunting

this stillness of still wanting
this with you

this ending that never ends because I don’t want
this to ever end never wanted
this to end always wondered why
this did end
this always ending
this

(D. James)

love at dawn

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 April 2010 at 1:52 pm

wanting
to hold someone
at the end of a long day

not just a body
but someone to love

curled up in my arms
breathing quietly
the smell of hair
and warm skin
mixed with clean sheets

someone to wake up to
come the morning light

someone
who calls me baby
in a way that means
the world to them

can’t a man want
these things
and not think
he has to hide
his feelings away

I’m just asking

(D. James)

jump in … the water’s warm

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 2 April 2010 at 2:26 pm

looking
for what I want
in places I will not find it

thinking
look again
it’ll be there
this time
it’ll be there
now

check now
what about now
not yet
what about now

keep looking
in the same dead place
waiting for my life to begin
when all this time
it’s been right in front of me
waiting for me to see

(D. James)

everything there is … everything

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 31 March 2010 at 2:14 pm

I want
to write
on the walls

spell out
all the
ideas
emotions

color
outside the lines

black pen markings
beginning in one corner

not stopping until I’ve planned out my whole fucking life

filling ten rooms with the words of my mind
the work of my soul

not stopping until it is all out of me
like some monster some wild thing

only then can I lay down to sleep
knowing when I wake it will all
still be there
but exposed out in the open

nothing to hide

(D. James)

should have been over awhile ago

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 29 March 2010 at 1:50 pm

here’s where
we get to that part
of the night

closer to dawn
than dusk

when the cars
rubber by
less frequently

and your
eyelids
will not
cooperate

everyone else
is long down

nothing
but the hum
of the refrigerator
to keep you company

and that last car
rolling past your window

won’t be another till dawn

best to wait for it
under the covers

if you’re lucky
it’ll go by
unnoticed

if you’re not
it won’t

(D. James)

people will tell you what you already know but won’t admit

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 26 March 2010 at 2:26 pm

you could see
what everyone
else does

clearly
and without
doubt

if only
you’d listen

(D. James)

confused? me too

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 24 March 2010 at 2:17 pm

up all night
looking
for something
that doesn’t exist

something
I don’t want
to see in me

avoiding
myself
by looking
everywhere
other than here

trying to get
out of my head
when I should
be in bed

another late
night

another wasted
morning

couldn’t I get
the same result
in another way

or another result
in the same way

it’s all the same
in the end

(D. James)

dunno

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 22 March 2010 at 2:15 pm

so much
I don’t
understand

used to think
I knew everything
or could
at least
fake it

now
I don’t know
is often
my answer

but I’ll make something up
if it makes you feel better

(D. James)

wanting more than the gods will allow

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 March 2010 at 1:14 pm

waiting
the night out

feeling
my way
in the dark

hoping
the morning
won’t come
this one time

keeping
the fantasy
of being with you
longer than just tonight
alive for one more hour

as light
lines
the horizon

I take
one last look
and like Eurydice
you vanish before my eyes

(D. James)

this is whatever you want it to be

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 17 March 2010 at 2:07 pm

wanting
to be lost
in a look

hands
on
skin

mouth
on
mouth

feel your
heat

wishing
it were
more than
this

but taking
what I can
get

(D. James)

right before

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 15 March 2010 at 2:35 pm

the moment
just before
the moment

almost as good
as the moment
itself

you can
hear it
tensile

stretching
anticipation
to the point
right before

all hell
breaks loose

(D. James)

night falls

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 March 2010 at 2:31 pm

evening comes
in darker
and darker
hues of blue

end of day
pink clouds
bloom red

then fade
into darkness
as night falls
upon LA

black cloth
with pinholes
of light

the city,
a brighter
reflection
of above

(D. James)

nothing to say

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 March 2010 at 2:14 pm

there are times
like now

when there is
nothing to say

and so
I say
what’s
right there

” … “

(D. James)

you deal with it or it will deal with you

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 March 2010 at 2:33 pm

you know
what I mean

when we talk
about the pain

how it keeps
you up
at night

and all the talk
doesn’t help

there is no cure
for being human

we either
feel it
or resist

it’s all the same
in the end

(D. James)

searching for dreams (don’t do no good in the real world)

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 March 2010 at 2:06 pm

in bed
curled around
her sleeping self

I think
this is what
I’ve always
wanted

to whisper
in an ear

that she’s
my one
and only one

but I don’t
realizing
that’s not me
that’s not her

it’s just an idea
in my head
from a song
Taupin wrote
about one of his
ex-wives

and what
does that
tell you

(D. James)

blap

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 3 March 2010 at 8:59 pm

there are
all these words
and feelings
and messy things

spilled out
on the floor
like blood

seems there’s
no place
to put them all

can’t swallow them

try stuffing them
back into your gut

but they
no longer fit

feels like
you’ll die without
them

seems like
you’ll die with
them

where will you …
how will you …
what will you …
why would you …

go on?

(D. James)

there’s a reason it’s called falling

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 1 March 2010 at 3:00 pm

and I want
all of it

give me
what you can’t
show me
what you won’t

tell me
what you fear
teach me
things you don’t know
you know

go beyond
what you feel

fall with me
into that abyss
they call love

(D. James)

what will I do tomorrow without you tonight

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 26 February 2010 at 2:39 pm

haven’t slept
in my own bed
all week

now it’s later
than late
and I’m faced
with the aloneness
of being alone
in this bed
that’s just
a mattress
on the floor

I miss
your green
eyes
your red
hair
your pale
skin
your
attitude

the way you look
straight at me
in the morning
like a child
who has yet
to learn fear
or know the difference
between themself
and another

and your laugh
pure abandon
in that ha ha ha
the complete unbridled
expression of joy

how will I make it
through the night
and worse
what will I look forward to
in the morning

(D. James)

calling

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 24 February 2010 at 2:20 pm

phone calls
text messages

and no one
gets back

what to do

feeling disconnected
feeling like no one’s
out there
feeling like no one
wants me

it’s only a thought
they’re all just busy
right now

in an hour
everyone
will call back
at once

and I’ll have
3 voice mails
and 5 text
messages

while trying
to get through
to my sister
in Tucson
to say
I love you

(D. James)

life may be empty and meaningless, but don’t tell that to my heart

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 22 February 2010 at 3:02 pm

don’t know what
to do
with these feelings

when the woman
you love says
it doesn’t mean anything

like your love
doesn’t matter
like you
don’t
matter

it isn’t what she means
it’s just how it sounds
to you
in the moment
as she says goodbye
for the last time

what do you do
knowing she’s already
calling another man
lover

do you give in
to the rage
let it consume you
or can you find a way
to let it all go

as if it really
doesn’t matter

(D. James)

when is this going to be about you?

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 20 February 2010 at 11:12 pm

I’m so good
at making it all
about me

that even when
you think you’re
talking about you

it’s still about me

do you do that too
or is it just me?

(D. James)

nothing between us

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 February 2010 at 2:38 pm

in the silence
before dawn
I breath in
the scent of skin

rub the nape
of your neck

run my hand
along
your waist
to the pale belly

you roll over
stare straight
into me

seeing
who I really am

not who I project
to keep the world
at bay

but who
I want to be

who I am
when it’s safe

you smile,
revealing
your true self

I don’t know
if you do that
with others

but to me
you are always
an open door

inviting me
to step through

and I’m curious
what, if anything,
I do for you

(D. James)

more of you

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 February 2010 at 8:55 pm

in bed
your head
on my chest

I want
to write
my name
across your
smooth white belly

to mark you
as you’ve
marked me

afraid to say
what I truly feel
for fear
it would
scare you away

then I let go
of all that
and am with you
in a way
not possible
before

and all
I want now
is more

(D. James)

it’s all in how you say it

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 8 February 2010 at 2:26 pm

summon the gods
even though you know
they cannot save you

let them rain down pain
like warriors at the front

bring the slaughter
leave nothing
in your wake

full of force
shallow power
that cannot last

this is what
you can do
with words

(D. James)

burn for you

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 February 2010 at 3:12 pm

wanting
to burn
for another

feel
her missing
from the sheets
when she’s away

be
in the warmth
of a gaze

wake
in the silence
before sunrise

stare
at her body
lying in wait

get lost
in the smell
of her hair

pull
her to me
knowing
that’s always
what she wants

(D. James)

the good morning bird

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 3 February 2010 at 2:08 pm

bird
on a wire

comes with
the morning
light

chirps
then flits
away

sign of
a good
day

(D. James)

quietly approaching

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 29 January 2010 at 2:22 pm

there is something
and yet … and yet

a look
in the eye

something
or something
I made up

how
do you know

ten thousand
subtle seconds

and you only have
a moment to act

am I
the only one
who notices this

(D. James)

stronger for it

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 27 January 2010 at 3:00 pm

when it chews
you up
and spits
you out

lie there
a while

scream the rage
cry the sorrow

until it is
out of you
completely

then

gently
pick
yourself
up

and go on

(D. James)

storm clouds passing

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 25 January 2010 at 2:25 pm

what do you
say

when it doesn’t
go your way

you fight
to make
a pointless
point

then you
feel bad
about
the things
you said

finally
you let it go
or
you let it
destroy you

the choice
is yours

(D. James)

weeping sky

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 22 January 2010 at 3:44 pm

when it rains
it rains
for days
on end

seems like
it’ll never
let up

then
suddenly
without warning

clouds part
stars appear
and the wind
slows to a whisper

everything
is as it was
as it should be

and tomorrow
the sun will shine

(D. James)

the opposite of resistance

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 20 January 2010 at 2:40 pm

then I said
“yes”

and it all
began
for me

and she,
she couldn’t
see
at first
what it meant

then she said
“yes”

and it all
began

for us

(D. James)

walking through it

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 18 January 2010 at 5:10 pm

nervous
pressure

feelings
running rampant

wanting
it all
to go
away

moments
of clarity
fogged
by anger

wanting to
give this
pain
away

yet

knowing
there is
something
on the other
side of it

something
I need
to see

another way
to be

(D. James)

tusnami soul

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 13 January 2010 at 5:55 pm

alone
in a room

darkness
of your soul

moment
of madness

you rage
and cry out

“what does
it all mean?”

like a wave
it crashes
over you

washes
everything
away

then subsides

you are left
standing
with nothing

and now
you can begin

(D. James)

no matter how much you try to kill it, my love won’t die … I’ll just take it with me as I say goodbye

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 January 2010 at 2:15 pm

pick up
and move
to a strange town

change my life
to want
whatever you want

find myself
by loosing
who I thought
I was

I could
love
like that

did
love
like that

still do

I’m just
no longer
waiting
for you

(D. James)

expression for a new way of being

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 7 January 2010 at 7:13 pm

Doing
what needs
doing

being
right where
you are

Nothing broken
nothing to fix

even when
the world
seemingly tells
you so

Just remember
that everything
everything
changes

(D. James)

merciful release

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 January 2010 at 2:17 pm

To begin
to let go

to let go
and begin

begin again
to let go

to let go
and begin again

to let go
let go
let go

let it go …

At some point
we must begin
to let it go

so we can
begin again

and once more
be whole

(D. James)

wish I was there

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 January 2010 at 10:10 am

Waking
only a few hours
after falling asleep

I think
it’s 5
in the morning
where she is

she’s still asleep
I see her
face

quiet
beautiful
that mouth

later
on a bus
cold December sunlight

and I think
6:30 where she is

still asleep

Through the window
the Manhattan skyline
from the Jersey side

majestic
moves me
like no other place

yet I’d trade
it all
for another
chance

(D. James)

nothing more than love

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 1 January 2010 at 2:02 pm

waiting
for the call
which never comes

the one
where she says
all is forgiven
I love you

she says
please come home
we can work it all out

she says
come to me

and I do
and we do

but the phone
doesn’t ring

and everything
reminds me
of her

cup of tea
a bed
laughter
dark hair
sunlight
dogs
tears
children
laundry

I think
what should I do
with all these thoughts
in my head

afraid to let go
that that
would be
the end

and I keep
wanting
another outcome

the one where
the phone rings

and she says …

(D. James)

60 seconds

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 30 December 2009 at 1:23 pm

how do you
wipe out
18 months

of love
happiness
listening
and support

the ups
and
the downs

in 60 seconds?

scream
be volatile

it only takes
a moment
apparently

to wipe it
all away

(D. James)

wonky compass

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 28 December 2009 at 2:33 pm

you head north
I follow

then east
and I follow

to the west
then south
north again
and I follow

your shifts
of whim

until
my bearings
are lost

and I am
swallowed
in a sea
of emotion

you go on
leaving behind this
reckless wreckage

now
there is
nowhere
to go
but
down

(D. James)

Christmas for Atheists

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 25 December 2009 at 2:00 pm

what can we
give

on this day

that can truly
be called a gift

not something
bought

or even made

but something
of ourselves

to look someone
in the eye
and let them
know

they are loved
and appreciated

to leave
them
feeling
as if you know
exactly who they are

not who you
think they are
or need them
to be

but truly
who they are

(D. James)

a side of me

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 December 2009 at 3:50 pm

there is
a side
of me

I do not
like

a part
that feels
unheard

it rages
and I am
in its grip

lost to
madness

there is
a side
of me

I do not
like

and
I have
to live
with the
consequences

of my actions

cannot erase
what I’ve done

there is
a side
of me

I hate

and wish
never to see
again

(D. James)

art on glass

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 December 2009 at 2:55 pm

Misty rain
falling all day
and through
the long night

odd streaks
splash the window

a dark
stark beauty

not so
when you’re
out in it

(D. James)

poetry

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 18 December 2009 at 3:50 pm

what I write
when no
other thoughts
come

an image, idea
theft
desire
hope
dreams
sorrows

This is what
I write
when nothing else
will come

(D. James)

pressure

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 16 December 2009 at 4:46 pm

Filled
with fear

not knowing
what the future
holds

worried
I can’t
won’t
make it

That somehow
after all this
time

I’ve finally come
to the end

no more
tricks
up my
sleeve

time to pay
the piper

feeling terribly
inadequate

needing to
reinvent
rethink
shift

(D. James)

For the Love

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 14 December 2009 at 3:40 pm

Love you
like no other

somehow it
isn’t enough

always seems
another obstacle
an endless
row of hurdles

and though
it feels as if
this horse
can’t jump

I must
I must

For no
other reason
than love

(D. James)

This is what you don’t see because I don’t show it

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 11 December 2009 at 4:24 pm

I fret
am filled
with fear

as if
poured
into me

an endless pitcher
overflowing
into my mouth

filling me from
toes to teeth

I choke
cannot breathe

Am I doing
the right thing

should I have done
this or that
before or after
with her or him or it

should I not have

will there be enough
money
time
love
friendship
sex

What will become
of me
in time

before I turn
to dust

(D. James)

Rain New York City

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 9 December 2009 at 12:12 pm

