First I have to switch off
the flashing light that says
no poems about poetry, then
I have to set aside
my Billy Collins voice,
which is hard because
I’d really love to write
a poem to make you laugh.
The keyboard isn’t poetry,
though the keys are so smooth
and really quite quiet, the little
bumps on F and J to guide
my fingers into position. But
that’s not poetry. Nor is
the slight ringing in my ears,
which I try to ignore
and don’t wish to discuss
with you or anyone. I could
mention the feeling of emptiness
and failure that sits on my head
when I write nothing, how
each word could be the one
that saves me. I’ll let you know
if that happens.
An artist, poet, and freelance writer, J.I. Kleinberg lives in Bellingham, Washington, USA, and on Instagram @jikleinberg. Her chapbooks include The Word for Standing Alone in a Field (Bottlecap Press, 2023) and Sleeping Lessons (Milk & Cake Press, 2025) as well as three collections of her visual poems.