EXERCISES IN WRITER'S BLOCK AND BRAIN HEMORRHAGES IN SEVEN PARTS

Exercises in Writers Block and Brain Hemorrhages (part one)

At this moment my room-mate's cat is lieing on my chest biting my chin
what happens when the words don't come
streets signs can be misleading
jet lag, jet lag
time zones playing tricks on my mind
promises of tomorrow... a distorted echo
what happens when the words don't come
to Dr. Ruth, Dr. Schoels, Dr. Suess,
Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard
is surgery really necessary
can't we just take more drugs instead
what happens when the words don't come
can we expect action, adventure, drama
can we buy it on video for later viewing
I'd rather change the channel instead
what happens when the words don't

* * *

Writer's Block and Brain Hemorrhages, Explorations Thereof (part two)

At this moment I am alone in bed
what happens when the words dont come
label the blame on a Mercury in retrograde
I can reach out my hand on some nights
and with my thumb and forefinger
pinch the very stars out of existence
and with the palm of my hand I can block out the sun
what happens when the words don't come
I keep her lips as she gave them to me
carved in my flesh, kicked and twisting
a child's watercolor portraits of God
conceived in some feverish vision
what happens when the words don't come
the persistence of inspired silence
disciplined, clipped and trimmed by rabid teeth
set upon by foreign dogs, betrayed by ignorance
what happens when the words don't come
for heart and mind a homeless resident
vagabond concepts relying on the trade winds
brilliant in his incoherence, insanity's best defense
what happens when the words don't come
spiritual adultery, she demands definition
a liar's moon denied through illustration
now that you have my attention
you can stop slapping me
I've got to get you off of my chest
what happens when the words

* * *

Our Little Trot Through the Land of Brain Hemorrhages and Writer's Block (part three)

At this moment I am doing my laundry and only have 18 minutes and 7seconds until my clothes finish drying
what happens when the words don't come
should we form a search party
what would you say on my behalf
until death do we part is that long enough
are my fifteen minutes up yet
I had you there for a minute didn't I
what happens when the words don't come
do we get stoned and eat Chinese food in bed
do we play, are we actors
have we lost our script
do we simply act or act simple
stereotypical monotone descriptions of discordant theory
what happens when the

* * *

The Wacky World of Writer's Cock and Brain Hymens (part four)

At this moment I'm eating a banana and looking for that one last roach I have stashed away for just such an occasion
what happens when the words dont come
smile politely and nod your head
as an idiot my potential is enormous
I have yet begun to build my village
take a walk down defecation boulevard
what happens when the words don't come
the walls stare back and remain upright
it hurts to think of anything meaningful
I'm growing tired and impatient, hit me now
here's your 6AM wake up call, hit me now
what happens when the words don't come
children often fall down into dry wells
can you lend me a hand, I think I love you
now it's your turn to say something pathetic
what happens when the words don't come
my mother used to always say
"wish in one hand and shit in the other,
see which fills up first"
what happens when

* * *

If You Haven't Been Paying Attention This is Brainfarts and Bullshit, Exorcisms Thereof (part five)

At this moment I'm too tired to care
what happens when the words don't come
I'm pathetic, but I wouldn't care
if only I could afford another vowel
don't make me spell it out for you
I hate charades
I'm the perfect hypocrite
what happens when the words don't come
what am I a poet or a mime
too stoned to spit it out
I can't think of a more polite way to say
"fuck you in the neck," even in the neck
what happens when the words don't come
shut the front door
subscriptions tend to expire
the egg is unsuspecting of
anything thicker than it's shell
drowning in stagnant introversion
what happens

* * *

Writer's Slack and Brain Grenades, Exlosions Thereof (part six)

At this moment I don't like myself very much
what happens when the words don't come
can we blame it on the Postmaster General
can we close our eyes and fantasize
defense mechanisms tend to break down
defining happiness through delusions
what happens when the words don't come
is it simply self-defense
can we plead the Fifth Amendment
don't demand your rights if you can't pay the bill
moral bankruptcy, the one managerial requirement I lack
are you going to quit or do I have to fire you
what happens when the words don't come
can I play dumb, roll over and play dead
ok, I want to start over now, I want to begin again
I'm still hungry having eaten my words
show me a bucktoothed grin and a bucketful of sin
what happens when the words don't come
can we write it off as a poor investment
and what have you learned from this lack of experience
what have you to offer this exchange of damaged goods
what

* * *

Biter's Lock and Home Lobotomies, Exaggerations Thereof (part seven)

At this moment I'm wondering why you haven't given me the old brick to the head already
what happens when the words don't come
are any of you listening
can I see a show of hands
the pounding of shoes, we will bury you
we have nothing to fear but ourselves
can't we all just get along
what happens when the words don't come
as the moments pass I remember
what it was like to be young
no God gives birth to the days
they just keep creeping in here
did you hear that
the day just broke on the other side of the world
what happens when the words don't come
I'm open to suggestions

- S. Marvin Tuomala, 1994