The rain falls
like anger

fierce thunder
barks

the air
thick and wet

Black streets
reflect lamplight

hard sound
of water falling
from a long way up

Tortured soul
of weather
wrestling
with the city
tonight

as if the sky
hurt and afraid
needs to be heard

wants its wrath
to be known
exerting some
momentary sense of control

only to lose
against the granite
and steel
blacktop and brick

The hard city
that falters in flood

but never ever
gives in
never loses
the war

(D. James)

knock em out

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 7 December 2009 at 4:05 pm

Tossing
attitude

throwing words
like punches

not caring
where they land

Uncertain
where this is
coming from

or where
it’s going

only that
I’m following
blindly

(D. James)

down day

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 4 December 2009 at 3:56 pm

Thinking
of giving up

packing it in
leaving

Always looking
for support
someone to prop me up

or just lean me
against a wall

Feeling like
it’s never
gonna be enough

Swimming
in a pool
of self-pity

not wanting
to take
responsibility

wondering how
everyone else
seems to do it

so why
can’t I

(D. James)

the last poet

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 2 December 2009 at 4:27 pm

When the night
is over

and the final
cigarette
has been smoked

what will
the last poet
say

After all
the evoked emotion
failed relationships
dead boyfriends
abortions
abusive parents
drugs and alcohol

laughter
and pain

have been spilled
out
in some cases
artfully vomited

what could
this last poet
have to say

How to summarize
this night
these words
life sentences
bad grammar

poetic license
driven to excess

How to follow
the girl who told
of losing all her hair

the guy who
crashed his car

the gay biker
who longs
to be dominated
by a she-wolf
of the SS

the boy
who lost
his virginity
so late

the girl
who lost hers
so early

the words
of so many
who want change
yet stay
right where they are

What can this last
motherfucker
have to say
that can top the
triumphs
tragedies
surprises
sorrows

What will
the last poet
leave us with

as we file
out of this
basement grotto
into the light
of dawn

Do we expect
too much
as he steps to the microphone

the crowd
too drunk
to hush

even the white
of the spot light
seems a bit dingy
as he steps into it’s shaft

The last poet
will speak the
last poem

and we will leave
to sleep it off

Whatever he says
will be the final word
so our expectations
are far too high

The last poet
poor fucker
has nowhere to go
but down

unless he’s more genius
than genius itself
more brilliant
than all of us

The last poet
clears his throat
touches his lips
to the mic

the wait
has us spellbound
and half-hopeful

Even so
when we wake
in the afternoon
hungover and
full of piss

will we remember
any of this

(D. James)

idealization

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 30 November 2009 at 3:00 pm

just because
you want her

doesn’t mean
she feels
the same

or even notices
you’re alive

(D. James)

stubborn lazy do-nothing fucker

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 25 November 2009 at 9:20 pm

like a dog
that won’t come

a bird
that refuses
to sing

or a cat
that won’t hunt

what if
I just sat here
all damn day

listening to Nina

the sound
of all that pain
washing over me
like rain

(D. James)

pretty girl moves a room

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 21 September 2009 at 9:20 pm

she notices
the men who
turn their heads
just in time

the ones who look
but don’t want
to be obvious

trying to be
cool
but she
catches them
anyway

often sees
heads moving
to the left
or right

as if
they were
only observing
the room

the one
they’ve been
sitting in
for hours now

funny
how that
keeps happening

(D. James)

1950 style

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 9 September 2009 at 4:22 pm

where are
the hula girls
and the umbrella drinks

the smoke-filled
club
with the little
tables
and white linen

it already happened
born too late
the party moved on

damn I hate that

(D. James)

better get to it

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 8 September 2009 at 1:41 am

waiting
for the keys
to speak

why don’t they
type something

must I do
everything
around here

I thought
this writing thing
would be easier

people talk about
poems that write
themselves

where can I
get me
one of those

they promised
life would be
more fun
on a Mac

but I still
have to do
all the damn thinking

(D. James)

life bends

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 1 September 2009 at 7:30 pm

autumn …
things begin
to die

the start
before the start
of next spring

the end
of this
the beginning
of that

life
is
a
circle

a cycle,
there are
no straight lines

which may be why
it feels as if
we’ve been here before

(D. James)

at the end

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 22 July 2009 at 4:02 pm

We said
“you don’t
understand”
to each other

until we didn’t

then we weren’t
anymore

(D. James)

let me just say this

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 19 July 2009 at 5:38 pm

whatever I take
to bed

I wake up with

whatever is in
my head

I deal with

whatever it is
I’ve said

I have to
live with

and whatever happens
after I’m dead

I will have to
end with

(D. James)

everything

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 July 2009 at 3:37 pm

Another time
in another city
when I was
someone else

And she
she asked me
“what do you want?”

And I
I had no answer

Now here
in this town
I being me
and all things equal

She asks me
“what do you want?”

And I
I answer
“everything”

To which she
she has no reply

And I
I am left
wondering
why this question
keeps coming up

(D. James)

do something

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 July 2009 at 6:41 pm

exhausted
by talk

empty words
without action

said again
and again

until there is
nothing
but sound

like shadows
in fog

smoke and mirrors

leaving us
nowhere
with nothing

(D. James)

broken heart, broken head

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 15 June 2009 at 4:35 pm

piece of wood
in hand

broken chair
broken heart

throat
raw
screaming

glass
everywhere

must have been
some fucking point

I was trying
to make

(D. James)

we ride when the sun sets

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 12 June 2009 at 3:34 am

And I will
rip up the night

raise hell
for the hell of it

ride until the
road rolls up
behind me

until my tires
burn off the rims

and the sun
comes up to
stop me

dead
in my tracks

(D. James)

give it a try

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 8 June 2009 at 7:14 pm

why
is the word
try
in poetry

is it because
it is
at times
a trying task

or because
we try
and try again
to write
a good one

perhaps
you should try
and let me know
what you find

(D. James)

under the water line

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 3 June 2009 at 4:26 pm

crushing waves
of sadness
crash over me

and I am afraid
of being sucked in
by the undertow

and though
I know
this is temporary

I wonder
if this time
I won’t survive

(D. James)

own it

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 1 June 2009 at 8:25 pm

moments of
overwhelming
sadness

unwilling
to go forward

unable
to go back

I sit here
in this pain
of my own
making

wondering
how to fix
what I’ve broken

(D. James)

no winner

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 29 May 2009 at 4:57 pm

we retreat
to opposing
corners

lick our
wounds

meet again
somewhere
in the middle

fight it out
all over again

both of us
defensive
trying to be
right

both of us
losing
looking
for a way
out

(D. James)

black wave of frustration

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 27 May 2009 at 4:59 pm

this night passes
through me

like a black
knife

no way
around it

I must
stay up

’til dawn
breaks me

only then
will I fall
to sleep

(D. James)

the one they call by no name

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 25 May 2009 at 4:18 pm

I hold tight
the reigns
and like Atlas
with the world
on his shoulders

I struggle
and raise hell
above my head

to find my
flat blackened soul
laid bare

would if I could
pick it up
but I’ve not
a hand to spare

(D. James)

it all amounts to nothing in the end

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 22 May 2009 at 4:55 pm

when we were young
we talked, naively
about being older
because that’s
all we wanted

when we were older
we talked, longingly
about being young
because that’s
all we wanted

when we’re
dead
will we talk, knowingly
about being alive?

or will we finally
be content
with where we are?

(D. James)

why a poet writes so many poems

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 20 May 2009 at 4:00 pm

to write something
of import

just once

a line
truer
than the truth

that makes
someone
think twice
pierces
their heart

it may be
in me yet
have to keep
searching
keep writing

to find that phrase
that stops the world
from spinning
if only for a moment

(D. James)

little messes

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 18 May 2009 at 4:50 pm

a mess here
a mess there

little piles
of my life

laid out
on the floor

and I wonder
sometimes
what is it
all for?

(D. James)

this is why I’m alone

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 15 May 2009 at 4:45 pm

spent the night
on the surface
of sleep

worrying about
my own
self interest

come the morning
hungry, ornery
horny, and angry

there was
nothing to do
but fight

maybe I’m not
cut out
for this
relationship thing

(D. James)

defenses down

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 13 May 2009 at 4:36 pm

come to me now
in the dead
of night

so that I might
hold you tight

come to me now
let me whisper
in your ear

and feel you near
knowing no fear

come to me now
so I can touch
your skin

let me drink
you in like raw gin

make me believe
in a god
and heaven
and all the angels
who sing

crush me
with your look
silence me
in a kiss

hold me
until the sun rises
and tomorrow comes
like sweet pain

(D. James)

alley of deceit

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 May 2009 at 4:30 pm

I told lies
hiding
in your shadows

crept along
your fetid blacktop

lost my soul
and almost
my mind

but come
the morning

I found myself
on the other side

(D. James)

did you say something?

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 9 May 2009 at 8:31 am

you want
to say
something

but like a dog
with limited language
all you do is bark

of all the words
of all the sounds
of all the languages
in the world

you bark

because you realize
if every word
of every language
were known to you

they would all amount
to the nothing more
than barking

so go on
you dogs
make your statement
sing your song

bark your fucking
ass off

it’s all the same
in the end

(D. James)

worn weary

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 6 May 2009 at 3:48 pm

sat up
half the night
with unhappy thoughts

come morning
they were still there
in a chair
by the bed

pulled them on
with my jeans
wore them
all damn day

till they
wore me out

sat up
half the night
with unhappy thoughts

determined that
in the morning
they’d be gone

moved the chair
into the kitchen
just in case

(D. James)

what if I said I knew it all?

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 29 April 2009 at 9:17 am

Stayed online
all night long

Wrote down a few
words

But can’t tell me
a damn thing

Cause I
know it all
and nothing
nothing
nothing

at the same
time

(D. James)

talk to me

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 April 2009 at 4:27 pm

lonely
I am not

lost
I am not

broke
I am not

though I have been
all of those and more

what about you?

(D. James)

whatif

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 21 April 2009 at 4:16 pm

what if
what is
isn’t

what if
what’s there
isn’t

what if
what you see
isn’t there

what if
you weren’t
reading this

would it still
exist

(D. James)

can you have more answers than questions?

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 17 April 2009 at 4:36 pm

There is the road
and then there is
the trip we take
on it

There is the sky
and the bird
that flies

There is the water
and the whale

There is fire
and smoke

Those who live
and them
that die

Questions
and even
some answers

(D. James)

conscious contact

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 15 April 2009 at 5:03 pm

can’t write my way
out of this

tomorrow
brings more
of the same

like a rat
on a wheel

being aware
doesn’t seem
to make it
any easier

though I keep
hope alive

(D. James)

a way out

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 13 April 2009 at 5:00 pm

In a struggle
of the mind

wanting to make
it out to be more
than it is

just a bunch
of thought
none of it
true

or all that
powerful

except when
I make it so
and so often
I do

more thought
doesn’t solve
anything

only action
gets me
out of my head
and into
the world

(D. James)

mind fuck

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 9 April 2009 at 11:00 am

having thoughts
about thoughts
that I thought up
last night

thoughts I’ve thought
a long time

new thoughts think
the old ones should
make room

but the old thoughts
think they know best

then there’s the thought
that all this thinking
isn’t getting us anywhere

I don’t even know
what to think
about that

(D. James)

omission missive

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 7 April 2009 at 5:48 pm

I don’t say
what’s on
my mind

When
it’s all
shit

So keep
my mouth
shut

Because
always
everyone
wants to help

And sometimes
I just need to be
where I’m at

Got it?

(D, James)

The temperature of the temporal

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 16 March 2009 at 4:39 pm

Nothing is permanent
not even that statement

Nothing lasts
all is temporal

We are nothing today
that we were yesterday

It only seems that way
because it’s all we have
to look forward from

(D. James)

to be young again

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 11 March 2009 at 5:00 pm

high heeled shoes
short black skirt
smooth legs

drive the herky-jerky
old men crazy

scratching and blinking
shaking their balding heads
remembering a time they had

wishing they weren’t
who they are
for one more day

before she walks
away

leaving them with
the faintest scent
of perfume

a memory
of a memory
lingers

(D. James)

unbeknownst

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 9 March 2009 at 4:22 pm

how many things
don’t I know?

of all the things
in the wide world
which I know

a fraction of a fraction
of a percent

how many things
do you know?

all thoughts
all languages
from the beginning

how we think
we know
anything at all
is beyond me

(D. James)

shy

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 6 March 2009 at 12:22 am

what comes between us
when we’re apart?

how can I let you in
from an arm’s length away?

averted glances
thwarted hopes

life’s just too risky
when I take every little thing
to mean something about me

(D. James)

somewhere between cynicism and optimism

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 21 February 2009 at 2:47 am

If the rain falls up
from the street
does it mean
the world is
upside down?

If things work out
in my favor today
does it mean
tomorrow they won’t?

Is it really
how I look at it
or simply how it is?

would I even know
the difference?

(D. James)

thump

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 19 February 2009 at 7:44 am

the music presses down
from above
louder and louder
until there’s nothing but noise

no thought or word
just the banging
of the drum
in my head

maybe it’s time
to leave

(D. James)

LA in the rain

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 17 February 2009 at 10:04 pm

dirty white t-shirt
watching out
the monday morning
window

the rain reigns
comes down
as if trying
to snuff out
the fires of hell

damp chill
numbing
chapped digits

waiting for something
like the sun to appear
let us know
the world
will be alright

(D. James)

what if you weren’t there

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, snuff poems, writing on 13 February 2009 at 1:00 pm

billy blew
his brains out
and no one noticed

billy blew
his brains out
and no one cared

billy blew
his brains out
and you ask

who the hell
is billy anyway?

well, what if
billy
were you

(D. James)

live it

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 11 February 2009 at 9:30 pm

what to do
today
when I realize
my life
is one day
shorter
than yesterday

and tomorrow
is shorter still

best be grateful
for all the tomorrows
I can

while living
like there isn’t
another one coming

(D. James)

inside

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 February 2009 at 12:25 am

all the elements
are here
heavy rain
fierce wind
bending trees
blowing leaves

I am shirtless
and grateful
on the other side
of the window

(D, James)

the way it was

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 6 February 2009 at 4:26 pm

tattooed girls
drunken boys
and cigarette smoke
everywhere

warm nights
with pimps
and hookers
working the streets

this was
the way it was
before cell phones
atm’s and the internet

when you got
on the subway
with a token
and a phone call
cost a dime

nothing wrong
with how it is now
it’s just nice to think back
now and again
to a simpler time

(D. James)

try it

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 4 February 2009 at 5:00 pm

moments
of clarity
like clean glass

seems the more
I let go
of what I think
I know
the clearer
it all becomes

(D. James)

player piano

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 2 February 2009 at 5:00 pm

it wells up
into your heart

dies between there
and your throat

that longing
that passion
to live
to feel

moved
open
raw

keys
black and white
tears
clear as rain

play it again
but never tell
what it means

never put words
to beauty so soft
and lovely

(D. James)

short one

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 30 January 2009 at 5:05 pm

My shadow
tall as trees
in the late afternoon light

my mind
short on thought
as another day ends

(D. James)

raincycle

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 28 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

I want my life
to be like running water

flowing easily
down through
the cracks
and coming to rest
in a great natural pool

where the sun will shine
evaporating me up to the sky
becoming ominous clouds
then fall like rain
to begin again

(D. James)

Winter Beach, CA

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 26 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

raging sky
large distant clouds
like mountains
across the blue-green ocean

there’s that part
of the late afternoon
when we wish the day
would stop
take notice of itself
before descending
into another chilly night

(D. James)

what does it mean?

