You walk into the room
With a pencil in your hand…
– Bob Dylan, Ballad of the Thin Man
..
You ask it a question or two
and you
hope it knows some things and
that it might sing if you give it
some space. You place
it on the corner of your desk
or table. On the counter. Behind
your ear. You hear
it whisper. Someone
opens a door, a window,
a portal, a secret hiding
place on the floor, and
you feel it
(sharp)
pierce your soul,
your skin. You spill
a word, a phrase,
a quiet light
in lead and graphite
smudge. You hold
the parchment in your
hungry hands and
hope that it’s
enough.
You walk out
of
the
room.
..
Bjorn has us pondering Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan the week at dVerse.
My poem title is also a Dylan lyric, from Love Minus Zero, No Limit.
Whimsygizmo's Blog 
Almost Cubist in a way. I like how you portray the pencil as being animate with thoughts.
Love the title and point of view from the object (or is it ourselves) ~ This sings beautifully De ~
How well you describe the process. Perhaps instead of in out boxes we need question boxes! Mine would be overflowing.
Brilliant, De. You have captured writing’s pitfalls.
Girl, that ending is SO clever! Love the way you twist the meaning of “of.”
Agreed. “She lives in a flower garden of snapdragons and winter jasmine—”
Superb title and use of the pencil as an evocative object in your poem. Great ending. x
reminds me of myself when i want so badly to write but don’t know what to say.
i wonder if dylan’s ever felt this way? maybe writing music chords inclines his lyrical muse.
Oh I can feel the poet, spilling words… the power of the pen
Fantastic from start to finish.
This is brilliant. You hope it knows some things….you hear it whisper…..loved it.
I love the touch of cubism in this poem ❤️ especially these lines “a word, a phrase, a quiet light in lead and graphite, smudge. You hold the parchment in your hungry hands and hope that it’s enough.” just left me breathless ❤️ Beautifully executed.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
It’s enough. Thank you.
Haha I hope, like I have too, go back and clean the mess 🙂 I hated homework 😦
Enjoyed the piece enough to make me think… thanks.
I knew I’d see that pencil again – where is the pink eraser, De?