| Read the guidelines for W3 #192 at the Skeptic’s Kaddish |
|---|
METAPHYSICAL POEM
by Frank O’Hara
When do you want to go
I’m not sure I want to go there
where do you want to go
any place
I think I’d fall apart any place else
well I’ll go if you really want to
I don’t particularly care
but you’ll fall apart any place else
I can just go home
I don’t really mind going there
but I don’t want to force you to go there
you won’t be forcing me I’d just as soon
I wouldn’t be able to stay long anyway
maybe we could go somewhere nearer
I’m not wearing a jacket
just like you weren’t wearing a tie
well I didn’t say we had to go
I don’t care whether you’re wearing one
we don’t really have to do anything
well all right let’s not
okay I’ll call you
yes call me
From The Collected Poems of Frank O’Hara.
Listen to Frank O’Hara read his Metaphysical Poem
Maybe
This is just to say my nerves are bad tonight – Bad. Just bad.
I’m here. Stay anyway.
Where are we now? You know. Here.
It doesn’t feel like it. It never does lately.
Should we do something? We’re doing this.
Go out. It’s a lot. Or stay in. That’s also a lot.
Did you eat the plums? Yes. I was saving them. For later.
Pizza. Maybe. Do you want one?
I don’t know. You can be too careful these days.
What’s that noise – fridge hum, radiator clank; fire truck, that girl
on the piano upstairs, a pigeon on the fire escape, the elevator,
downstairs buzzer.
Don’t answer.
What’s that smell – onions from the taco truck, smoke in the stairwell.
Is everyone always stoned these days?
Nothing.
Exactly.
So maybe.
That’s not an answer.
It’s what we have.
The featured image is: Four Doors by Alex Kanevsky, 2012
hi, Josie❣️
Just wanna let you know that this week’s W3, hosted by our beloved Carol Anne, is now live:
https://skepticskaddish.com/2026/01/07/w3-prompt-193-weave-written-weekly/
Much love,
David
Josie, this feels so real — like sitting in the apartment with all the hums and worries layered on top of each other. I love how “maybe” ends up being the only honest answer left.
Thanks so much for the fun prompt! <3
Much love,
David
That’s more than generous David. Surprisingly, it rather stumped me and I found it difficult to come up with anything especially after hearing and reading O’Hara. But it certainly prompted a range of many excellent responses.
hug! ~ I really enjoyed responding to the prompt and also reading all the responses! <3
It seems like a very sane response to the state of world affairs.
Josie, this is fun! The indecision is palpable!
This is a great response to your prompt, Josie. 😊 And I love the artworks.
Thanks Lesley – they seemed like a good match!
Great fun, Josie! I’m going to write one tomorrow. C
Great! I thought it was going to be easy to write but I actually struggled to come up with anything that made any sense to me – let alone hope it might to someone else. Look forward to seeing what you do with it.