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 23 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

Up late
listening
to Hindi singers

Images of trains
and the rains

Send me
to sleep
with words
I do not understand
but the feeling
is there

(D. James)

this way and that

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 21 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

Thoughts
without discernible
patterns

scattered across
my mind

It’s a good thing
I don’t drive
based on my
feelings

(D. James)

I bite

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 19 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

spitting venom
out of fear

attacking
like a cornered
dog

to a threat
that is not there

unable
unwilling
to see any other
option

words meant
to cut
to hurt
to bleed you

all so you
won’t go away
or
to make you prove
what you say

(D. James)

I see you everywhere (and you and you and you)

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

Why is it
wherever I go
people look familiar
to me

Does it prove
we’re all related

Or that I see
things that aren’t really there

(D. James)

talk about the weather

In art, bad poetry, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 14 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

The sunlight blinds
but you look anyway

reflecting
off the tabletops

creating an illusion
the gentlest
of winter afternoons

the violent dying light
pierces your eye
as a reminder
of summer

yet no matter
how hard you stare
you cannot make
the season change
nor the sun
shine less

(D. James)

power of an addiction

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 12 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

It is said
only the fallen
know the true depths
could you be
one of the rare ones
so often imagined?

Longer than any river
the emotional road we travel

More torturous
than your beauty
this lustful addiction
that can be
briefly assuaged
but never ever cured

And where
have the gods
that made you gone?

Is it true
you destroyed them
so there would be no equal?

I am a dark knight
sent on a failed errand
for a now dead king

riding through endless nights
searching for some
unexplainable something
that exists for a moment
then disappears
leaving only memories
and the faint tint
of lipstick on my glove

I need something beautiful
to destroy me
someone intelligent enough
to match me

I thought I heard you calling

(D. James)

somebody did something here

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 9 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

Broken glass
from some minor crime
strewn across the road

And someone won’t
be happy in the morning

(D. James)

where’d it go

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 7 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

Bourbon and cigarettes
late-night hookers
down dark alleys

What doesn’t kill me
costs more than
just money

Turning fantasy into reality
shaking with adrenaline
getting kicks from anticipation
feeling more powerful
than any man should

Someday
I’ll get off
this merry-go-round
but I can’t seem to find
“someday” on the calendar

Maybe it falls on
February 30th
two-thousand-and-never

(D. James)

what do I know?

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 5 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

(for Ian A.)

What if the old man
isn’t wandering or lonely

What if he has
all the answers
and knows it’s pointless
to say anything

Now who do you
feel sorry for?

(D. James)

the four corners of love and belonging

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 2 January 2009 at 5:00 pm

See the tall girl
standing on the corner
a cell phone to her ear

Oblivious to the traffic
rushing by
a boy
talking in her ear

He tells her
“I love you”
but she doesn’t
believe it

She turns west
and hears him say
he can’t live without her

She turns east
and he says
please don’t leave

When she looks down
at the ground
is that south?

Up at the sky
north?

He keeps talking
pleading
wheedling
whining
but she stopped listening
long ago

Behind dark sunglasses
she quints at the bright sunlight
of a Los Angeles afternoon

It’s after she throws the phone
as it skips along the hot tar
and is run over a few times

she realizes
her mistake all along
has been looking for love
from without instead of
from within

(D. James)

pick a card, any card …

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 31 December 2008 at 5:54 am

The choices
we make
define our lives

Saying this
but doing that

Wanting one thing
then following another

Looking for some truth
beyond ourselves
when all the time
it’s right where
we left it

In our wallet
next to the photograph
of the one we love


(D. James)

Do we expect too much from our heroes or have they just let us down

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 30 December 2008 at 6:48 am

The writer
that doesn’t write

The poet
that doesn’t poe

The savior
that doesn’t save

On a road
that goes nowhere
leads to nothing
and ends when it’s over

[queue music]

(D. James)

so I’ve been told

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 26 December 2008 at 9:58 am

If I did
as I was told

twist and shout
rattle and hum

would it be annoying
or would you come
along

If I did
as I was told

there’d be
no poetry
at least not
from me

If I did
as I was told

I might remember
to care

that everyone
has an opinion
and some are quick
to share

If I did
as I was told

If only I ever
did as I was told

(D. James)

I don’t even know your name

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 25 December 2008 at 11:21 am

how many hotel rooms
must you walk through
on lonely nights

with unknown
painted faces

before you see yourself
for who you are
realize what you’re doing
won’t solve a thing

how many lies
can you tell
before even you
stop believing

how hard
do you want
to make this life
before you let go
and begin to live

how many
sleepless hours
how many
unanswered phone calls
how many
broken promises

how many
how many
how many

before you close your eyes
and finally call it a night?

(D. James)

poetry for the masses

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 23 December 2008 at 10:56 am

there are
two kinds
of drivel
a poet
writes

the kind
that gets
published

and the kind
that doesn’t

(D. James)

crackers in bed

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 22 December 2008 at 10:51 am

crumbling
like life

littering
the sheets

making sleep
scratchy and uncomfortable

mother was right -
best to leave them
out altogether

(D. James)

myths

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 21 December 2008 at 10:50 am

traded as fact
they lurk
in broad daylight

often dispelled
by opposing
falsehoods

nothing more
than something
someone was once
ridiculed for believing

then repeated
repeated
repeated
so much
no one asks
where it came from

we just live
like it’s the truth

(D. James)

nothing but now

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 17 December 2008 at 12:33 am

rain and coffee
waiting for the sun

in my mind
driving through town
on a warm day

smoking one last cigarette
hoping the clouds away

being here now
letting it wash over me

(D. James)

riddle me this …

In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 15 December 2008 at 5:00 pm

Without doubt
there are questions
without answers

But are there any answers
without questions?

(D. James)

is it me or what?

In art, breakfast poems, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 December 2008 at 8:03 pm

I wake
and the world
has not changed
since last I looked

The world wakes
looks at me and says
What are you still doing there
waiting for the world to change?

(D. James)

man-made

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 12 December 2008 at 12:12 am

The truth is …
God has no religion

(D. James)

at the end of the day

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 December 2008 at 10:37 am

darkness chill
and the forgetting

bring back
something sweet
or innocent
it doesn’t matter

as long as it comes
before the fall
to sleep

(D. James)

no answers today

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 December 2008 at 12:30 am

pinhead
typing away
making no sense
out of nonsense

perhaps
there is
no answer
to why is
the sky blue
or
the moon white

would it be ok
if there were
some questions
left unanswered?

(D. James)

Where is now

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 December 2008 at 6:54 pm

Between here
and there

From one point
to another

We spend
so much time
in the middle places

Getting there
Going through something
Looking ahead
Waiting

Perhaps it ends
when we realize
where we are
now

(D. James)

all heart

In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 4 December 2008 at 12:19 am

I feel like
the old dog
who can no longer
catch the ball on a bounce
but chases it anyway

(D. James)

keep to the path

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 October 2008 at 4:50 pm

black
of night

yellow
of heart

red
of soul

white
of the coming dawn

(D. James)

the dog at the end of the tunnel

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, snuff poems, writing on 18 October 2008 at 1:42 am

yellow toothed dog
stares through
blood-shot eyes
in my nightmare

drooling
I know he
wants me
for his last meal

I’ve run from him
for hours now
maybe even days

in the end
he’ll have his way
because that dog
keeps me honest
because that dog
is me

his hot breath
rank with death

the only escape
is to wake
but either I can’t
or I already have

I’ll know in a minute
as he approaches
and I am too weak
to move

One way or the other
it ends here

(D. James)

undecided

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 15 October 2008 at 5:41 pm

I saw you standing
on the edge of a shadow

in the space where
sunlight and darkness meet
in the endless battle
of night and day

waiting
for something
in yourself
to appear

but the struggle
was too great
and you remain
undecided

(D. James)

contrition

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 13 October 2008 at 6:06 pm

What is the sound
of nothing falling
in the city?

(D. James)

nightrider

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, snuff poems, writing on 10 October 2008 at 4:00 am

The half-moon laughs
as we tear up the road
screaming at the night

With nothing but chrome
and black gloss
we ride ’til dawn

Our piece of heaven
forged in hell
hanging with the
fallen angels

And when the sun rises
we’ll put another night
to rest

(D. James)

seen art

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 9 October 2008 at 4:59 am

Dancers move in minutia
mocking the audiences limbs

Little man bangs his head
against a bell
at random

the sound echoes
through the staid museum

In a large room
marionettes do a mechanical
danse macabre

their tiny metal feet
tapping rhythmically on
the wooden floor

We are left
sitting in the corner
wondering why this is all
so mesmerizing

(D. James)

Time Flies

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 30 September 2008 at 7:49 am

An agreement
time

It flies
in your face
while you’re not looking

What time is it
where you are?

Daytime
Wintertime
Nighttime
Springtime
Daylight Savings Time

Don’t we all
want more time?

Six hours ahead
three hours behind

It would have to end
for it to be all the same

(D. James)

dark mood of night

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 27 June 2008 at 8:14 am

Some nights
are darker
than others
not in moonlight
but in mood

The narrow stares
of strangers
too many loud
angry sounds

The usual
evening birds
are absent

My blood
goes up
as I wait
for a fight
that never comes

A lone cricket
chirps into the darkness
breaking the tension
reminding me
that life
is good

Even if
my mood
isn’t

(D. James)

falling asleep

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 June 2008 at 10:39 am

The world
disappears

Everything goes
black
and silent

This lasts
six or seven
hours

Then my eyes
open and the world
is remade
in an instant

(D. James)

day fade

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 June 2008 at 8:56 am

The last hour
of summer sunlight
golden and clean
makes everyone
beautiful

Filtered through haze
softer
than the light
at noon

Similar to the dawn
but more powerful
for its proximity
and promise
of nightfall

Feel the final hour
of the day
and hope
for many more

(D. James)

roadside hiku

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 June 2008 at 5:49 am

the yellow sign says
do not enter when flooded
why would you do that

(D. James)

Evening in Sedona

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 13 June 2008 at 5:40 am

In the evening
the Red Rocks
turn to Black

A white half-moon
is held in
deep blue sky

As the town
goes quiet

(D. James)

Red

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 12 June 2008 at 11:02 am

The heart is pink
lips are blue
revolutions are lost

red is a liar

EL SEBBO

head down

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 June 2008 at 4:53 am

Some days
it feels like
fighting a fierce wind

You just have
to lean into it
and move a little
slower

(D. James)

White

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 10 June 2008 at 9:36 am

White is the easiest metaphor

EL SEBBO

Umbrella

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 June 2008 at 9:45 am

If writing poetry
is like pissing against the wind
remember that the wind
often changes direction

EL SEBBO

another day done

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 6 June 2008 at 9:24 am

At the end
of the day

when there is
nothing more
to be done

except crawl into bed
give over to sleep

I still fight
with myself

to finish one more thing
before I admit
defeat

(D. James)

The poet’s consolation

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 5 June 2008 at 6:31 am

A beautiful car
is nothing
compared to
a good conversation

EL SEBBO

wood

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 June 2008 at 6:55 am

drifting through the days
like something at sea

big ideas
little motivation

life has become
a dull hum
with flourishes
of brilliant color

(D. James)

Red

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 3 June 2008 at 9:07 am

if my words were colored
like heads and then hands
then sometimes they could be
red machine or red lips
but mostly red silence

EL SEBBO

gray area

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 2 June 2008 at 3:41 pm

If I ever
told the truth
it was a lie

(D. James)

Sphinx

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 29 May 2008 at 8:26 am

What we could say
is hidden
behind our words

EL SEBBO

heavy wind, but no rain

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 28 May 2008 at 8:05 am

Tonight
a violent wind
blows the city
to dust

Trees bend
people squint
as if in bright
sunlight

A haze
envelops the streets
women wrestle their skirts
hair tossed
every which way

A violent wind
shreds the city
tonight

Palm fronds litter
Sunset Boulevard
the homeless huddle
like refugees
in the entryway
of a long abandoned
nightclub

The weather
is the one thing
this town cannot control

(D. James)

dead-stop

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 26 May 2008 at 7:00 am

Spun out
with nowhere
to turn

Looking for
a piece of mind

Knowing it’s
what we make of it
that matters

But still holding back
giving in to frustration
and wasting countless hours

(D. James)

Precaution

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb on 23 May 2008 at 6:15 am

I am wearing shades
because I am afraid
my eyes might exist

EL SEBBO

self-referential riddle #1

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 22 May 2008 at 7:00 am

If I told you
I wrote this
for the sake
of writing it

Made it up
just now as
the words for
their meaning
and nothing
more

Would it hold
weight …
respond to gravity?

Or do we have
to assign some other
definition to make it
a poem,
something greater
than what it is?

(D. James)

TRACERS (To R. Rauschenberg)

In art, literature, poem, poetry on 21 May 2008 at 11:11 am

Robert Rauschenberg has passed away
unfortunately death is not transparent

EL SEBBO

silent mind

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 20 May 2008 at 11:12 am

Searching for things
I cannot find

for what
does not exist

All chatter
and clutter

with no way
to turn down
the sound
or change
the channel

(D. James)

write what you know

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 May 2008 at 4:21 pm

nothing

dreaming of silence

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 14 May 2008 at 7:19 am

Talk talk talk …
words without meaning
phrases that go nowhere

What does any
of this accomplish?

I’d discuss it
but that only
leads us back
to the beginning

(D. James)

Perfection

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, seb on 13 May 2008 at 12:38 pm

sun goes down moon comes up
I hold one in each hand

EL SEBBO

weather crimes

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 May 2008 at 4:38 am

Los Angeles is pointless
under clouds
and cool temperatures

The palm trees
and imported cars
need the glint
to show their worth

It’s harder to defend
this almost-city
when the weather
plays the hostile witness

(D. James)

Double lines

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, seb, writing on 9 May 2008 at 12:30 pm

the apple-tree is blossoming
the songs of the birds again have meaning

EL SEBBO

bring a flashlight

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 May 2008 at 7:30 am

How far down
do you go
before you find
the bottom of your soul?

How deep is it,
how wide?

And why is there no light down here?

(D. James)

Periphery

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 7 May 2008 at 2:38 pm

I am writing a poem in my garden
the sun at the periphery of my thoughts

EL SEBBO

Nowhere, actually

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 6 May 2008 at 7:16 am

They talk
and talk
then talk
some more

Saying the most
benign things
about the weather
or what someone else
has already said

I look for silence

But still they talk
and talk
without really saying
anything

In the end
I wonder …
do these words
really get us anywhere?

