Original Comment Thread Below:

65 Comments »
Comment by James Michael Blaine
2009-08-13 17:25:12

after mothman
& manson
I had to add
to the TNB
bizarre
Reply to this comment
Comment by D.R. Haney
2009-08-13 22:06:01

Are you calling Jesus bizarre? I’d watch my back if I were you.

On the other hand,”blacklight war crimes, lupine bloodlines, dot-com concubines” — that’ll more than compensate for any offense you might have given Him. (Notice that I capitalized the H on “him,” Lord!)
Reply to this comment
Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 05:42:22

Revelation 1:12-18

12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,

13And in the midst of the lampstands One like a Son of Man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast.

14His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes flashed like a flame of fire.

15His feet glowed like burnished bright bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.

16In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.

17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead.
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Comment by D.R. Haney
2009-08-15 09:08:06

Wow.

Did you have that memorized?

Comment by jmb
2009-08-15 12:13:28

engraved
upon my
hands

Have you ever heard HST gush about how much he loves Revelation?

I have an audio of him speaking about it at some college.

Reply here

Comment by Zara Potts
2009-08-13 18:08:11

Like I said on my comment board, your words are like medicine to me.
A dose of James Michael Blaine will heal any complaint.
Reply to this comment
Comment by 1159
2009-08-13 18:28:38

you can
call me
eleven
Reply to this comment

Comment by N.L. Belardes
2009-08-13 18:17:39

Holy shiz this is the icing on the bizarre cake of today. I love it. I could read an entire novel of this stuff. Like a new 1984. Call it “2013.”
Reply to this comment
Comment by jmb
2009-08-13 18:33:45

when i get wired up I could write
nine hundred
and ninety-nine novels
like this
scritch-scratch pages
falling
like snow
in black forests

Can you get me a publishing deal for
nine hundred and ninety-nine novels?
What would the advance be on that?
Reply to this comment
Comment by N.L. Belardes
2009-08-13 21:54:36

Publishing deals of those sort add up to a spiritual number that gets you sliding between the pearly gates just as they’re shutting on Jimmy Carter.
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 05:43:52

what a
beautiful
answer.

but

jimmy will be
there
we’ll all be
there

Reply here

Comment by Ducky
2009-10-14 19:17:14

$900.99

You are officially one of my favorite writers here.
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Reply here

Comment by N.L. Belardes
2009-08-13 18:20:36

I’m going to read this one to my grandkids.

I need grandkids.

Can I take back what I just said?
Reply to this comment

Comment by jmb
2009-08-13 18:35:59

so it is written
Reply to this comment

Comment by 1159
2009-08-13 18:37:53

i shall pound
these harpsichords of hell
til
hymns of glory
rise
Reply to this comment

Comment by Becky
2009-08-13 19:07:09

Thanks for writing the first thing on TNB I cared to read twice. Sweet, sweet kid.

*snap snap*
Reply to this comment

Comment by jmb
2009-08-13 20:20:50

high praise
& possibly
my favorite
ever comment.

these words
of yours
i shall
eat

//sweet//
Reply to this comment

Comment by David S. Wills
2009-08-13 23:38:43

I suddenly feel a little more contempt for the world… Thanks.
Reply to this comment
Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 05:44:45

exactly!
Reply to this comment

Comment by James D. Irwin
2009-08-14 13:50:45

I’m with you man.

It seems fitting to hear Joey Ramone singing ‘What a Wonderful World’ as I read.

J.M.B— listend to Skid Row a little earlier. And a lot of Sabbath.

Your gravatar makes me think of the song ‘Black Sabbath.’

What is this that stands before me?
Reply to this comment
Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 15:30:03

Ah, what a grand compliment.

Figure in black
that calls my name

I love Skid Row.
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Comment by James D. Irwin
2009-08-14 15:34:03

18 and Life is the only song I know.

I should get round to finding more…

Reply here

Comment by Irene Zion
2009-08-14 02:59:42

eleven
with the silver words
that paint terror

we
make the world

we
choose our actions

ghastly ideas

hideous deeds

exist
only if that
is what we see

Jesus
doesn’t answer
because He is already
with you

turn around
your eyes are looking
in the wrong
direction
Reply to this comment
Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 06:00:23

yes these words
are silver
but they
are not mine
own
Reply to this comment

Comment by Elizabeth Collins
2009-08-14 03:24:56

What’s with the spiritual link to numbers? Nine is the magical number, as you know–and isn’t 7 God’s number (or did I get this from a Pixies song)? And we don’t need to talk about 6….I also just read that 222 is the number angels use when they are sending you a message.
Reply to this comment
Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 06:03:54

I think numbers
like dreams
are symbols
of our longing
for something
to mean
something

anything

//222//
Reply to this comment
Comment by karyn
2009-08-15 18:16:48

This electrical engineer felt power in this comment.

Numbers are symbols of longing for meaning.

