On Answering the Phone:

[Manna]

On Answering the Phone:

If it were liquid nitrogen
it would turn my skin white-
freeze me to burn me,
but it would never tell you it
is me, steaming that way.

The amorphous idea of unknown
telephone speakerhood
is I.
Me? Me, who? Me, me?

It can is me to its will,
for it is I, the angel
I punch, the devil I kiss,
it burns me, freezes me,
writes in my journal,
tells my friends on the phone,
carries me around on its feet
in its clothes with its hairdo.
Is me it, I?
It can’t is me anymore!

Me takes responsibility
for it being I,
and it is me too,
a mutually comingled win-win.

If it were liquid nitrogen
it would be my white skin
and when asked for on the phone,
it would say it were I,
but it would really
is I.

[lizzytysh]

Well, now, Manna... that's not your usual fare, is it ? More convoluted than I'm used to with you. Reminds me of the time you stayed up late and imbibed a bit, wrote, and then explained the next day. This sounds like a white-hot phone call to say the least.

"The Existential Answering of Phones"
"Kafka Meets Phone"

Just trying to think of some possible, alternate titles.

It reminds me of a [ahem] 'poem' I wrote at some point, during one of my returns to college... something that included

As his he-she "I" passes me.

Just thought I'd share that .


~Lizzy

[Manna]

Hi Lizzy,
No imbibing last night. I'd been calling it a masturbational grammar rant, but I think I like existential better.

thanks!
m

[lizzytysh]

Well, now, "masturbational grammar rant" works, too; yet, I think I like Existential better, as well .

Maybe now, a drink?


~ Lizzy