(D. James)

Liberal

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 2 May 2008 at 12:00 am

I want to live
in a god-less
world

A place where
common-sense
and logic
triumph over
greed
insecurity
fear
and hate

A world that
puts humans
above corporations
where government
works in the interests
of the people,
all the people,
instead of against them

I want to live
in a world
where the truth
is a good thing
where knowledge
outweighs ignorance

Because frankly
I’m tired of hearing
these fantasies rooted
in gross unrealities
of heaven and hell

And I don’t think
it’s possible to move
to a better world
without forsaking
these fallacies of
nationalism
patriotism
and worst of all
religion

You can attack
me all you want
but the truth
will bear out

(D. James)

Fall

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb on 1 May 2008 at 9:55 am

When things fall
objects happen

EL SEBBO

Mercurial Emotion (or sometimes it’s better to shut the fuck up)

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 30 April 2008 at 7:37 am

I’d tell you
how I feel

But I’m not
sure I should

Not because
I don’t know
myself
or don’t have
the words

More because
I fear they’d be
misunderstood

Or worse
I’d have to be
responsible
as if I have to feel
the same way
forever

And there’s no way
of knowing
what the next day
will bring

(D. James)

100 degrees

In art, bad poetry, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 28 April 2008 at 4:39 am

Everything thickens
feels sluggish

No interest in food
or motion

Scents not
smelled before
emanate from somewhere
behind something in the kitchen

It’s as if the sun
never goes down
never goes down
never goes down

Still it’s better
than being cold

(D. James)

North

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 April 2008 at 12:04 pm

No
matter
where
you
are

Poetry
is
always
at
the
center
of
the

horizon

EL SEBBO

Radiant Heat

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 24 April 2008 at 8:40 am

You tell me who
you are
in small ways

Not what you say
but when

I feel you
even after you’ve gone

The waiting hurts
like someone is
pulling something
out of my middle
by degrees

There are
three cures
You
Time
or Death

I’m still deciding

(D. James)

Overweight champions

In art, bad poetry, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb on 23 April 2008 at 11:22 am

Their feet shake the ground
and the teeth in our skulls
Their gigantic arms
send dried leaves
whirling around us
Their laughter
booms enigmatic
like deep thunder
Who are they?
Who were they?
Nobody knows
and nobody
really cares
because the first
buds are blooming
and birds are a-singing
and the overweight champions
just become mountains
on the horizon line
very blue
very far away

EL SEBBO

Chinese puzzle

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 22 April 2008 at 5:59 am

Why is it
fortune cookies
no longer tell your future?

Have all the mystics
gone on strike?

Now they read
“Today is a nice day.”
But that ain’t no future

And anyway
it’s raining

(D. James)

The Illusion of a Democratic Republic

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 18 April 2008 at 4:59 am

A government run
by corrupt fools
is still a government
still corrupt
and it is still
run
by
fools

(D. James)

in the weeds

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 April 2008 at 10:17 am

The waitresses
upbeat chatter
doesn’t match
her sad face

Tea is steeping
milk and sugar
patiently waiting

And I am lost
among the
knives and forks
plates of half-eaten meals

Thoughts adrift
in shafts of sunlight
spilled across the counter

Pay the check
leave a tip
and walk out
the same door
I walked in

Keep things simple
until my mind
returns

Bringing with it
what was lost
and found

(D. James)

bedtime poem

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 14 April 2008 at 5:02 am

Heavy with sleep
everything to do
but no time

Wait until morning
when I can think
straight again

Right now
it’s all I can do
to stay awake long
enough to write these words

(D. James)

Anniversary (to my father)

In art, birthday poems, seb on 11 April 2008 at 1:30 pm

Ten years ago
you left us
under a cloudy sky
and the cold wind
was warmer than our bones
Well, today
the sky is pretty much
the same
except for the clouds
which are a little bit
whiter
but I guess
that’s just a trick
my memory
is playing on me

EL SEBBO

forward

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 April 2008 at 2:57 am

Life moves in one direction

(D. James)

Marquis de Sade

In art on 9 April 2008 at 11:21 am

In this prison,
I -

EL SEBBO

can you leave things behind if you’re going in a circle?

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 April 2008 at 5:47 am

The world changes
and we change in it

Divergent paths
verge

Veer off
into other lives

Meet again
in some other form

Do we recognize
this place
as if sprung
from nowhere?

Are we known
here anymore?

Or has everything
simply moved on?

(D. James)

What I remember

In art, bad poetry, breakfast poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 7 April 2008 at 4:55 pm

What I remember
are images
The words are gone
and live a life of their own
They never call me nor write
but the images
are still with me
and sometimes
I do wish
they would pay rent

EL SEBBO

empty

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 April 2008 at 9:07 am

I looked in the place
I’ve looked before
where I thought
for sure I’d left it

But it was empty

I checked again
to make certain
and found nothing

I could swear
there was a poem
in my head
one I’d thought
about all day

But the cupboard is bare

Whatever happened
to those words?
I guess I’ll never know

(D. James)

Billy the Kid

In art, bad poetry, seb on 3 April 2008 at 11:04 am

Caught at the dusty crossroads
of violence and justice – never
quite a man nor a boy
a question simply lingers:
quién es?

EL SEBBO

looking past bottom

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 2 April 2008 at 6:49 am

Can you feel it
because I can’t

For too long
I tried to suppress
all this anger
all this pain

Now all I know
is this aching
numbness

Wildly searching
for an answer
when all the while
it’s been right here

Inside my head
inside of me

It doesn’t matter
It means nothing
It solves nothing
nothing at all

(D. James)

Crazy Birds

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 31 March 2008 at 7:17 am

An hour before dawn
and blind birds sing
goodbye to the bitter
dregs of night

Chattering away
as if they had
something to say

But it doesn’t
bring the day
any sooner

(D. James)

Were things really easier or do we just remember them that way?

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 27 March 2008 at 7:18 am

In the good
old days
when we were drunk
the world
moved slower
as if underwater

Now time
lurches forward
can’t seem to stop
the flood of years
rushing past

Let’s get drunk
one more time
drown ourselves
in memories of
days gone by

(D. James)

Bauhaus

In art, bad poetry, seb on 26 March 2008 at 4:01 pm

Structures
Elements
Shadows
Your naked back
My heart like a keyhole
Wood
Steel
Wool
Footsteps on concrete
Love like a half-lifted curtain
Ich liebe dich
A three-step danse
Red lipstick
Black shoes
Your hand in mine
A cold sun
Sharp walls
Spring is coming
Ah ah
The purpose of art?
Usefulness
my dear
usefulness

EL SEBBO

Zero out

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 March 2008 at 6:30 am

No one knew
the damage
being done

How could we
it was all
so long ago
when we were
young

Someone
should have
stopped it

Someone
should have seen
what it would do
to all of us

Now we have
to deal with it
on our own

Break the cycle
end this chain
of anger
and pain

(D. James)

Blue and white

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb on 24 March 2008 at 11:12 am

White roofs
blue sky
the children play
in the bedroom
my fingers
silently
write this poem:
“it is cold outside
it is colder
inside my mouth”

EL SEBBO

rushing to the end

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 March 2008 at 7:19 am

Back on track
like a train
at speed

Where it goes
we’ll have to
wait and see

Enjoy the ride
and hope the end
is nowhere in sight

(D. James)

spring moon

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 March 2008 at 8:17 am

Yellow moon
hangs fat
and lush
in black sky

Warm night
of spring
finally arrived

Breathe it in
keep me sane

(D. James)

max headroom

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 17 March 2008 at 5:31 am

I crack my skull
on a violent shift
of perspective

Eyes sting
from the blood
but now
I can finally see
the pain
of reality

(D. James)

This is not a love poem

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 13 March 2008 at 4:35 pm

I don’t write
love poems

Though I love
writing and poems
an emotion
that deep
needs an ocean
of language
I do not possess

My words on the
subject of love
are trite
and best left
to others

Amen

(D. James)

Water on road

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 March 2008 at 4:30 pm

Water on road
blood in mouth
twisted chrome
fading sky

Shallow breathing
heart beating

This must be
where the journey
ends

(D. James)

Mirror, mirror

In art, bad haiku, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, breakfast poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 8 March 2008 at 3:54 pm

Eros is sore

EL SEBBO

showers expected

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 March 2008 at 12:46 am

gray clouds
wait all day
for the rain

wind picks up
weeps heavily
with the sound
of flapping flags
and water on pavement

people run for cover
as the world
becomes glossy

(D. James)

Delicate

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, breakfast poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england on 5 March 2008 at 6:51 am

Delicate
isn’t my name
and yet I am moved
by the imbecile
gently led by his father
down the street
while screaming songs
at the top of his head
I am moved
by a white cloud
standing still
over the city
like a gentle threat
I am moved
by your breath
gently lifting the sheets
deep in the night
when I can’t sleep
Yes delicate things
move me deeply
and confirm
the rage hidden
at the core of my words
The rage of impotence,
hope and rebellion
- but not despair
Despair, you see,
is too delicate
for me

EL SEBBO

Destination Street

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 March 2008 at 4:37 pm

Black street
blacker heart

Someday the road
will end
in dust

And no one
will care
to even give it a name

(D. James)

There’s no place like home

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, birthday poems, breakfast poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems on 1 March 2008 at 9:59 am

but we sure wish there was

EL SEBBO

traveling

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 29 February 2008 at 4:26 am

Bland rooms
and bad food

Time shifts
and lost days

Windows
that don’t open
and beds that
make themselves

Fitful sleep
in unfamiliar places

Makes you
appreciate
the little place
you call home

(D. James)

cereal killer

In art, breakfast poems, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 27 February 2008 at 6:28 am

I shot
the box
of Rice Krispies

stabbed the
Fruit Loops

and strangled
with bare hands
the Raisin Bran

Now
there’s nothing left
for tomorrow’s breakfast

(D. James)

Bad ear (or I should get a medal for doing this)

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, writing on 26 February 2008 at 11:18 am

My ear is shot
Haven’t slept in two days
and here I am writing
this miserable poem
Is it friendship pushing me
or just poetry’s bad junk
shaking me up and down
and never letting me be?

EL SEBBO

hello it’s me

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 February 2008 at 9:03 am

Nasty habit
of self

referential
involvement
centeredness

Even being aware
only focuses
on the single point

So it is
to what
degree

do we see
there are others
not just me?

(D. James)

Anniversarery pome (To my partner in crime, DJ Eldon)

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 23 February 2008 at 7:11 am

no candles
but fireworks
no explosions
but roman candles
we have written pomes
for one good year now
we are very tired
but our mouths are still
full of spit, tongue, stones
and words
no firecrackers
but live ammo
no funeral pyres
but a feather
of the Phoenix

EL SEBBO

at sea

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 22 February 2008 at 8:38 am

Rain falls
over the city

Everything swells
and creaks

Water trickles
along the rails

The apartment
feel like a submarine

I await the order
to blow the ballasts
and rise again

(D. James)

If not

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, birthday poems, literature, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 21 February 2008 at 6:33 am

poems
are
free
like a bank robbery
a good fist fight
or a major break up
I said
poems
are
free
I didn’t say
they were nice

EL SEBBO

take a walk

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 20 February 2008 at 6:47 am

frustrated
impatient
impertinent

totally
intolerant
and spiteful

feels like monday
coulda been sunday
just not certain
anymore

where ya goin?
where’s this headed?
it can’t be anywhere
good

(D. James)

Another mystery

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 19 February 2008 at 11:56 am

The white veil of morning
creeps around the house
The birds are black notes
and their song hang frozen
in mid-air
We drink coffee in the kitchen
and I want to tell you something
but your words erase mine
and I forget what I wanted to say
and there is no way you can help me
and we laugh it off and another mouth
replaces my mouth with different words
forming behind the seemingly same teeth
although they are actually a few seconds
older

EL SEBBO

fake it till you make it (welcome to hollywood)

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 18 February 2008 at 7:59 am

Like a bad meal
that repeats

This town
loves itself
more than it deserves

Rewarding mediocrity
Substituting false beauty
for real emotion

Masking belligerent consumption
with blinding sunlight
and palm trees

An American microcosm
of what’s to come

“Reality” TV
played out
in lives of
unconscious consent

Leased luxury
parked outside
your shared apartment

It’s what’s on
the outside
that counts here

This is not
the place
for epic poetry

(D. James)

Deconstruction

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, seb on 15 February 2008 at 4:42 pm

My children play
with wooden blocks
red blue yellow
and green
They build towers
and smash them
laughing
like typical
humans
A reassuring thought
somehow
The blocks
await in the sunlight
waiting to be
piled up
and thrown down again
like typical
humans
Not a reassuring thought
somehow

EL SEBBO

Night Life

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 14 February 2008 at 8:15 am

To live a life
epic like the night

Full with the
weight of the moon

Dark with occasional
streaks of light

Dotted with
a billion possibilities
like stars against
the blackened sky

To be complete
and silent
in an endless expanse

Reaching beyond
the humble existence
of just walking the earth,

To the never-ending
edge of the universe

Swallowing planets whole
and still waking, in the morning
to brilliant sunlight

(D. James)

Em-ba-ra-ssing (To DJ Nic)

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 13 February 2008 at 10:04 am

Went to a party last Saturday
and all evening I wondered
if my fly was open because
the zipper was broken or because
I was too stoned to zip it up
Time to quit?
Hell no

EL SEBBO

Capitalism

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 February 2008 at 8:11 am

Bank
is a
four
letter
word

(D. James)

Imperialism

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, overweight champions, poem, seb, writing on 11 February 2008 at 12:57 pm

Free
is a
four
letter
word

EL SEBBO

the mess we’re in

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 February 2008 at 8:29 am

Waiting
for inspiration
like a brick
to the head

disjointed ideas
false starts
fragments
that go nowhere

Pondering
a fierce headache

the poet
and poem
remain unfinished

(D. James)

Burn all flags

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 7 February 2008 at 12:01 pm

The blue of the sky
crashes through my open window
and a few birds sing
to welcome the first rays
of the sun
Everything is still
except for the millions
of radio waves
spinning around us
like in invisible killer bees
and I say
to the wall
my chair my desk
the open window
the blue sky
the birds and their songs
“Burn all flags”
as flags frame you
in what you are not
and never will be
- a model citizen
a model father
a model nation
a model nature
a model bird
a model sky
a model model
Yes
burn all flags
especially
the white one

EL SEBBO

black waves

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 6 February 2008 at 6:13 am

Just because
the ocean waves
ceaselessly
pound the sand

doesn’t mean
the beach is
all that fond
of the abuse

(D. James)

A view with a room

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 5 February 2008 at 7:51 am

If I move
two inches
to the left
does reality
remain the same?

