(1967 / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

What do you think this poem is about?

The Quiet World

In an effort to get people to look
into each other's eyes more,
and also to appease the mutes,
the government has decided
to allot each person exactly one hundred
and sixty-seven words, per day.

When the phone rings, I put it to my ear
without saying hello. In the restaurant
I point at chicken noodle soup.
I am adjusting well to the new way.

Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.

When she doesn't respond,
I know she's used up all her words,
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.

Submitted: Thursday, July 14, 2005
Edited: Friday, February 15, 2008

Comments about this poem (The Quiet World by Jeffrey McDaniel )

Enter the verification code :

  • Sally Carter (5/10/2009 3:12:00 PM)

    I love this one too. Surreal and thought provoking.

    12 person liked.
    		3 person did not like.
  • Tess Bybee (5/10/2009 1:35:00 PM)

    This is very good. I love it.

    7 person liked.
    		5 person did not like.
  • Gena Boulay (5/2/2008 6:03:00 PM)

    I loveeee Jeffrey McDaniel :)

    7 person liked.
    		6 person did not like.
  • john tiong chunghoo (3/31/2008 4:51:00 AM)

    a great poem with a new concept. lovely jeffrey. keep going.

    8 person liked.
    		5 person did not like.
  • Carla Castillo (5/27/2006 9:38:00 PM)

    i absolutely love your poems.
    every single one of them make me feel like im apart of something great while im reading them
    Please email me so we can talk.
    LaunchProduction@yahoo.com

    6 person liked.
    		6 person did not like.
  • Raynette Eitel (7/14/2005 1:31:00 PM)

    This is an interesting thought...and an interesting solution. What's a poet to do?
    Good work.

    Raynette

    10 person liked.
    		6 person did not like.
  • Anong All (7/14/2005 12:55:00 PM)

    Very sweet poem. l enjoyed reading

    8 person liked.
    		7 person did not like.
  • Mahnaz Zardoust-Ahari (7/14/2005 12:48:00 PM)

    Very sweet poem...I enjoyed it.

    8 person liked.
    		8 person did not like.
Read all 8 comments »

PoemHunter.com Updates

Top 500 Poems

  1. Phenomenal Woman
    Maya Angelou
  2. The Road Not Taken
    Robert Frost
  3. Still I Rise
    Maya Angelou
  4. If You Forget Me
    Pablo Neruda
  5. Dreams
    Langston Hughes
  6. Annabel Lee
    Edgar Allan Poe
  7. If
    Rudyard Kipling
  8. A Dream Within A Dream
    Edgar Allan Poe
  9. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
    Robert Frost
  10. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
    Maya Angelou
The Complete List of Top 500 Poems »
[Hata Bildir]