(no subject)

[wicked-descent.livejournal.com]

The Quiet World
Jeffrey McDaniel

In an effort to get people to look
in each other's eyes more,
and also to appease the mutes,
the government has decided
to allot each person exactly one hundred
and sixty-seven words per day.

When the phone rings, I put it to my ear
without saying hello. In the restaurant
I point at chicken noodle soup.

I am adjusting well to the new way.
I have placards for every occasion.
Each morning, I invent a new phrase
which I print on a t-shirt,
like The Humans Are Coming
or Karaoke For Mutes.

Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.

When she doesn't respond
I know she's used up all her words
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.

Comments

[eggplantia5.livejournal.com]

love this- thanks for posting it.

[sparkle-faery.livejournal.com]

:)

[iamkatia.livejournal.com]

When she doesn't respond
I know she's used up all her words
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.


Wow - I love this.

[trippettarue.livejournal.com]

wonderful!

[moireach.livejournal.com]

This is one of my favorite poems, but somehow I'd never seen the placard stanza, so thank you!

[endoftheaffair.livejournal.com]

"karaoke for mutes" sounds new. is this a revised version? where did u find this? thx.