The Mystery Books

This is a new poem I wrote, and it might be used as a Mystery Books song soon.

Sorrow Speaks

In India

we used to lay
down in the shades
as we shared our melancholies;

we conversed
with our heads
on our laps,

maintaining eye contact.

Now we speak, but
don’t listen.
Our lips open
and close, but there’s too
much noise.

My eyes wander
and you walk
snoring loudly.

J.D. Nelson en Español

More than a year ago, I sent out posting claiming I was to make a webzine called Pink Elephants on Review, or PEOR, but that never happened. I am sorry to those I shit-talked. I feel like an inferior human, but I've come to terms with myself and no longer feel too bad. The fact is I realized I didn't know shit about site making, and really did not have the time or ability to make it happen. But I did translate the poems. I did, but unfortunately, the PC that contained those translations got effed up and I lost them. But lately I've been retranslating the poems. To those who I told I was gonna publish: I will. Just give me some time. I go to school, and work, and do tutoring, and attempt writing. I also think I might be clinically retarded, but then when I think of my awareness of that condition, I think I can't be. But then again, I'm not sure.

So from now on The Instruction Manual will sometimes have translated poems. Maybe if I learn more languages in the future, there could be more variety than just English to Spanish, or Spanish to English. Maybe other people can send me their stuff, I guess.

But for today's, and my first of these type of postings, the featured poet is J.D. Nelson.

Thanks for reading.



Ante meridiem

Estoy despierto
¿ ? (.)
estoy:
mojado,
despierto.
No puedo
ver.
(Dormido.)

Entré por
la puerta
imaginaria y
recuerdo
perder mí
balance y

bing-bong.
No estoy en mi casa.
Es incomodo pero tengo que hacerlo.

Ante meridiem

I'm awake
? (.)
I'm:
wet,
awake.
I can't
see.
(Asleep.)

I walked through
the imaginary
door & I
remember
losing my
balance &

bing-bong.
I'm not home.
it's awkward
but I have to.


¿Tiraste el paño limpio?

Subiremos el volumen de la música.
Grita ahora—dispara una enorme pistola
y mira los niños correr.
Estas al tanto de esto,
eres un espíritu santo y
nos gusta tu nariz fría.
Nos encanta tus piernas de arañas
y ahora soy un gran
cubo de agua vacío.

you dropped the clean rag?

we'll just play the music louder.
shout now -- shoot a big gun
& watch the children run.
you're on top of it,
you're a holy ghost &
we like your cold nose.
we love your spider legs
& now I'm a big old
empty rainbucket.