EL SEBBO

what I think I want when I think too much about what I want

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 February 2008 at 7:48 am

I want to
stay up all night
watching movies

I want to
find someway
to feel

I want to
stay up all night
and listen
to the rain

I want to
find a way
to get back home

I want to
be free
from wanting
and just be

I want to
stay up all night
and listen
to the pain

In the end
I just want
to believe

(D. James)

Peace King

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, poem, poetry, seb, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 1 February 2008 at 7:22 am

I am the peace king
and I come without banner nor flag
My arms are broken
and my friends have fallen
Will you welcome me
with arrows and fire
or kisses and tears?
I am the peace king
and I have no purpose
but to prove that existence
is nothing but choice
whether you win or not
I am the peace king
and my face is as white
as your rage
I am the peace king
and I am sorry
that I hurt you once
and for all
I am the peace king
and you can very well
chose to ignore me
if you wish
as I will not fight with you
I am the peace king
and I am never wrong
although many wish me to be
because peace
is always
more threatening
than bloodshed
I am the peace king
hail me at my passage
or throw me stones
I love flowers
and stones are my friends
but beware
my visits are scarce
and often go
unnoticed
as I am clear as the wind
dark as a starless night
and fluttering as love promises

EL SEBBO

16,002 days

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 31 January 2008 at 8:08 am

Falling fast now
through this life

Waiting for that
never-coming
something
to happen

Not sure
if this is sadness
or the edge
of madness

Each day
goes by and
all I want to do
is stop

(D. James)

Hurry on up

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry on 29 January 2008 at 7:36 am

It’s a foggy day
can’t see more than my hands
maybe it’s a good thing
maybe it ain’t
but at least in this freezing weather
I’ve only one way to go
yippie-yay-oh

EL SEBBO

The discontent of winter

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 29 January 2008 at 4:10 am

Damp clouds
like steel cotton
darken the day

Rain falls heavy
on the city

Good time
to be drunk
if only
I still drank

Maybe I should
leave town
or become
a fish

(D. James)

winter blues (or what not to do with a gun)

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, snuff poems, writing on 25 January 2008 at 7:53 am

Cold seeps
through cracks
in the unfit
windows

A distant memory,
the sun, hides
in dark cotton

Life bleeds out
on dirty linoleum
and I can’t
feel my feet
anymore

(D. James)

Stuck (or why we are poets)

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 24 January 2008 at 6:51 am

Reality is not what
you make of it
Reality is what
you don’t want it to be

EL SEBBO

distant voices

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 January 2008 at 9:43 am

In the garden
of silence

All sound
becomes peaceful

There is nothing
to say

(D. James)

Listen

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 January 2008 at 7:25 pm

Listen
listen to the quiet night
as the crickets tell their stories

Listen
listen as the world spins

Listen baby, listen
while the sun rises
to bring the morning

Listen now before
it’s gone

Listen to the sound
of my heart beating
to my steady breathing

Listen baby, listen
while there’s still
a bit of night left

Listen to everything
as the city sleeps
’cause tomorrow
might be too late

So listen baby, listen
as I sing the night goodbye

And listen as the early light
stretches across the sky

(D. James)

Sunrose

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 19 January 2008 at 8:54 am

The sun rose today
but I missed it
my eyes still blinded
by night and punctuated by stars
The sun rose today
and I didn’t
preferring to ignore
the glorious colors
to the monochrome black
The sun rose today
and I didn’t care
as I embraced
a lovely shadow
slightly smelling
of cinnamon

EL SEBBO

Stuck

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 18 January 2008 at 7:44 am

Impossible imagination
trickles along
through the minefield
of emotions

Biding time
or making tracks
it’s all the same
in the end

Stuck is not
a state of being

Only a state
of mind

(D. James)

A clap of thunder

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 17 January 2008 at 3:10 pm

A clap of thunder
in a clear blue sky
or the strange reflection
of something not quite there
are our daily mysteries
so sit down
have a coffee
read the paper
and finally
accept yourself
as the ultimate mystery
goddammit

EL SEBBO

of a dark mind

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 January 2008 at 8:12 am

Speak softly
to yourself
as you wander
through
the night
of the mind

Darkness
will settle itself
and bliss comes
in some form
even if only
for a moment

Another misspent night
of lost and hopeless
dreams

Light a last cigarette
like a candle
for the dead

Watch the sky
for the blue light
of a new day

Only then can you
lay down
and rest
your weary
head

(D. James)

Hangman

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, tarot poems, writing on 15 January 2008 at 8:43 am

Hanging upside down
I finally see the world
how it really is

EL SEBBO

planning to fail

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 14 January 2008 at 10:50 am

There’s a hole
in the plan
wide as the sky
and bleeding
like an open
wound

If we push on
there will only
be more blood

Hold off
and we
get
nowhere

Best to take
our chances
and bleed
then die
in this spot
with nothing

(D. James)

Hermosa corona

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 11 January 2008 at 1:28 pm

Hermosa corona
shining high above the clouds
just out of reach of my wanting fingers
Hermosa corona
beautiful face wrapped
in silk and gold
you could be a vision
but your materiality
drags me down
Hermosa corona
if only you could
be a poem
a word an image
and disappear
as soon as
you were pronounced
Hermosa corona
I wish I could could
hold you in my hands
but they are tied
behind my back
and praying won’t help
Hermosa corona
your indifference
is truth
your glitter
wisdom
and your power
death
Hermosa corona
I run in circles
after myself
please let me
have you
please

please

EL SEBBO CORONADO

what it means

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 January 2008 at 7:37 am

Like a curse,
seeing the world
differently

Having to explain
the colors of
another sky

or what it
sounds like
in a sleepless
city

It’s the gift
of seeing
through things
instead of looking
at them

the difference
of knowing
rather than believing
in the beauty
of nothing

(D. James)

Hierophant

In art, bad poetry, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 9 January 2008 at 12:50 pm

The re is no mystery
in an open hand
but as we walk
our teeth grow back
into our gums
and our bones
shatter like ice
We try to laugh it off
but a howling wind
comes out of our lungs
and specks of our blood
decorate the sky’s blue cupola
There is no mystery
in an open hand
but the closed fist
hanging over our heads
is following us
like the shadow of something
we knew or thought we knew

EL SEBBO

stay the night

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 January 2008 at 10:17 am

stay with me
in this terrible
night

tomorrow will come
too soon

and I’ll
be gone

leaving you here
with little to say

even less
to hear

so stay with
me now

while I wait out
the night

wading through
the darkness
of my mind

only a bit longer
and tomorrow
comes

then there will be
new battles

not like this
not all
un-won

(D. James)

Dusk

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 7 January 2008 at 10:19 am

It is the time
when windows
are becoming walls
and children voices
are elongating
in the gardens
It is the time
when somethíng rattles
inside your chest
and you wonder
if death will come
and teach you
how to dance
It is the time
when you evaluate
all the things
you have said
and you realize
they can be summarized
in a single word
It is the time
when the sky darkens
and becomes this impossible blue
you have tried for so long
to imitate in your soul
to no avail
It is the time
when finally
failures
turn to gold

EL SEBBO

stand for something

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 January 2008 at 5:47 am

If there were
no language

but simply
one person
who stood up

it would say
more than all
the words
we could hope for

(D. James)

Frost

In art, bad haiku on 3 January 2008 at 4:25 pm

The words
disappear like smoke
but the lungs
are intact

EL SEBBO

metropolis

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 2 January 2008 at 4:51 am

New York
is where you come
to be known

even, if only,
in small ways

The pizzaman
who calls you buddy …
“Hey buddy.”
“What you need buddy?”

The guy at
the cigar shop
who silently nods
acknowledgment

or the homeless man
who says, “Hi, how are you?”
then quietly, “can I
get a little help?”

The bar
on the corner
the diner
down the street

Everyone greets you
like a friend

This is how you know
you’re home

(D. James)

Routine

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 1 January 2008 at 12:18 pm

Q: Why can we always feel when something bad is going to happen but never something good?
A: Because there are more bad things than good things happening to us.

Q: Why are there more bad things than good things happening to us?
A: Because we are cursed.

Q: Why are we cursed?
A: Because we are free.

Q: Is freedom a good thing or a bad thing?
A: It is a very good thing. That’s why we can’t feel anything.

EL SEBBO.

Cafe Reggio

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 31 December 2007 at 6:40 am

The rain comes down
on MacDougal Street

as tea goes cold
in the cup

and the Chinese girls
speak Mandarin

while the rain
comes down
on MacDougal Street

Italian opera plays
as the waitress
bumps through
the crowded tables
and chairs

Outside
people run
under coats
like silent Banshees
on parade

while the rain
comes down
on MacDougal Street

The awning
catches a gust
of wind like laundry
drying in the sun

Drunk girls
puff unsuccessfully
on damp cigarettes

With the check comes
the smiling-for-the-tip smile
and time to call it a night

while the rain
comes down
on MacDougal Street

(D. James)

Temperance

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 28 December 2007 at 10:00 am

Drink
as much as you can
Speak
as much as you can
and in the outer limits
of your words
will you finally
be yourself

EL SEBBO

how to write a love poem

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 27 December 2007 at 3:54 pm

For inspiration
use your life
or steal
someone else’s

use words
to evoke images

If all else fails
light yourself
on fire
and tell me
how that feels

“Trust me”
the man said
“it works”

(D. James)

Freakshow (To Tristan Tzara)

In art, literature, seb on 26 December 2007 at 3:41 pm

All
by
myself
Watch
me
dance
Watch me
me
sing
watch
me
strangle
myself
Watch
me
laugh
all
by
myself

EL SEBBO

the unanswerable quesion of time that people ask when they have too much of it

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 December 2007 at 6:40 am

Is there time?
with all the waste
the things we do
perpetually
perpetrating
the idea of busyness

Is there time
to live, to think,
to be?

Or are we simply
taking up space
in between commercials
waiting to purchase cheap thrills
in a Chinese box?

Hell or some other place

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 22 December 2007 at 10:24 am

This is another place
my friend
and we are becoming meat
The ships have sailed
and the planes have left
their esoteric signs
of the sky’s blue wall
We didn’t ask to come
and no one invited us
but we are here
and it’s definitely not there
This is another place
my friend
and we are becoming meat
Some of us are hungry
and some of us are sad
I am lucky to be loved
You are lucky to be blind
The poker tables are full
and smoking is allowed
This is another place
my friend
and we are becoming meat
Don’t thank me for our journey
It wasn’t the one that planned
There is a toast stuck in the toaster
and the flames are raging high
You left your coffee untouched
and outside the sun is nodding
Everything is familiar
yet none of it is mine
This is another place
my friend
and we are becoming meat
I guess we could say goodbye
or greet each other in tears
there are many wars out there
their fumes obscuring our lungs
I guess I should say I’m sorry
but I have yet to learn these words
This is another place
my friend
and we are becoming meat

EL SEBBO

what is and what is not

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 December 2007 at 8:07 am

Lost and out of time
not even sure what
words mean any longer

People speak at me
in languages I don’t
comprehend

With gestures and
too much emotion

Yet none of it
feels real

(D. James)

Strength

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 20 December 2007 at 9:17 am

Like love
strength
is a potentiality
the coiled steel spring
the flexed muscle
the fluttering of an eyelash
a laughter
gas in the tank
like love
strength
is
somewhere
between
you
and yourself
a shadow
as faithful
as shadows
can be

EL SEBBO

small plans

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 December 2007 at 11:34 am

Always the big plan
the big win
big project
dreaming of
the big money

Long trips in difficult ways
and torrid love affairs

Always the prettiest girls
coolest motorcycles
fastest cars
Never the small plan
the plain girl
the day-to-day
of working a job

What about
the simple things?
quart of milk
feed the cat
“what’s on TV”?

Don’t want
to do the homework
learn the basics
and never, ever
take the bus

(D. James)

Fckg stnd (or reality can be read between the lines)

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, seb on 18 December 2007 at 7:11 am

y kn wht I mn

L SBB

too tired to know

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 17 December 2007 at 7:52 am

Too long without sleep
too far to travel

Standing
so as not to fall

And when rest
finally comes
it is without
solace

But at least I’m in
my own bed

(D. James)

The Hermit

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, tarot poems, the queen of england, writing on 14 December 2007 at 12:11 pm

Those
who fear loneliness
have never been
alone

EL SEBBO

what I want from you

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 13 December 2007 at 9:39 am

bring me a little
peace

bring me some
solace

bring me to my
knees

keep me from
harm

keep me alive
until I no longer
make sense

then have the decency
to pull the plug
squeeze the trigger
slip the needle in

whatever it takes
to keep the end
quick and painless

do this because
you love me

do it because
you hate me

just do it
when the hour
is right
so that tomorrow
never comes

(D. James)

Virtue

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 12 December 2007 at 11:21 am

‘s like quicksilver rolling in the palm of your hand
a strong card with many colors
a woman who can stare you down
a poem you thought long forgotten
‘s like a spot of darkness in the middle of light
a sword in a merciful hand
a shameless kiss on the mouth
something you miss but you don’t know why
something you miss but you don’t know why

EL SEBBO

secrets

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 December 2007 at 7:04 am

There are things I know
that I shouldn’t
and things I know that I’m
not supposed to tell

So I just sit here
with my mouth shut

Because I’m not sure what
I’m supposed to know or not
and what I can or can’t say

Other than nothing,
which suits me fine

(D. James)

Rad poem

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 10 December 2007 at 7:22 am

Words
are
yours
to
keep

EL SEBBO

don’t sing that song you bitch

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 December 2007 at 6:16 am

Why is it the worst
pop songs get
stuck in my ear

Like bad thoughts
on a rainy day

Can’t seem to make
them go away

(D. James)

100 mg

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 6 December 2007 at 8:04 am

reality is still the hardest drug

EL SEBBO

tonight we dance

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 December 2007 at 8:53 am

We drink dust
and eat smoke
while the fire
burns within

The winter light
fades quickly
leaving a fat
lush red line
on the horizon

The animals
have all fled
their cages
tonight

And that old latin drummer
bangs on the skins

Let the party begin

(D. James)

Whatever happened to the heroes?

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 4 December 2007 at 6:53 pm

Yeah!
What happened?

EL SEBBO STRANGLERO

she said no

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 3 December 2007 at 1:05 am

Just give me two minutes
I promise to be brief
as I try to make some sense
of what I’m feeling

Through the chemically induced
alcohol driven, nicotine fit I’m on
there’s a tiny point of light
that I think might help if I
could just focus on it long
enough to hear the message

Just two fucking minutes
was all I asked
to get my head together
and realize what I wanted
most to say

But she walked away
so I lay on the floor
and lied to myself
that she’d come back
and listen to it all

(D. James)

Winter Settles In

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 29 November 2007 at 8:13 am

This time of year
the daylight fades
so fast

And cool air nips
at my skin

As I pine for
the long warm nights
of summer

(D. James)

explanations

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 27 November 2007 at 7:16 am

light
air
tree
bird
put them together
and tell me what you heard

for I cannot see
or hear
what I do not know

(D. James)

If

In art, bad poetry, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems on 26 November 2007 at 4:53 pm

If poetry wasn’t real
wouldn’t we all be insane?

EL SEBBO

inert

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 November 2007 at 8:13 am

Restless and motionless
frozen in malaise

Waiting for the next thing
not so much wasting time
as simply watching it go by

Motivation is a word
a grouping of letters
I know how to pronounce
the familiarity ends there

(D. James)

Lost

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 22 November 2007 at 2:52 pm

Too much to drink last night
Trying to collect thoughts
and finally letting them
collect themselves

monkey brain

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 November 2007 at 10:47 am

Skipping thoughts
like stones
across my mind

None making
much sense
or connecting
with another

They just fly by
like birds
headed south
for the winter

Some more colorful
than others

(D. James)

Where you’re at

In art, bad haiku, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 20 November 2007 at 8:15 am

The stars indicate no direction
and the roadsigns are all
rusty and torn
and I don’t even know
if I’m anywhere on the map
crumpled in the back pocket
of your jeans

EL SEBBO

where I’m at

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 November 2007 at 6:53 am

I was there
now I’m here

for how long
I don’t know

Ask me when
I’ve gone and
I’ll tell you
how long
I stayed

But who knows
where I’ll be
by then

(D. James)

Read the notice carefully

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england on 16 November 2007 at 8:11 am

Poetry is a mind-altering drug
Do not hesitate to overdose

EL SEBBO

well, it goes like this …

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 15 November 2007 at 7:38 am

It all started
last month
when I …

No wait
it goes back
before that
three years ago
when she …

Actually it was
when he said …
but that would have
been ten years
or more now

So it must have been
as far back as before all
that and further still
when I was just a child

Yes, of course
it all began at
the beginning
which would be
the day before
I was born

Or even before
that when my father …

(D. James)

Get a job

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england on 14 November 2007 at 7:26 am

But I have a job
I am a poet
It’s a very important job

EL SEBBO

just this

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 13 November 2007 at 5:50 am

Though there is no heaven
I have known angels

And though there is no hell
I have wrestled demons

Yet all that I know,
and all that I am
or have been
means nothing

In the face
of being
simply a man

(D. James)

Elevation

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, birthday poems, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 12 November 2007 at 1:23 pm

A cold morning
I am on the first floor
looking outside
The golden light of the sun
warms absolutely nothing
Beauty at its best

Not now or ever

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 9 November 2007 at 6:38 am

And god is not listening
to you tonight

Tear-stained cheeks
knees bruised from rocking
on the hardwood floor
The words mouthed
over and over again

But god is not listening
to you tonight

He is indifferent
as the dead you
pray for

Deaf as my grandmother

So you would do
well to stand up,
wash your face
and stop asking
for absolution
from someone else

Because god is not listening
to you tonight

But don’t take it
too hard
or make it into
something else
to be miserable
about

For he is not listening
to anyone …
tonight
or any other

(D. James)

Your birthday (To Sofie)

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 8 November 2007 at 7:18 am

Days go by like birthday candles
but the cake never goes stale
a cheap metaphor for happiness
I guess but words and images
do betray us sometimes
and maybe, maybe
that’s why we love them

EL SEBBO

beat surrender

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 November 2007 at 1:19 pm

And I remember nights out
dancing well into the
next morning

A different time
another life

Waiting for the
right song to bring
freedom and elation
in motion

Now I dance
when no one
is looking
to songs
in my head
from those
days gone by

(D. James)

A poem for Mark E. Smith

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 6 November 2007 at 9:06 am

Hell
is being stuck
in a bar
with a bad singer
singing good poetry

EL SEBBO

On a Sunday

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 November 2007 at 4:36 am

Tea and a cigar
on a lazy Sunday
in the city

People go by
kids and dogs
in tow

As the sun sets
and the air turns
cooler

They walk a little
faster
arms folded for
warmth

Days like this
everything is poetry

(D. James)

For those who don’t need words (the meaning of life)

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 2 November 2007 at 5:59 pm

RnR

El Sebbo

How long do you stay in Hollywood?

