[the Writing of Kuypers]    [JanetKuypers.com]    [Bio]    [Poems]    [Prose]

This poem was nominated in the “Revealed” 2014 release for the (40 year) Pushcart Prize.

Watch the YouTube video of Kuypers reading this poem at the open mike 01/18/12 at Gallery Cabaret’s the Café Gallery in Chicago

Watch the YouTube video of Kuypers reading poetry (including this poem) at the open mike 01/18/12 at Gallery Cabaret’s the Café Gallery in Chicago

Watch the YouTube video of this poem read live in her Pilsen feature “Games We Play” 3/17/12 at Café Mestizo (music from Francois Le Roux, the HA!man of South Africa)

Enjoy this feature-length YouTube video of many poems read 3/17/12 at Café Mestizo from the live feature “Games We Play”, including this poem (posted on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr). #janetkuyperspoetry #janetkuypers #janetkuyperspoetryshow

See YouTube video of Kuypers reading this piece in the live show the Janet Kuypers with the music of HA! at Chicago’s Gallery Cabaret 20121003 (Canon)

See YouTube video of the Janet Kuypers with the music of HA! full live show at Gallery Cabaret in Chicago 20121003 (Canon), including this piece

See YouTube video from 3/19/17 of Janet Kuypers reading her 3 poems “Beauty in the Eyes of Einstein”, “Games We Play” and “erasure poem: a Declaration of Female Freedom” live at Austin’s Kick Butt Poetry (this video was filmed from a Canon Power Shot SX700 camera).

See YouTube video from 3/19/17 of Janet Kuypers reading her 3 poems “Beauty in the Eyes of Einstein”, “Games We Play” and “erasure poem: a Declaration of Female Freedom” live at Austin’s Kick Butt Poetry (this video was filmed from a Canon Power Shot SX60 camera).

See YouTube video from 12/9/17 of Janet Kuypers reading her poem “Ocean’s Call to Dive”, then her poems “Games We Play” & “Beauty in the Eyes of Einstein” from her book “Say Nothing” at the “Poetry Aloud” open mic at the Georgetown Public Library (this video was filmed from a Panasonic Lumix T56 camera; posted on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr).

See YouTube video from 12/9/17 of Janet Kuypers reading her poem “Ocean’s Call to Dive”, then her poems “Games We Play” & “Beauty in the Eyes of Einstein” from her book “Say Nothing” at the “Poetry Aloud” open mic at the Georgetown Public Library (this video was filmed from a Panasonic Lumix 2500 camera).

See YouTube video of Janet Kuypers reading her poem “Keeps Pounding Against Walls” from the v5 cc&d boss lady poetry collection book “On the Edge”, then her poem “Walking Home from School” from her interview/journal/poetry book “In Depth”, then her poem “Games we Play” from the v5 cc&d boss lady poetry collection book “On the Edge” at “Recycled Reads” 8/18/18 (Panasonic Lumix T56).

See YouTube video of Janet Kuypers reading her poem “Keeps Pounding Against Walls” from the v5 cc&d boss lady poetry collection book “On the Edge”, then her poem “Walking Home from School” from her interview/journal/poetry book “In Depth”, then her poem “Games we Play” from the v5 cc&d boss lady poetry collection book “On the Edge” at “Recycled Reads” 8/18/18 (Panasonic Lumix 2500).

Games We Play Janet Kuypers (01/16/12) this game we play don’t say you don’t know I know this game we play it’s written all over your face no, I don’t think anyone else sees it it’s like we’re the only ones with the enigma key just you and me but I don’t think you’re playing fair you keep your distance sound my alarm give me this feeling like the loss of a missing child you put me on amber alert until you come to me again you kiss me we embrace for too long before you leave me again then when we’re together again we meet in a crowded room we remain at opposite corners act aloof act like we don’t know the other one is just waiting there so we play this game almost avoiding each other until we’re alone and we spill ourselves onto each other and again, we embrace for too long before you leave me again but all my cards are now on the table I’m showing you my hand and no one can see what’s on the line but this game we play this balancing act this coming, this going I’m sorry am I the only one feeling this as we come together then dart away

Copyright © Janet Kuypers.

All rights reserved. No material
may be reprinted without express permission.

Like Janet Kuypers’ writing on any of these links below: