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 ‘words’
nothing and nothing at all
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 11 February 2012 at 4:10 amand so goes the morning
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 25 January 2012 at 3:30 pmstaring
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 pmthe 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 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)
wanting only waits
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 10 May 2010 at 2:00 pmtelegraphing
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)
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 pmall 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)
old flame same heat
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 28 April 2010 at 2:22 pma 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)
everything there is … everything
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 31 March 2010 at 2:14 pmI 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)
dunno
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 22 March 2010 at 2:15 pmso 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)
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 pmyou 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)
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 pmdon’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)
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 pmsummon 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)
storm clouds passing
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 25 January 2010 at 2:25 pmwhat 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)
poetry
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 18 December 2009 at 3:50 pmwhat 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)
knock em out
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 7 December 2009 at 4:05 pmTossing
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)
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)
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)
everything
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 16 July 2009 at 3:37 pmAnother 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 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)
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)
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)
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 pmhigh 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)
player piano
In art, bad sex and bad breath, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 2 February 2009 at 5:00 pmit 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)
what does it mean?
In art, d. james, literature, overweight champions, poem, poetry, writing on 23 January 2009 at 5:00 pmUp 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)
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)
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)
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 amTalk 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)
Nowhere, actually
In art, d. james, literature, poem, poetry, writing on 6 May 2008 at 7:16 amThey 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)