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 1 November 2007 at 7:05 am

The girls walk by
high-heeled shoes
and tight jeans
cigarettes and perfume

Pseudo bad-boys drive
around on expensive
motorcycles that rumble
like thunder

Everyone pretends to
be somebody here
even the movie stars

And the waitresses
in miniskirts
counting tips
in their heads,
worry about their boyfriend’s
drug habit

2am and the boys
from the band
stumble out
of their van
order coffee and smoke cigarettes

watching the legs
of the waitress
who just wants
to go home

Everyone is from
somewhere else
in this city that’s really
a suburb

this place of dreams
that can quickly turn
into a nightmare

And once you wake
it’s best to slink on home

(D. James)

SF impression

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 30 October 2007 at 7:49 am

City of rain
and fog

Love of Kerouac
and Ginsberg

Home of corporate
hippies

Reminds me of
the 70′s and
Karl Malden

(D. James)

The title is longer than the poet itself

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 29 October 2007 at 10:30 am

I measured myself today

EL SEBBO

urban landscape

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 26 October 2007 at 7:13 am

Red lights
and wet streets

Car horns
and homeless
shouts

Billboards
and fog

Sidewalks
and streetcars

Motion
Sound
and Light

(D. James)

Yellow Woman

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 25 October 2007 at 10:03 am

The writer speaks
The yellow woman asks questions
nobody understands
The writer answers politely
The yellow woman smiles
Outside words are pressing
their faces to the window
wondering

EL SEBBO

every night he drinks and every morning he wishes he hadn’t

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 24 October 2007 at 6:27 am

Loosing his edge
like a thread
that unravels
your sleeve

Drunk but maintaining
his balance by
closing one eye

He makes it through
another night of lies

Hums a tune
he can’t remember
the words to
but he loves it
just the same

(D. James)

Tombstone

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 23 October 2007 at 8:41 am

To DJ Eldon

This is the place where
old cowboys meet
with torn leather boots
and a toothless mouth
full of tobacco
Backs hurt
Whiskey burns
Memories flare up
A sign flaps in the wind
but you can’t read it
as it stands on the opposite
side of yer heart

EL SEBBO

Bodie

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 22 October 2007 at 1:40 pm

Dust of a ghost town
on my boots

Cold wind
blows

Old buildings groan
with defiance

Dust of a ghost town
in my mouth
as I leave this
cold, dead place
behind

(D. James)

A beautiful view (or why poems can’t be explained)

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 19 October 2007 at 6:40 am

I live in that
house that you can’t see
and you live in that
house that you can’t see

EL SEBBO

defining moments

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 18 October 2007 at 2:30 pm

My addiction
consumes me

eats away
the brain
all day
well into evening

There seems no cure
just more
more
more

Circle with no end
dog chasing it’s tail

and I wonder …
am I the dog
or the tail?

D. James

A very short history of rock and roll (1980s)

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 17 October 2007 at 6:00 am

It was while
we were listening
to the Residents
that she realized
she wasn’t
in love
with me
anymore

EL SEBBO

wheredowegofromhere

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 October 2007 at 7:32 am

out of time
out of words

out of ideas
out to lunch

out of town
out on a limb

out of my mind
all the time
with words that
mean nothing
and nowhere to
go …

but out.

(D. James)

Fucking around

In art, bad poetry, bad sex and bad breath, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, seb, snuff poems, the queen of england, writing on 15 October 2007 at 6:13 am

Today I told myself
to stop fucking around
but I told myself
I could fuck around
as much I as wanted too
because after all
it is always myself
who has the final
word

EL SEBBO

drift

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 October 2007 at 6:33 am

Drifting
through the days

Thoughts lost
and found
then lost again

Half-said sentences
of things I forgot why
I wanted to say

At least I remember
to shut up now
and again

(D. James)

No ego

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 10 October 2007 at 6:19 am

When I speak
my words
stop belonging
to me
When I speak
I disappear
in musical
air

El Sebbo

Civil night

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 9 October 2007 at 6:14 pm

Night begins
brings with it
an understanding
of darkness

Sky full of
moon and stars

Sleep and you’ll
miss it …
everything
slowed down

Thinking time
peaceful
quiet night

(D. James)

Black hole

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 8 October 2007 at 8:48 am

Alcohol
is poetry’s black hole
Things get sucked in
deformed until they disappear
leaving only the outline
of their shadow
in the painful
poetic skies

EL SEBBO

Morning breaks

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 October 2007 at 10:16 am

Sunlight crashes
through the window

knocking darkness
to the floor

They wrestle
tearing up the
apartment

making such a
racket the landlord
calls to say
“knock it off”

As if there’s
anything I could do
to stop the sunrise.

D. James

Nordic skies

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 4 October 2007 at 6:28 am

Another beautiful sky
through the kitchen window
I wonder what’s so special
about them nordic skies
Inspiration maybe

EL SEBBO

It’s what we do

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 3 October 2007 at 8:00 am

People are funny
we work
and eat
and think

We talk
and talk
and talk

Watch them
as they walk by

(and, Oh, how I love
to watch them walk by)

Then we go home
and sleep
and sleep
and sleep

People are funny

D. James

The amazing power of poetry

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 2 October 2007 at 7:57 am

Sebastien Doubinsky
is a woman

EL SEBBO

abirdisabirdisabird

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 1 October 2007 at 3:51 pm

A bird
flew so close

I felt a flutter
of air on my ear

For me it was
a literal brush
with nature

For the bird
it was nothing

I could imbue
some human emotion
on the bird
but it would
be false

As the bird
only knows
survival

Eat and Sing and Fly
and nothing more

It is I who has
the overcomplicated
life full of conflicting
emotions that need
serious analysis

The bird is
just a bird

D. James

What idiots and poets believe

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 28 September 2007 at 1:47 pm

the main difference
between men and women is sex
luck exists
words have a different meaning

EL SEBBO

up all night

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 27 September 2007 at 6:26 am

Stayed up all night
to watch the sunrise

Only to find
the morning sky
covered thick
with clouds

And another day
gone

another night
another time
another life
but the same
me

D. James

Strange things you remember (or what poetry can be made of)

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 26 September 2007 at 6:00 am

I remember that
in the summer
of 88
DJ must have had
the smallest room
in New York
closets full of books
and ghosts

Crossbones laughter
in the heat

EL SEBBO

little black holes

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 September 2007 at 7:29 am

Falling through
an emotional hole

I no longer
see myself
for either who I am
or who I could be

Waiting around
for the day,
the hour

when it will make
some semblance of sense
when the world
and my life will
finally make peace

D. James

Air Force None

In art, bad haiku, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 24 September 2007 at 6:31 am

757 isn’t a plane
it is a haiku
you uncultured morons

EL BASHO

The amazing poet that hides in my head and only comes out when no one is around

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 September 2007 at 6:14 am

Something about speed
velocity
and my mind

how quickly thoughts move
created and forgotten
before I can even write
them down

Moments of shear genius
(to me)
that I’m rarely ever
able to get right
on the page

So in my mind
I’m Frank O’Hara
I’m Pablo Neruda
I’m Jack fucking Kerouac

But on the page …
on the page
I’m a stumbling
bumbling
mumbling
clown
who can’t even spell

But in my mind …
in my mind
I’m the goddamn
demigod of poetic fire

If only …
If only I could live the
life in my head and
not the one
on the page of the world

D. James

Brand new poem in cellophane wrap (Never used before!)

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 20 September 2007 at 6:09 am

It goes like this

EL SEBBO

publishing blues in f-sharp

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 September 2007 at 7:21 am

At first they love it
“love it”

Then on second
reading there are
problems

“problems”

But they can be overcome
“with some work”

more work
another month of
edits

Then they don’t return your
phone calls

they disappear,
fall off the face of the earth

Repeat
shake
stir
rework
re-edit
but no redemption
for the sin of writing

D. James

Opiluo – To Jacques Roubaud

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 18 September 2007 at 6:39 am

the poet spoke about
jpnese haiku
it rained outside

EL SEBBO

“Down comes the night”

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 17 September 2007 at 3:33 am

Sunset

Dead-end job
driving alone
in the company van

All those miles
from home

Radio plays a song
from a long way back

Guitar sounds
“Listen to the wind blow
watch the sun rise”

And you are suddenly
awash in memories

Volume up to full now
“Damn your love
Damn your lies”

Pound the drumbeat
on the steering wheel

You are here
and there
at the same time
except now, unlike then,
you feel free

“Never break the chain”

D. James
(song lyrics lifted without permission … sue me)

Sky blues

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 14 September 2007 at 1:41 pm

looking for something in the sky
reflected in my eye in the sky
objects are larger than they appear
in the mirror of your soul
rickety-o
rocket to the moon
my heart slowly suffocates
like a sweet-eyed Laika
oh la-la-la
space conquest is a lonely business
that’s why all poets
are astronauts
doo-da-oh
my eye in the sky
telescope of love
and distant emotions

EL SEBBO

Tell it to me

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 13 September 2007 at 8:48 am

Life is a
long story

Told in intervals
occasionally changing
direction
somewhat tangential

At worst, stagnant

At best
told in a rush
to someone who
knows exactly
what you mean

And you don’t
get to the end
until it’s over

D. James

What are friends for

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 12 September 2007 at 6:30 am

This morning
Death knocked at my door
That’s how I realized
my doorbell was broken

EL SEBBO

use your words

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 September 2007 at 7:38 am

Never thought there’d be
a loss for words

No-thing to say?
How can a poem
work without them?

Unsteady, unstable
unusual, unforgivable

Hand me a dictionary
end this fucking madness

D. James

The Return of the Prodigal Poet

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 10 September 2007 at 6:26 am

 

So I’m back

yackety yack

nearly broke my back

and really need some smack

 

El SEBBO

goodnight sounds

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 30 June 2007 at 8:54 am

Listening to the late-night
sounds of cars rubbering by
on the street below

The refrigerator hum

A helicopter thumps
the sky
(this is Los Angeles)

And somewhere
in the darkness
a bird sings

One of us has
to go to sleep
I guess it will
be me

(D. James)

Blindness

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 29 June 2007 at 5:23 am

Until now
I had always
ragarded darkness
as a friend

EL SEBBO

minor transmission

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 28 June 2007 at 9:21 am

Trying for something
extraordinary

and if not that
then hoping to create
not just negate

Where does it
come from?

But more importantly
where the fuck has
it gone?

(D. James)

The Non-haiku

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 27 June 2007 at 8:20 am

No inspiration today
Fuck make up
your own images

EL SEBBO

end of the day

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 26 June 2007 at 7:16 am

With no where
to be, but here

Nothing more
to say or do

Quiet falls like
night

And I am thankful
for the rest

(D. James)

Urban Evening

In art, bad poetry, literature, poetry, seb, writing on 25 June 2007 at 8:15 am

The chrome sky shimmers lightly
attached to the cars’ antennas
I am walking home
my head full of radio waves

driving to the dawn

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 24 June 2007 at 7:31 am

A clear-night ride
through the desert

The starlight
emitted an eon
ago reminds me
that our lives are
meaningless
by comparison

The half-moon hangs
so low on the black
horizon

it’s almost as if
I could drive there
and climb on

(D. James)

Toussaint-Louverture

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 23 June 2007 at 9:14 am

He will be back
in his uniform
soaking wet
under the great blue ball
of the noon sky
He will be back
with his rusted saber
tarnished epaulettes
and muddy boots
He will back
and his voice
will be like thunder
in the forest
and his smile
will be like sunshine
in the slums
He will be back
with a thousand lwas
standing invisible
on his large shoulders
their hands slightly ruffling
his curled black hair
He will be back
and in his eyes
this world
will be reflected
upside down
at last

BLACK AND BLUES

In art, bad poetry, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 22 June 2007 at 5:09 am

Blue my mood
blue my sky

Black as
the night

My soul
wants more

(D. James)

LEAVING

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 21 June 2007 at 6:43 am

We will be leaving soon
leaving Paris and its famous streets
famous people famous dogshits
Going on a new adventure
or so we like to think
Leaving to start a new life
if life can ever be new
although it sure can be folded
and carried in your pocket
like an old letter
that you might like
to reread
once in a while

EL SEBBO ON THE GO

The midnight bird

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 20 June 2007 at 8:06 am

Out my window
well past midnight
a bird sings

drunk perhaps
lost

Blind?

Or just whistling
at the moon

A tribute to white noise from the 80s

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 19 June 2007 at 1:10 pm

Summer’s smoggy fist
has grabbed the city
Everything seems gray
It’s impossible to breathe
and sweat turns faces
into masks
It feels exactly like life

EL SEBBO

Not the life of a poet

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 18 June 2007 at 7:09 am

Financial statements
and bills litter the desk

Far too many
things here trying
to kill creativity

I’d rather be high
and smoking with
the jazzmen out
back of some nightclub,
watching the sun
come up over the city

Instead of just
writing about it

(D. James)

The morning after the party

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 17 June 2007 at 8:09 am

Empty bottles
Smell of ashes
Wine stains on the floor
Bad breath and a headache
It was a good party

running out of time

In art, bad poetry, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 June 2007 at 1:21 pm

Gotta go
gotta run

Some days seems
like there ain’t
no time at all

go
go
go

Mark a day on my calendar
sometime next week
to stop

(D. James)

The heart of the matter

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 15 June 2007 at 5:18 am

whenever you’re holding
your own bleeding heart
in your hands
picture yourself
as an Aztec king
shivering on top of a pyramid
as the evening sets in
waiting for rain
and the first colors
of spring

EL SEBBO

trying to be still

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 14 June 2007 at 9:20 am

Lost in the ticking of a clock
the errant sounds of night
fallen deep

And she in the other room
oblivious
dreaming

You try to sit still
take a moment
to be yourself

You want to plunge
a hand into your chest
snatch the heart out
of it’s bone chamber

Because there’s got to be
another way to live

Something other than
commerce

Something less like cattle
and more like soul

But still you sit
in this late-night
kitchen

Listening to the clock
and other ticking

Blood dripping on the floor
your heart in your hand
a gapping hole in your chest

And you think …
“Great, so know what?”

