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


te 2012 poetry bomb chapbook
Download the free chapbook with this poem of the 2012 Poetry Bomb, with the Periodic Table of Poetry poems.
video videonot yet rated
Watch this YouTube video
of this “Periodic Table of Poetry” poem read live in Chicago 11/21/12 (Canon) at the Café Gallery
video videonot yet rated
Watch this YouTube video
of this “Periodic Table of Poetry” poem read live in Chicago 11/21/12 (Sony) at the Café Gallery
video videonot yet rated
Watch this YouTube video
of poems read from Janet Kuypers’ “Periodic Table of Poetry” series, live in Chicago 11/21/12 (Canon) at the Café Gallery (inlcuding this poem)
video videonot yet rated
Watch this YouTube video
of poems read from Janet Kuypers’ “Periodic Table of Poetry” series, live in Chicago 11/21/12 (Sony) at the Café Gallery (inlcuding this poem)
the 11/21/12 Periodic Poetry chapbook
Download this poem in the free 11/21/12
“Periodic Poetry” chapbook,
w/ the Periodic Table of Poetry poems.
the 11/21/12 “Life, Death & the Universe” chapbook
Download this poem in the free 11/21/12
“Life, Death & the Universe” chapbook
(as part of the “Periodic Poetry” chapbook)
w/ the Periodic Table of Poetry poems.
video See YouTube video of Janet Kuypers reading her Periodic Table poems “Nitrogen” (N, #7), “Cesium”(Cs, #55), and “Ununpentium” (Uup, #115) from her book “The Periodic Table of Poetry” 2/4/18 at Austin’s “Recycled Reads” (this video was filmed from a Panasonic Lumix 2500 camera; posted on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr).
video See YouTube video of Janet Kuypers reading her Periodic Table poems “Nitrogen” (N, #7), “Cesium”(Cs, #55), and “Ununpentium” (Uup, #115) from her book “The Periodic Table of Poetry” 2/4/18 at Austin’s “Recycled Reads” (this video was filmed from a Panasonic Lumix T56 camera; posted on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr).
video Enjoy this YouTube video of Janet Kuypers reading her poems “Nitrogen Needs”, “Nitrogen”, “Nitrogen in my veins”, and “Scandium, Held Tightly” from the Down in the Dirt November 2021 v189 issue/paperback book “A Door is A Door is A Door” 11/3/21 at the performance art pavilion at the French Market in New Orleans, LA on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 1:00-3:00 PM CST during the usual time for the “Community Poetry” open mic (this video was filmed from a Panasonic Lumix 2500 camera; on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr). #janetkuypers #janetkuyperspoetry #janetkuypersbookreading
video Enjoy this YouTube video of Janet Kuypers reading her poems “Nitrogen Needs”, “Nitrogen”, “Nitrogen in my veins”, “Scandium, Held Tightly” from the Down in the Dirt November 2021 v189 issue/paperback book “A Door is A Door is A Door” 11/3/21 at the performance art pavilion at the French Market in New Orleans, LA on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 1:00-3:00 PM CST during the usual time for the “Community Poetry” open mic (this video was filmed from a Panasonic Lumix T56 camera; on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr). #janetkuypers #janetkuyperspoetry #janetkuypersbookreading
video Enjoy this Facebook live video stream of Janet Kuypers reading her poem Original Sin and Unholy Ways” from the Scars Publications 9-12/21 cc&d issue collection book anthology “The World Outside”, then her poems “Nitrogen”, “Nitrogen in my veins”, and “Scandium, Held Tightly” from the Scars Publications 9-12/21 Down in the Dirt issue collection book “Stardust in Hand” 4/6/22 on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 1:00-3:00 PM CST during the usual time for and in honor of the “Community Poetry” reading (this video was filmed and streamed live from a Samsung S9 camera with a Lava Lamp filter). #janetkuypers #janetkuyperspoetry #janetkuyperstwitterverseperiodictablepoem #janetkuypersperiodictablepoem #janetkuypersbookreading
video Enjoy this YouTube video of Janet Kuypers reading her poem Original Sin and Unholy Ways” from the Scars Publications 9-12/21 cc&d issue collection book anthology “The World Outside”, then her poems “Nitrogen”, “Nitrogen in my veins”, and “Scandium, Held Tightly” from the Scars Publications 9-12/21 Down in the Dirt issue collection book “Stardust in Hand” 4/6/22 on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 1:00-3:00 PM CST during the usual time for and in honor of the “Community Poetry” reading (filmed from a Panasonic Lumix 2500 camera; on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr). #janetkuypers #janetkuyperstwitterverseperiodictablepoem #janetkuypersperiodictablepoem #janetkuypersbookreading #janetkuyperspoetry

Nitrogen

Janet Kuypers
from the “Periodic Table of Poetry” series
4/20/12

I’m afraid to answer the phone today.
Ever since he called me before
to tell me he has AIDS,
I’ve been afraid to answer my phone
to hear that his condition
has turned for the worse
or that he just died.
His t-cell count has been at zero
for over 2 months now.
He lost his job.
The last word was that he was waiting
for the chance for entrance into a study
where he may get a new set of medications.

And waiting is something he cannot do.

So I’ve looked at homeopathic options,
but I sound like his mother
telling him to eat fresh fruits and veggies.
Don’t eat raw seafood, or raw eggs.
Cook your meat until it is well done
to get the protein you so desperately need.

And I’ve looked at the chemical compounds
in the drugs that are all too expensive,
and I was surprised to see
how many times I saw Nitrogen
listed in these drug compounds.
Nitrogen. I’ve only heard of it
as liquid nitrogen for super-cooling.
Dip a rose in liquid nitrogen
And drop it, so it shatters.
I’ve even heard of nitrogen capsule
“widgets” to carbonate stouts,
or that it’s mixed with oxygen
to make laughing gas.

Maybe I need nitrous oxide,
because yesterday was the first day
I hadn’t cried.
I might have been fine for a half hour,
and then something would trigger it in my mind.
I thought maybe I’m getting used to the news,
but I just cried again.

On the phone, you said
you can’t let the thought of death kill you.
And I was trying so hard
To not just start sobbing on the phone.

You see, this is why
I’m afraid to answer the phone now.

You were on the phone with me
saying that you just have to
get used to the fact
that you’re not going to grow old,
or have a family.
You said that some people
feel like they are on death’s door
with a T-cell count of four hundred,
and some people can run marathons
with a T-cell count of zero.
On the phone,
you first told me yours was at eighty,
and you felt fine.
A little run-down,
but that was to be expected.
Then it dropped lower.
And now I am afraid to answer my phone,
to hear the next round of news.

So now I sit here and read
about antiretroviral drugs
you may or may not be able to take.
Protease inhibitors. Integrase inhibitors.
And I look at the chemical compounds
of all these drugs, with hydrogen
carbon, oxygen, occasionally
fluorine or sulfur,
And the surprisingly ever-present nitrogen.
I stare at these compounds,
wish I could put the elements
together myself
and give you what you need.
Why did I have to learn
about compounds in chemistry class
if I couldn't make these compounds
to help you live.
Because now I just sit here and read,
and fear my telephone ringing.


Copyright © Janet Kuypers.

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


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

Add to Twitter    Add to Facebook    Add to digg    Add to Del.icio.us    Add to Google Bookmarks    Add to Mister Wong    Add to reddit    Add to Stumble Upon    Add to Technorati



Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen; image by Kaycie D., kcd-elements.tumblr.com

my hand to an anim of jkchair



Kuypers at Artvilla


scars publications


Kuypers writing