i wrote this for the writing a blank challenge, but then got distracted by the 4th of july holiday, and then by summer in general. this a was a fun challenge, really enjoyed, sorry i missed the deadline
i draw a blank and put it in a frame
a gilded thing
i make a blanket statement
and sign
my name
and like a cockroach in the toilet bowl
i know its beautiful
and the fish in the fish bowl never knows it so good
and like the endless supply of old mattresses
behind rotting old apartment
complexes
the way the trashman hauls them away
the way the tenets bring more
we forget how to sleep
we forget
how to pay our rent
i draw a blank
you write a check
i draw a blank and a tree springs up
i draw a blank and the lady in a lake floats up with some-kind-of-a-stick
i draw a blank, and it is good and it is right
i draw a blank and a blank draws back
nothing surprises no one
or everyone, or anyone
nothing surprises anyone
anymore
history is not a mystery
it’s a rollercoaster
i’ll
draw you a picture
but need to be psychic to see it
need to be drunk
to buy
a ticket
i draw a blank, and a critic screams fake
so i draw another
but this time with more thunder
like shooting rubber bands at stars
like seeing angels in parking lot oil stains
a think tank running out of think
a tank with no artillery shells
shooting blanks and blaming that blanketiy-blank-blank
for
all of it
like three blackbirds on a tree limb
like playing the shell game on the seashore
i’m speaking only in blanks, i’m throwing blank paint by the
bucket
all of it sticking to nothing
i count backwards from infinity, draw a blank and think
everything is going to be ok
and a blank is a blank is a blank
is a blank
by any other name
i draw a blank
and history is a mystery
is a weather report
is a primitive night sport
is a pretty horse
is a
burning bush
i draw a blank
nothing new
i draw a blank
and so
do you
"i draw a blank and a blank draws back"
ReplyDeleteSuch a simple powerhouse statement. Exactly, put some effort in, see what came back.
Thanks for dropping by my blog today
Much💜love
thank you gilliena, so glad you stopped by, hope you are well and all of my best wishes.
DeleteWow, so many things a blank can do! (When powered by creativity.)
ReplyDeletethank you rosemary, glad you liked this
DeleteYour poetry, your style is .... mesmerizing, fascinating, inspiring (me to be better.) I have read this three times now, still finding something I hadn't seen the first, second time.
ReplyDeletethanks helen, for the high praise, i try to make them worthy of a second or third read, so glad you liked this.
DeleteThis blankety-blank poem is so creative!
ReplyDeletewell thank you debi, this was so blankety blank bank fun to write =)
DeleteThis is like a think tank gone berserk, filling in the blanks.....creatively!
ReplyDeletethink tank gone berserk... that's my mojo, thank so much bev, glad you enjoyed this
DeleteThis is a great exercise in writing. love the imagery, it seems to be coming from all sides, each clamoring for urgent attention.
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about "history is not a mystery it’s a rollercoaster". Pretty true much of the way. :)
" "history is not a mystery it’s a rollercoaster"." we already know what going to happen, if we just pay attention. thanks dsnake1, glad you liked this.
DeleteOff to listen to an Edie Brickell album and a Taylor Swift song now. :)
ReplyDeletethanks! glad you liked this, and btw, i tried to leave comments on your bog but couldn't figure out how, am i missing something? thanks again!
DeleteLove those twists and turns. I draw lots of blanks. Looks like you bank them.
ReplyDelete... and its a rather large account, not worth much, but blanks on top of blanks on top of blacks, thanks colleen, so glad you liked.
DeleteInteresting, entertaining and thought provoking - all in one package.
ReplyDeletethanks joel, so glad you liked and thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI was quite impressed with this--it wrapped me up in its scaffolding of word steps and I was climbing them up and down, then feeling them slide into a roller coaster ride as you stitched them all together into a unit like a blowing scarf. Really some good writing, some original thinking in this one , Phillip. The end is perfect. Glad I stopped by.
ReplyDeletethamks joy, glad you like this one, i want just riffing it for a challenge thing, but i might do a little more work on it.
DeleteThere's a lot to love here. The sharp imagery, the way the lines hit like staccato drum beats, the frenetic energy running through it... all good stuff. I keep going back to the lines "history is not a mystery/ it’s a rollercoaster".
ReplyDeletethanks rommy, glad you enjoyed, and yes, staccato beat, that's spot on, i was hoping that would come thru. thanks again
Delete