J. Patrick Lewis

J. Patrick Lewis Poems

The Talkers

after John Whitworth
...

The year was 1974
When Little Leaguers learned the score.
President Ford took out his pen,
And signed a law that said from then
...

The Best Poem Of J. Patrick Lewis

The Talkers

The Talkers

after John Whitworth

What a tintinnabulation is the jingling of their cells,
Here they come.
From the airport, home, or office—raucous jungles of the bells—
Here they come.
When the rabble gabs and babbles, there is something that compels
One to seek the catacombs where taciturnity still dwells.
Say good-bye to conversation; say hello there, bagatelles.
Here they come. Here they come. Here they come.

They are reinventing wheels that never seem to slip a cog.
Here they come.
When John Cage is the conductor of white noise called “dialog, ”
Here they come.
Want to share your minute’s wisdom? Some pet peeve you need to flog?
What? No market for your poems? Not a problem: Start a blog.
When reality’s illusion, everybody praises fog.
Here they come. Here they come. Here they come.

Did they not receive the memo: “What’s worth saying has been said”?
Here they come.
They are happy: -) very happy: -)) when the Facebook’s being fed.
Here they come.
As for meeting folks, why bother, they can tweet the blokes instead—
In the age of nothing really, nothing’s real until it’s read.
So it’s texting, sexting…, next thing? They are (virtually) in your bed.
Here they come. Here they come. Here they come.

It’s a certainty they’re tailing you—your pants begin to hum.
Here they come.
When the writing on “the wall” is as insistent as a drum,
Here they come.
You awake each hopeful morning being “poked” ad nauseum
With intentions that endure for half the life of chewing gum.
Got a message from a “friend, ” but no idea who it’s from?
Here they come. Here they come. Here they come.
 
What a pity to have read this far a verse so obsolete,
Here they come,
When the next amazement’s been and gone—delete, delete, delete.
Here they come.
Words have yet to be invented; dictionaries can’t compete
With the latest greatest techno-digititillating treat.
Wait, the revolution’s over? Here’s another. Have a seat. 
Here they come. Here they come. Here they come.

J. Patrick Lewis Comments

J. Patrick Lewis Popularity

J. Patrick Lewis Popularity

Close
Error Success