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)
Posts Tagged ‘riddle’
nothing and nothing at all
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 February 2012 at 4:10 amwhat are we
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 24 January 2012 at 3:57 amlight 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)
more questions than you know what to do with
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 January 2012 at 11:23 pmwhite 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 pmthis 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 pmand 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)
following a path
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 19 May 2010 at 1:25 pmyears 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)
what do you say?
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 April 2010 at 1:34 pmI’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 pmto 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)
this is this
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 7 April 2010 at 2:16 pmthis 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)
should have been over awhile ago
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 29 March 2010 at 1:50 pmhere’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)
confused? me too
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 24 March 2010 at 2:17 pmup 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)
nothing to say
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 March 2010 at 2:14 pmthere are times
like now
when there is
nothing to say
and so
I say
what’s
right there
” … “
(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 pmin 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 pmthere 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)
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 pmI’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)
quietly approaching
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 29 January 2010 at 2:22 pmthere 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)
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 pmWhen 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)
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 pmlike 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)
life bends
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 1 September 2009 at 7:30 pmautumn …
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 pmWe 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 pmwhatever 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)
do something
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 12 July 2009 at 6:41 pmexhausted
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)
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 pmwhen 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)
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 amStayed 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)
whatif
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 21 April 2009 at 4:16 pmwhat 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 pmThere 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 pmcan’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)
mind fuck
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 9 April 2009 at 11:00 amhaving 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 pmI 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)
unbeknownst
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 9 March 2009 at 4:22 pmhow 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)
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 pmBourbon 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 pmSee 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)
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 amThe 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 amIf 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)
myths
In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 21 December 2008 at 10:50 amtraded 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)
riddle me this …
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 15 December 2008 at 5:00 pmWithout 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 pmI 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)
self-referential riddle #1
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 22 May 2008 at 7:00 amIf 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)
