since I had nothing to say and had to say something

said nothing
forgot what I knew
cast my soul
shape
a letter
let it be
leapt off
broke form
potential
closer to human
more humble
nothing in word
fails to tell
places inside
who could tell
words broke
kept together
duct tape
call them poetry
write lines
similar lines
without pauses
without respite
someone get it
that damn phone
always ringing
almost always
probably for you
I'm not home
forgot
how it goes
your move
a tissue
sorry
tea
for certain
shall you
honey
no sugar
many varieties
both one and the other
the path
never tells
just waits
a neighbor
next door
thrashing
at midnight
knell of bells
a necromancer
scent of pepper
incandescent
white whipped wind
nonsense too
what neighbor
other color
never knew
said nothing

13 comments:

Jon said...

I tried to copy the pace of Fern's last poem which I thought really nailed the patter of the Beckett text.

LINK

human being said...

everyone always has something to say in a way...

'i-have-nothing-to-say'
is a hackneyed compliment we offer to the listener...
i don't take it...
caw caw...
thus spake the rude crow!
;)

Jon said...

hmmm... I don't know... you think there's some hidden arrogance in writing??? or is it not even hidden???

human being said...

there is something there for sure... but why arrogance, Jon?

think it is partly hidden... that's why it's so beautiful.... like a full moon partly covered by clouds...

Jon said...

maybe arrogance in that the writer feels that there is some special purpose in the word... that it's something not just for themselves...

I'm grasping at straws here... some thoughts I've been wrestling with for a while...

why do we create???

agreed... maybe arrogance isn't the right idea...

perhaps closer to vanity???

to have nothing to say but to have to say something anyways...

Harlequin said...

Beckett's patter... perhaps the saying in and out and off of it is also a patter ... I liked the to and fro of these comments and how they connect and cast...

I keep seeing a necromancer and duct tape and that juxtapose is an odd one... but it is now here as a possible partnering that might not have even met...if not for some (s)patter

I am convinced that the desire to express is more than a legacy of presumption... it is a way of listening to a call... and it is not an exclusive call... if I have learned anything since entering into the blogging adventure, it is how pervasive is the desire to express ... and how much a privilege it is... as long as I keep my eyes on my own privilege (s) ... I hope to keep the arrogant and didactic nasties at bay...

this has been...ok..IS... a slippery slope... but I am glad I am on it...

human being said...

oh yes Harlequin... slippery but we are all glad to be on it...

Jon...

'it's something not just for themselves...'

so they share it, eh? this cannot be arrogance... or vanity...
its love... i see it as love...
communicating is love... it's human... just when you share, you can change both yourself and others...
just through sharing we come to gain knowledge...

teachers know more not because they read more... just because they share what they have...

i don't say writers have the intention to teach...
i say the nature of writing and art in general is this... even when the artist doesn't want to do so...

the walking man said...

My first belief about any poetry is the image presented is the important point. Not necessarily the image the poet expresses but rather the image taken by the reader.

In saying nothing, a seeming random configuration of words you present many images to the reader, turning a blank space of nothing into an actual city; alive with imagery in movement.

It is only the title which is a misdirection, a well timed sleight of hand from the magician which makes the audience satisfied in having "heard" someone say nothing.

human being said...

"Not necessarily the image the poet expresses but rather the image taken by the reader."

exactly!
thus:

"the infinite voices of the text"

KaliDurga said...

"hmmm... I don't know... you think there's some hidden arrogance in writing??? or is it not even hidden???"

Easy to see it as arrogance or vanity, but might it also not be... need? I know that my own attempts at writing are part "Look at me, look what I can do", but also part "Look at me, can you relate to me?" If we keep the words to ourselves, how will we ever reach out?

Jon said...

thank you all for your responses... I'm not dodging this issue and I'll take up your ideas... I want to let my thoughts percolate for a time...

welcome to KaliDurga and the walking man!

back soon...

Jon said...

I'm back! Transformed...

I've been doing some interior work these last few days about this art and what I'm doing with it...

I'm really happy to tell you that I feel like I've come to a new place... I've never been more sure of the value of the word and the craft... I'm sure that it's in no small part due to the friendships and thoughts of friends in this forum...

thanks to you all so much...

the word is a necessity... it is a must... all I want to do is write...

human being said...

oh it's a bit late... but

welcome back dear butterfly...
thanks for showing your wings to us...
:)