Words become images.

your words, my images

Words submitted by Howard Des Chenes

These words come from Jorge Luis Borges’ short story entitled El Zahir. For this I imagined a coin that flips forever. When asked where the words came from, Howard Des Chenes quoted Borges:

Money is abstract, I repeated; money is the future tense. It can be an evening in the suburbs, or music by Brahms; it can be maps, or chess, or coffee; it can be the words of Epictetus teaching us to despise gold; it is a Proteus more versatile than the one on the isle of Pharos.

You do not need to leave your room...

Words submitted by Amy Stein

These words were written by Franz Kafka. I read them and looked around.

You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.

A Self-Loathing Narcissist in a Forest of MirrorsA Self-Loathing Narcissist in a Forest of MirrorsA Self-Loathing Narcissist in a Forest of MirrorsA Self-Loathing Narcissist in a Forest of MirrorsA Self-Loathing Narcissist in a Forest of MirrorsA Self-Loathing Narcissist in a Forest of MirrorsA Self-Loathing Narcissist in a Forest of MirrorsA Self-Loathing Narcissist in a Forest of MirrorsA Self-Loathing Narcissist in a Forest of MirrorsA Self-Loathing Narcissist in a Forest of Mirrors

Words submitted by Oliver Wasow

LeonineLeonine

Word submitted by Eric Rickert

A self loathing narcissist in a forest of mirrors.A self loathing narcissist in a forest of mirrors.A self loathing narcissist in a forest of mirrors.A self loathing narcissist in a forest of mirrors.

Words submitted by Oliver Wasow

Enlightenment

Word submitted by Saleem Kamandy

Found as-is on the sidewalk in the West Village.

I take all the loneliness I can get.

Words submitted anonymously.

Words submitted by Howard Des Chenes

These words are a reference to a poem by Rumi. His ‘Egypt that doesn’t exist’ makes me think of the creative process and the role of someone who is compelled to create. Heart and imagination are the only ways to get to this ‘Egypt’ and, in this case, why not go there on a paper airplane?

An Egypt That Doesn’t Exist:

I want to say words that flame
as I say them, but I keep quiet and don’t try
to make both worlds fit in one mouthful.

I keep secret in myself an Egypt
that doesn’t exist.
Is that good or bad? I don’t know.

For years I gave away sexual love
with my eyes. Now I don’t.
I’m not in any one place. I don’t have a name
for what I give away. Whatever Shams
gave, that you can have from me.

Word submitted by Eric Rickert

The teapot with two handles.

Akimbo

Word submitted by Peter Ross

She was standing in front of a jukebox trying to decide
which song would best fit the moment.

Choices

Words by Masood Kamandy

Bed Head

Word submitted by Lupus Garrett Lupus

I take all the loneliness I can get.I take all the loneliness I can get.I take all the loneliness I can get.I take all the loneliness I can get.I take all the loneliness I can get.I take all the loneliness I can get.

Words submitted anonymously.

I write the line...

I write the line
And a veil drops.
A sea cloud lifting
The unfolded nature
Of limitless breath
Towards the liquid realm
of tumeric salt drawn
from tree stumps
bursting through skin.

I write the line...

I write the line
And a veil drops.
Steady earth holding
Hidden glass panes of
Flat sand rising west —
Three marks down
A spindled staircase
Descending into a
Chalised river marsh.

I write the line...

I write the line
And a veil drops.
Sapphire disks of
Laughing solemn reflections —
Like unstitched quilted
Wounds of sanctified
Prayer counted and spoken
Along the wood grain of
Guarded school chairs.

I write the line...

I write the line
And a veil drops.
Forested mist drifting
Among the gate keepers —
Bordering shadowed light
Reaching through moist green
Lips parting effortlessly
Within an allowance
Of perfect thought.

I write the line...

I write the line
And a veil drops.
Lying backwards on
A gilded slope —
Falling from forms past
And equations distant
Into a crimson pool of
Boundless and unbridled
Corinthian melody.

I write the line...

I write the line
And a veil drops.
Windless desert stretches.
White capped entropic islands.
Chaotic ruminations.
The great mountain encircled.
Sun starved Demons.
Incoherent vibrations from
Screaming inkwells until —

I write the line...

I write the line
And a veil drops.
Entering the room
Of seven words once
Told and spirited away —
Kept within and waiting
For the One veil after
The One line that hides
From the last barrier.

I write the line...

Words submitted by Terrance Grace

Disfiguration No. 2

Word submitted anonymously.