(D. James)

V is for their victory

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 13 June 2007 at 2:58 pm

Once again
they’ve won
and we’ve lost
No question there
and no question asked
No bagpipes to come to our rescue
and no way out the slaughter
They spoke well and we stuttered
They had muscles and we wore glasses
Our excuses are worthless
but our bruises are real
and the nurses are laughing at us
and throwing stones
It was a good fight though
and I don’t mind losing
that much
Oh well
I guess
that’s why
I’m an anarchist

EL SEBBO

morning note

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 June 2007 at 4:58 pm

Each morning I wake,
then remind myself
live the life I’ve chosen

Not the one
that’s been
handed me

(D. James)

Invisible

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 11 June 2007 at 6:00 am

Little after little
I am becoming invisible
like a reflection
on a windowpane
or a faint breeze
lifting innocent skirts
It’s not that horrible
It’s not that great either
It just is
Some people call it natural
Others call it unfair
I call it ageing
slowly becoming a ghost
among other ghosts
known or unknown

EL SEBBO

The search party

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 June 2007 at 7:25 am

A different night
another city

A life that
was not mine

or not what
mine has become

Unsure if I’m lost
or if this searching is
part of the journey

(D. James)

Lightning moves/Kings of the street

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 9 June 2007 at 8:36 am

We are the kings of nothing
but move like lightning
and leave on your eyes
a blinding scar

EL SEBBO

The fun we used to have when no one was looking

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 June 2007 at 9:17 am

In the days
when we smoked
and drank
and it seemed nothing
could ever touch us

When we argued
about nothing
or nothing that
mattered

Those hazy late nights
that bled into early
morning

Head spinning,
the new day
already a waste

Oh, how I
miss those days

(D. James)

Man on fire

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 7 June 2007 at 4:56 am

A man on fire
runs through
the woods
screaming
and laughing
and the flames
are so beautiful
under the stars
it makes me
want to laugh
and scream
with him

Left to burn

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 6 June 2007 at 10:21 am

If I told you,
wrote it down

all of it,
every last fucking
thought

Every moment,
movement

It would burn
this page

Maybe …

Or you’d walk
away,
possibly run

Then what would I
have left?

(D. James)

What Gertrude Stein really meant

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 5 June 2007 at 5:24 am

a word is a word is a word

EL SEBBO

Black

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 June 2007 at 5:32 am

Black
like the bird
that sings outside my window

or
like my thoughts
on a cloudy morning

Black
as the night
without a moon and stars

or
the deepest depths
of the sea

Black
the color of all
or nothing

(D. James)

10:15 Saturday Night

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 3 June 2007 at 12:02 pm

Went to a party last night
where someone played
old Cure songs
and a lot of good
eighties stuff
Made me think
of my youth
and of those
who crashed and burn
or simply faded away
without ever
saying goodbye
So I waved
to a couple of ghosts
I was the only one to see
and I danced danced danced
like a 43 years old fool

A

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 2 June 2007 at 2:50 pm

A page
A pen
A knife

A rant
A faint light
A cigarette

A thought
A flight
A building

A truck
A car
A polar ice cap

(D. James)

My King

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 1 June 2007 at 4:56 am

My king is made of metal
rusted and cranky he is
like an old car’s wheel

My king is made of cloth
wrinkled and smooth
like an old lady’s cheek

My king is made of bones
white and shiny
like power always is

3 a.m. black

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 31 May 2007 at 2:09 pm

Stifled by emotion
waiting for a word

If only they came
easily, as song to
a bird

I long for the morning
that will end this
terrible night

Shadowcaster

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 30 May 2007 at 5:01 am

It’s the time of the shadowcaster
when the streets are turning blue
and the sky becomes distant
He is frightening because
he can turn friends and lovers
into dark silhouettes
and make beauty transparent
but one should never forget
that he is the only one
who can turn
violence into whispers
and ugliness into mystery

EL SEBBO

It’s not the heat …

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 29 May 2007 at 3:09 am

The city sweats
sidewalks melt

The promise of
a squall falls short

People droop
in the humidity
that will not abate

It’s good to be home

(D. James)

The awful truth

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 28 May 2007 at 9:19 am

Some say
that sex
is better
than poetry
That’s wrong
Sex is
much better

EL SEBBO

It’s never about what I think it’s about

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 27 May 2007 at 4:51 am

Say one thing
mean another
think a third

How do we
communicate
when nothing
makes sense?

Unconscious animal
moving through
the day

Trying to find
meaning in
a word
a look
a gesture

Knowing there
is nothing I can do
to stop these random
inaccurate thoughts

From creeping
crawling
making themselves
known

But I keep thinking,
someday
all this will make
perfect sense …

Someday

(D. James)

Perfume and cigarettes

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 26 May 2007 at 5:37 am

There is something I miss
in this healthy world
- the mixed scents
of perfume and cigarettes
giving beautiful women
this half-temptation
half-suicide aura
that reminded us
every day
that each minute
has a shadow

EL SEBBO

speakless

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 May 2007 at 6:45 am

There are times
like now
when I get
tired of talking

These words
we toss at
each other

Repeating ourselves
seemingly endlessly

It feels like running
in place

(D. James)

Morning poem

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 24 May 2007 at 5:02 am

Another morning
another poem
is this genius
or stupidity?
Like an old king
I decide not to answer
as I stumble out of bed
to make some
hopefully
inspiring coffee

EL SEBBO CANSADO

wait … wait … there’s something …

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 May 2007 at 7:32 am

There’s something
I want to say

but just can’t
get it to come out
right

This urgent feeling
that needs expressing

Don’t know it’s name
or where it comes
from

not even sure
how to go about
getting it out

Like a mad pinball
rattling around
in my soul

Perhaps I just need
to let it roll

(D. James)

Greek gods

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 22 May 2007 at 5:17 am

To Seferis, Elytis, Ritsos, Cavafy, etc…

Greek poetry
is probably
the best in the world
just like the beer
commercial says
It is blue
like a spotless sky
crushing the shoulders
and elevating the soul
like the turning
of the head
and the possibility
of a smile
It is white
like the bones
in my hand
or the proud
stones left behind
by forgotten
architects
Yes
the best poets
in the world
but it is normal
After all
these people
invented
ruins

EL SEBBO

today’s questions

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 May 2007 at 6:35 am

How much time
is left before
the curtain falls?

Does peace reside
in the center of nothing

or is there no comfort
to be found?

(D. James)

What will happen tomorrow?

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 20 May 2007 at 8:52 am

What will happen tomorrow
when the rain comes
and thunderbolts strike
at random?
Will I open my window
and applaud
or will I crawl
underneath my bed
praying to a God
who doesn’t believe
in me?
Will I run outside
laughing and singing
or sit in my room
shaking my head
and saying
“I told you so”?
Will I buy an umbrella
and walk alone in
the shiny streets
or will invite you in
and make a large
pot of coffee
so we can
chat about summer
and the passing
of the clouds?

EL SEBBO

good life

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 May 2007 at 5:45 am

Pay attention,
the man said

It’s your fucking life
you’re living over there

There ain’t no
do-overs here
so make it good

’cause it’s done
gone before you
know what happened

(D. James)

Why Miller, Cendrars and Durrell are my friends

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 18 May 2007 at 4:58 am

Because they are great writers
because they were friends
because they are always a great inspiration
because they agree to everything I say
because they like what I write
because they don’t take up much space
because they are dead

EL SEBBO

poetic contradiction

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 17 May 2007 at 7:05 am

How many contradictions
can a poet make
in his life
before he is turned
into a politician?

(D. James)

Why poetry isn’t easy for us men (or “Tsvetaieva vs Brodsky”)

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 16 May 2007 at 5:09 am

The best poets
are always
women
and children
Women use words
to resist
and exist
in this
closed and unfair
world
Children
are natural
poets
gathering words
and images
like a colorful
jigsaw puzzle
But for us
men
ah
things
are different
because
the words
we use
were given
not taken
and the images
forged
not gently tamed
and like kings
on a tacky throne
we believe
in everything
we say
although
our words
simply roll
at our feet
like the tiny
plastic pearls
of a broken
necklace

LA SEBBA

never take advice from a poet who doesn’t take any himself

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 15 May 2007 at 7:04 am

Think of what
you have

that you don’t
really need

Sell half
and give away
the rest

You’ll either
feel freed

or deep regret

I have no idea

(D.James)

One French Haiku

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 14 May 2007 at 5:34 am

Nothing inspires me today
This is France
after all

LE SEBBO

I am made in your image

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 13 May 2007 at 7:42 am

For Seb

A stranger enters
the town square
and says

I am the second coming
I am the last prophet
I am the one and only

But the people ignore him
so he stands there silently
for 40 days and 40 nights

On the last day
he says unto them

I am the one
I am the son and moon
I have but one message

And still the people ignore him

Finally, as he begins to walk away
a man of the town asks,
“Where are you going?”

To which he replies
Do not follow me

And this is how the people know
he is the one true messiah,
the final prophet

They bow before him
but he says unto them

Bow to no one
Follow no one
Believe in yourselves
This is the only truth

To which the people reply
by building colossal monuments
and writing many books
about his teachings and sayings

For eons they preach
and pray for his eventual return

They pray and wait
and wait and pray

But he is a man
of his word and
will not return,
for they have
not learned the
lesson

(D. James)

Night has

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 12 May 2007 at 6:23 am

To Zamiatin and a few other courageous souls

Night has fallen upon us
impeccably blue
with a few artificial stars
bringing promises
of warmer winds
and colder days
A night
everybody should love
and why not?
It seems so perfect
Protective
Absolute
Strong
Merciless
Yes night has fallen upon us
but we still have a lighter
and a couple of cigarettes
to keep us warm while
we are waiting for
our frailties to be
publicly mocked
and justly punished
under the hard blue sky

EL SEBBO

babbling

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 May 2007 at 6:33 am

Snippets of overheard
conversations

phrase fragments

Strung together they
speak a major plan

of non-sense
and nothing

What are all these
words for anyway?

A question to the weatherman

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 10 May 2007 at 5:11 am

Why is it
we can’t predict
the weather
five days
ahead
and we can predict
the apocalypse
ten years from now?

EL SEBBO SKEPTICO

darkness falls

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 9 May 2007 at 6:52 am

Darkness falls
to the floor
and I am lost
in the ensuing
silence

It remains there
until morning

Sunlight crashes
through the window
scattering broken bits
of glass over my mind

All is well again
for the moment

(D. James)

A cheap thought

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 8 May 2007 at 8:29 am

If we knew
where we
were going
would we
go there?

EL SEBBO

Take me quick

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 May 2007 at 7:22 am

I don’t want to die
in winter

It’s too cold

Take me when it’s warm
so I won’t mind
the cold hand
on my soul

I don’t want to die
in the light of day

It’s too bright

Take me when it’s night
so I won’t see your approach
or know the hour

Take me on some
late summer night
when I have nothing
to look forward to

Take me when I’m happiest
for it does not come
often

So take me quickly
and make it good

Or I will be forced
to send you on your way
and have you take me
another day

(D. James)

Poetry is for losers

In art, bad poetry, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 6 May 2007 at 9:00 am

I went to a poetry reading
the other night
and of course
I drank too much
smoked too much
and when I went
to the bathroom
I saw the silvery handle
vibrate a million miles
too fast
and I thought
fuck
what is this
poetry thing
coming to?

EL SEBBO

something out of …

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 May 2007 at 6:04 am

I’ve nothing
to say

I’ve nothing
to write

I’ve nothing
to do

I’ve nothing
I want

I’ve nothing
and nothing

I am nothing

I’m gone

(D. James)

and say it like you mean it

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 3 May 2007 at 8:38 am

Say yes …
do not keep
me waiting
any longer

Time moves too
too fast

and I am
aging as
I await your
answer

Say yes …
make me
happy

I die a little more
as each moment
goes by and I think
you may yet say no

So say yes
just say it
go on
it’s easy

Repeat after me …

(D. James)

Objects in mirror are vainer then they appear

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 2 May 2007 at 5:01 am

Poetry
isn’t about
beauty
Poetry
is about
things
that no one
thought
beautiful
before
That’s why
poets should
never use
mirrors
except
to reflect
the sun
in some
idiot’s eyes

EL SEBBO

Take me … do it now

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 1 May 2007 at 6:07 am

My mind
melts
like butter

My heart
dissolves
like sugar

There is a
deep hunger
unsatisfied by
food or drink

Where are you now
vicious one?

Take me under
the waterline,
end this longing

(D. James)

Why I worked as a bouncer

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 30 April 2007 at 5:21 am

Most poets
are against violence
because
most poets
are whimps

EL SEBBO MACHO

Fleeing for my poetic life

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 29 April 2007 at 5:47 am

Time
runs
out
and
nothing
can
salvage
this poem

(D. James)

Art lyrique

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 28 April 2007 at 6:10 am

The poet is always right
The poet is always wrong
Both assessments are true
now get your ass in gear

EL SEBBO

bumbling be

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 27 April 2007 at 2:57 am

Five years ago …
ten years from now …
where was,
or will, I be

Will I be?

Asked again and again
what did I want to be

If only I could figure out
what that me was supposed to be that wanted to be
or even just be

Free?

But from what
or of what
dare I say,
I know not

(D. James)

Broken spring

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 26 April 2007 at 5:08 am

Spring is back
It’s warm
Dog shit smells
Flowers whither
The city sneers
Spring is back
and my back is broken
I guess
it’s midlife crisis
setting in
or just
the seasons
turning wrong
Ah well
Spring ain’t
what it used to be
and neither am I
thank god
for us both

EL SEBBO SWEATO

memento mori

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 April 2007 at 4:18 am

I catch a toe
on the bedside table

For a moment
the pain brings a
rush

Then a loud burst
of sound

This is what it is to feel
like a fragile old goat

In the end
no matter how
crafty you are
or how many books
you read

You’re still just a mess
of nerves and fleshy parts
constantly being reminded
what it means to be human

(D. James)

Fire

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 24 April 2007 at 5:18 am

Sunday
was election day
On my way to vote
I saw a homeless man
build a fire
on the pavement
The flames raged
high and yellow
under the cold
morning sky
I wonder
if it wasn’t
an omen

One for the Old Guy

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 23 April 2007 at 4:49 am

for Mike Blake

Standing in the supermarket
when a pop song
from the mid-eighties
plays over the aisle of canned goods

Memories of an old friend -
long gone – wash over me

Suddenly I find myself
holding back the tears
like the song says

Wondering, where did the years go

Standing there thinking,

“Don’t fucking cry now,
ya pussy”

Just keep holding on

(D. James)

Terror Sutra (or why do we always realize too late that it’s too late?)

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 22 April 2007 at 6:25 am

To Richard Fariña

Monkey-Demon Monkey-Demon
where are you?
Here I am Here I am
right behind you

EL SEBBO PSYCHEDELICO

Days gone by

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 21 April 2007 at 6:01 am

These days
there always seems
something needs doing

A list of tasks
bills
phone calls
e-mails
laundry
shopping

How did I live
my life at twenty?

The only thing
on the list then
was to drink
another beer
smoke another
cigarette

Where oh where
have those languishing
days gone?

(D. James)

A lyrical moment

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 20 April 2007 at 6:46 pm

Poetry can happen
at the strangest
of times
This morning
as I was brushing my teeth
I suddenly thought
of this poem

EL SEBBO

The real battle

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 April 2007 at 6:59 am

In another country
we swept north
like the hand of god

In Basra we did
door-to-doors

Killed men
at close range
in Baghdad

Left a leg
and most of
one hand
back in Falluja

Now at home
no one seems
to know
how to put us
back together again

All-American,
treated like
Half a person

Did right
by our country
In the end
left with the nagging
question:

Will it do
right by us?

(D. James)

Home

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 18 April 2007 at 11:58 am

We are
in the back
of a taxi
zooming
towards the city
and its
shiny smog
Why do we call
home
something
that isn’t
and is
definitely
trying
to kill us?

Is it
because
we are stupid
or perhaps
because
we have
no other
or simply
because
we need
to call
something
home?

EL SEBBO BACK IN FRANCE

Lost in a reverie

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 17 April 2007 at 4:41 pm

Lost in a reverie
of a life I never had

Keeping quiet in
a noisy room

I’ve always believed
I knew something
about myself
or life
or people

But when I realize
I know nothing at all

Only then am I
finally set free

(D. James)

Dawn

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 16 April 2007 at 4:57 am

I am awakened
by the beautiful song
of the birds in the garden

It is four in the morning
Fucking birds

EL SEBBO

sunshine

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 15 April 2007 at 9:16 am

If the sun don’t shine
I don’t smile

But when the clouds part
the world seems easier to bear

If only I could find
that place in me
where the sun shines
no matter what the weather

(D. James)

Denmark is like America in the Sixties

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 14 April 2007 at 6:32 am

Life here
is like America
in the sixties
with money
cars
beautiful girls
happy children
and tons of flags

A perfect vintage
advertisement
without blacks
Vietnam
drugs
and rock’n’roll

I wonder
if they’re
not
missing
something

EL SEBBO

no sense

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 13 April 2007 at 6:32 am

taping on the keys
making something close to sense
or nothing at all

(D. James)

AARHUS

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 12 April 2007 at 7:54 am

Walking through the beautiful
green cemetery
overlooking the harbour

I put my steps
into the steps
of my own ghost

It is blue today
and slightly cloudy

EL SEBBO

one way to live

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 April 2007 at 9:13 am

ask many questions
die with a few unanswered
this should be your goal

(D. James)

The awful truth

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 10 April 2007 at 7:44 am

Today
I am leaving
for Denmark
I am taking the bus
It will be
a 19 hours
trip
I am 43
years old
I am not
a crazy
beatnik
poet
I
am
broke

EL SEBBO

Life in full

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 9 April 2007 at 5:43 am

At times
life can seem
to pile up on you

Things take over
clutter the way

Events you didn’t
foresee

A rising tide

But still you
stand there

Battered and wet
the tang of salt
in your mouth

This is what
it means to
live in the world

This is how we
face adversity

It is this
or drown

(D.James)

News

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 8 April 2007 at 4:34 am

I am wondering
what this homeless man
is reading in the newspaper
Is he trying to keep up
with the insanity of this world
or is he finding reason
through his own insanity?
Or is he simply
reading the newspaper
trying to remember
how it was when
the world was normal
and strangely
missing
the pain?

EL SEBBO

If only it were a movie

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 April 2007 at 7:28 am

And this is not a movie
I remind myself

These memories carried around
in my head

And this is not a movie
these days upon days
night after night

These boredoms
these anxieties
these feelings of fear

But this is not a movie
I keep telling myself
this is my life

Yet I don’t know what
to do with it

This is my life
and this is not a movie

I know
because if it were
who the fuck
would sit through it?

(D. James)

The Siren

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 6 April 2007 at 5:17 am

In the subway this morning
a woman sang so beautifully
it almost made me happy
to go to work

Music can be dangerous
sometimes

EL ULYSSO

1001 nights of the wandering soul

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 5 April 2007 at 8:21 am

She is tall
she is short
she is of medium
height

Her hair is straight
long
curly
cut in a bob

It is brown
black
blond
red

Her eyes are hazel
brown
blue
gray

She smells of jasmine
rose water
Obsession
bubble bath
but never patchouli

She speaks softly
in a loud voice
with a rasp
sounds like
a little girl

Curses like a sailor
is demure
keeps to herself
is the life of the party

She smokes
and drinks
is stone-cold sober
never did a drug
is a junkie
a thief
a liar
virtuous beyond belief

There is a naivete
an intelligence
an arrogance
self-confidence
self-hatred

She is everywhere
you pass her on the street
see her in the cafe
desire her at the end of the bar

And though she
looks like her
and that one like this

In fact they
are like fingerprints
snowflakes
leaves

No one ever
exactly like another
so treat her accordingly

(D. James)

Empirism

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 4 April 2007 at 1:11 pm

One God
One people
Hell on earth

EL SEBBO

Hold the line

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 3 April 2007 at 8:10 am

How much left
is there to go?

Too much time
not enough money

Too much want
not enough desire

Keep the faith
(whatever yours is)

Words can be
used to heal
as much as
to harm

(D. James)

Lao Tzu said

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 2 April 2007 at 6:23 am

Like life
TV is
a random poem
full of ads
and beautiful people
Like life
TV
is a wonderful
world of colors
in which
the actors
do not remotely
look like you
and even if
you can
switch it off
it will carry on
without you
So aim your complaints
at life, not TV

EL SEBBO TELEVISUAL

Diner Life

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 1 April 2007 at 7:14 am

Always open
always busy

except that one time
when the pipe burst

water all over
the floor

like life
drained out

Pictures of the
long dead
on the walls

Long haired girls
in the booths

The staff moves
with frenetic grace

And everyone
drinks coffee, black

(D. James)

When we smoked

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 31 March 2007 at 6:06 am

When we smoked
life was much easier
We had beautiful cars
with supersonic fins
and lipstick red tail-lights
We had flat-roofed houses
with swimming pools
of impeccable blue
and custom-designed wives
that hummed jazz tunes
as they fixed our ties
We drank bright colored cocktails
and wore steam-pressed clothes
watching with a distant eye
the ghettos burn in Panavision
Yes life was easier then

We were already dead
but we didn’t care

EL SEBBO

hands

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 30 March 2007 at 7:59 am

Hand of love
hand of pain

Who have yours
touched
and how

What’s on them?

Dirt, grime, blood,
the scent of soap

What do they tell
others

Do we know
the truths that
lie in our hands

(D.James)

Things you learn as you grow up

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 29 March 2007 at 5:05 am

A poem a day
keeps the women away

EL SEBBO

Poetic Gamble

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 28 March 2007 at 3:47 am

Is there no fixed
meaning in words

Are they merely
like dice,
toss them

Win or lose

(D. James)

Daddy’s big day out

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 27 March 2007 at 5:45 am

Went to the book fair
drank with my friends
smoked some
then drank again
Didn’t go home
Didn’t eat dinner
but went straight
to see more friends
play some rock’n'roll
in a club downtown
Finally went home
sweated some
shook some
puked some
and crashed in bed

Awesome

EL SEBBO VIEJO

Clean

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 26 March 2007 at 4:09 am

Water for washing
Water for rain

Where does it
all come from?

And why am
I never able
to stay clean?

(D. James)

And who the fuck are you?

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 25 March 2007 at 9:39 am

I
am
the
poet
and
who
the fuck
are
you?

EL SEBBO

hopeful melancholy

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 24 March 2007 at 5:53 am

In a dream
I searched for
myself

and found
nothing

In the rain
I see clearly
the shelter

In life
I see death
as well as
the other
way round

But I have
yet
to find my
way home

(D. James)

I protest

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 23 March 2007 at 6:02 am

Some things
can happen
for a reason
but
I proclaim
that
death
never does

EL SEBBO L13-WC

Sing that song you bitch

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 22 March 2007 at 5:49 am

A bird sings his song
sounds like a broken whistle
still it brings the sun

(D. James)

Just a thought

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 21 March 2007 at 5:55 am

How come
you can always
remember where
you have bought
your clothes
but not
the exact features
of those you loved
when they were still alive?

EL SEBBO

madeleine

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 20 March 2007 at 8:01 am

A trick of
the mind

Memory

Not what’s actually
happened

but what you believe
to be so

Yet it makes
up who you are
or at least
who you think
yourself to be

What has passed,
that which is no more

But lives
in your bones,
shapes your face

and makes you
feel whole

For who would
you be without
memory?

The elusive
unreliable
self-truth

The only record
you have to live
by

Like a taste
of something
you can’t quite
name

(D. James)

A one, a two

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 19 March 2007 at 6:36 am

Some people say
that silence
is the poet’s best companion
dividing the invisible
and stressing the thought
Like a familiar
it rests on the shoulder
or makes you coffee
when you come home
Yes they say silence
is the poet’s best friend
wife or mother

Personally I prefer music

EL SEBBO MUSICAL

Scratch

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 18 March 2007 at 9:43 am

Words like broken glass
scratch my throat
silence me forever

(D. James)

Silent Night (dream)

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 March 2007 at 1:28 am

for red-headed Heather (R.I.P)

Desire is red
while soul is yellow
and heart is black

Silent footsteps
in the clubhouse

Silent screams
at the theater

The dream speaks
of mad, deadly bikers
that you have tamed

Silent death of love
laid at your feet

I am not dangerous enough for you

(D. James)

Bath time

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 15 March 2007 at 6:20 am

Watching
my son and my daughter
laugh and splash
in the bathtub
I suddenly realize
that to love
is to accept
mortality

EL SEBBO

Burnt

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 14 March 2007 at 1:15 am

Words like fire
burn bright
for the moment

Then eventually
die out

like passions
of young
lovers

And the rebel
too

(D. James)

There is no glue for a poem

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 13 March 2007 at 6:36 am

This haiku
broke
like a cup

EL SEBBO

You can’t go there

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 March 2007 at 4:01 am

All this time spent
looking for light
in the darkness

Groping, stumbling
looking for something
in nothing

Trying so hard to
find a meaning

Yet denying
true substance

Go back
Go back
Go back

To where you know
to what you were

But you can’t
because that doesn’t
exist any longer

Perhaps it
never did

(D. James)

Cheap Valentine

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 11 March 2007 at 10:37 am

My love
take this flower
especially written for you

It doesn’t need water
and it will never lose its petals

you can give it any color you want
fragrance thorns anything

and if I should die before you
you can choose to burn it
erase it crumple it

or simply put in on
your refrigerator door
under a heart-shaped magnet

EL SEBBO ROMANTICO

Dreaming of a long, long, remarkable life

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 March 2007 at 9:25 am

I’ve spent countless
nights without sleep

just to be awake
when the sun rose

Climbed a thousand
steps to stand
over the city

and watch its
lights shimmer
in twilight

Sometimes lost
and wounded
Others found
and made whole

All this
and I’m only
half-way
home

(D. James)

Looking for things in the sky

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 9 March 2007 at 11:12 am

“Daddy, look!”
My son points
at the thin white stripe
of an airplane
plowing the sky
and I tell myself
that for him
this is only
the beginning
of long years
of wondering
what blue
really means

EL SEBBO

QnoA

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 8 March 2007 at 8:33 am

Each day
new questions

Are we here
simply to ask
them?

Do they have
definitive answers?

“When will
I die?”

“How should
I live?”

“Why is Hell
easier to find
than Heaven?”

Will these questions
drive us or
drive us crazy?

“Could you even
call this a poem?”

Should this be
the end or
have I already
gone too far?

(D. James)

Tips not included

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 7 March 2007 at 6:24 am

In this restaurant
no one ever leaves the table
The glasses are always half-full
and the food randomly prepared
Everyone’s a waiter
yet everyone is served
This restaurant never closes
and nobody can remember
when it first opened

No one knows if it’s heaven
or if it’s hell
but it certainly is
the center
of every conversation

EL SEBBO

Stasis

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 6 March 2007 at 8:24 am

In a quandary
a bind

Can’t keep it straight
in my mind

Want to kick
to throw
break

Something
anything
nothing at all

Scream my throat
raw

Create something
out of this destructive
compulsive

Fucked up
state of mind

(D. James)

What does it mean when they say that?

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 4 March 2007 at 6:32 am

Surrounded by feelings
like small scraps
of paper

Tiny notes
to myself
of what’s been
and where I’m at

Scatter them with
a rush of breath

Or light a match
and watch them
burn

(D.James)

Femme

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 2 March 2007 at 7:44 am

That I will
never understand

The depths of
emotional complexity

Thoughts tied
to feelings in ways
I cannot fathom

This, my fate,
to be near
yet far

To hear
but not see

Though at least
I know this
and do not foolishly

Think I know
much more

(D. James)

Wind

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 28 February 2007 at 3:37 am

Reminds me
of vast spaces

The pain and beauty
of isolation

Trees grown
on angles
of endurance

Taut cables
straining to stay
in line

It’s sound,
that constant voice
of desolation

Can you hear
it now?

(D. James)

Wreckage

In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 26 February 2007 at 8:22 am

We said so much
to each other
about the other

Yet never bothered to
listen
to one another

So now we don’t speak
at least not to each other
but perhaps, occasionally
about the other

I know I do
I’m doing it now
What about you?

(D. James)

3:23 AM

In art, literature, poem, poetry, seb, writing on 25 February 2007 at 9:38 am

When in bed
I turn my back
to my wife
my kids
everything
and I stare
into the void
until I feel
vulnerable
confused
abandoned

Then

I know
that in my life
I have made
all
the right choices

EL SEBBO

Meaning

In art, d. james, poem, poetry on 24 February 2007 at 6:21 am

If I lay my thoughts out
one after the other
in a straight line

Pick each sentence apart
word by word

Then break those apart
each letter separate, alone

They would scatter
in the wind

And mean nothing at all

(D. James)

Home blues

In art, poem, poetry, seb on 23 February 2007 at 9:38 am

Surrounded by laughing children
I watch a distant TV
while my mother
cooks a familiar meal

Nothing here is unknown to me
yet many questions remain
such as the weather tomorrow
and why are our bones so white

EL SEBBO

The Sweet Taste of Self-Pity

In art, d. james, poem, poetry on 22 February 2007 at 10:05 pm

Who got my self-confidence?
I walk around nervous
and afraid
Wondering, who got my self-confidence?

Whatever was alllotted me was misplaced
or simply walked away

I look around at this one and that
Maybe he got it, or she
shit, somebody must have got more than me

Check your pockets
dig deep and tell me if you’ve got any, really

Because I’m curious
was I short changed, or do we all feel this way?

I used to get mine out of a bottle

Now I don’t know

Maybe I never had any

Who got my self-confidence?
or his?
or hers?

Who got my self-confidence?
or yours?
or anybodys?

Maybe I’ll ask on the subway

“Excuse me, does anybody have some self-confidence to spare?”

“Excuse me, has anyone seen my self-confidence today?”

D. James

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