When I was doing arithmetic in elementary school, I always was disappointed when the answer resulted in an odd number. I felt like it portended something less good — perhaps it represented how life isn’t fair and things can’t always be divided equally?
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Reply here

Comment by Ducky
2009-10-14 19:18:38

Maybe my favorite, after this one.
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Comment by jmb
2009-10-14 19:20:55

Super Ducky

You’re the one.

Reply here

Comment by J. Hova
2009-08-14 06:26:05

Interesting. I’ve recently learned that “666k” is the retirement plan of The Beast and “666i” is its BMW.
Reply to this comment

Comment by Rich Ferguson
2009-08-14 04:30:11

“… Botoxing our souls to hell as if the Horsemen were not already at the door…”

Hee, hee. I just love reading your work, Mr. Minute Before Midnight. You always make my soul shine a thousand watt smile–enough to burn away the moths of misery.

Peace.
Reply to this comment
Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 06:19:41

thank you my brother

and also with you
Reply to this comment

Comment by 1159
2009-08-14 06:17:42

I am the
Horseman
at your door

I did not come
to
bring peace
but
a sword
Reply to this comment

Comment by Dawn Corrigan
2009-08-14 06:55:53

See, whereas I think if you were to ask, “What am I doing right?” the answer would be “Nearly everything.”
Reply to this comment
Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 09:01:01

That was a very gracious thought
and I appreciate the notion

Now: let’s be honest
how much are any of us
really getting right?
Reply to this comment
Comment by Dawn Corrigan
2009-08-14 10:28:17

I truly think plenty. No?
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Comment by josie
2009-08-16 08:44:49

I love this answer. Even if I don’t agree with it. Suddenly that cup looks half full.

Reply here

Comment by Megan
2009-08-14 08:19:11

“Jesus, Jesus. That’s pretty harsh. How about some specific action items? Or an encouraging motivational slogan? I can get that kind of negativity at work.”
Reply to this comment

Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 09:32:34

You know at first
I thought the same
then I noticed Jesus said it with
a wink
and just the hint
of a smile
Reply to this comment
Comment by sheree
2009-08-14 10:56:57

A wink and a smile, there was a bottle of coke-a-cola in his right hand too…. I saw it out of the corner of my eye.

Love this post.

P.S
I think about those burnished feet a lot. I imagine them all polished to perfection, glowing so brightly that even the dimmest sight can see them in the distance.
Reply to this comment
Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 18:08:20

Ooh I like the thought of that.

Jesus drinks Coke?
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Reply here

Comment by James D. Irwin
2009-08-14 13:58:52

Beautiful. Weird. Confusing.

I’m not sure I understand.

Carter goes to Heaven.

Bonzo goes to Bitburg.

Dubya goes to… fuck knows where.

Jesus is cool.

JMB is cooler.
Reply to this comment
Comment by 1159
2009-08-14 18:09:21

jmb
is
fool
Reply to this comment

Comment by Simon Smithson
2009-08-14 15:00:25

We all deserve our own personal Jesus.
Reply to this comment
Comment by James D. Irwin
2009-08-14 15:05:31

Reach out and touch faith!

Covered by Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash covers mentioned on my comment board…

More of that famous Smithson voodoo!
Reply to this comment
Comment by Simon Smithson
2009-08-14 16:15:12

Also covered by Marilyn Manson, who was mentioned on Duke’s post.
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Reply here

Comment by jmb
2009-08-14 18:07:18

Jesus would be cool with
both Manson & Cash.

They understood apocalypse.
Reply to this comment

Comment by Erika Rae
2009-08-15 07:28:22

I am going to botch this quote, but…

It is said that a man once asked Thomas Jefferson if he were a Christian.

“Not in a way that you would recognize as such,” he replied.
Reply to this comment
Comment by J. Hova
2009-08-15 07:58:53

Madam, I have already come to like you immensely from your posts and banter but quoting Thomas Jefferson? This is a rarity. Brava.
Reply to this comment
Comment by jmb
2009-08-15 12:28:53

Have you ever read the Bible Jefferson “edited”?
Its really interesting..
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Comment by Erika Rae
2009-08-15 12:58:14

JMB - I’m only mildly familiar with his edited version. I’ve read sections, that’s all. My understanding is that he removed any mention of Jesus’ deity and/or supernatural events and basically focused on his philosophy. Also - I think he made it into more of a narrative by mixing different sections (combining the gospels) to follow the timeline. It’s an interesting view, for sure. Took cajones. Ha!

J. Hova - What? I got a few surprises left. Hee.

Comment by J. Hova
2009-08-15 14:13:27

I have not read this version but I now have every intention of it. As I mentioned in another comment, I am a positive slut for knowledge and perspective. Thank you, JMB.

Erika Rae, surprise away… as long as we haven’t returned to the topic of tracing my actual identity and then slashing me in the face with a broken Smirnoff bottle. That was a liiiiittle scaaaaary….

Comment by Erika Rae
2009-08-15 19:47:15

You forgot the part where I read you bad poetry I’ve written. That’s key to the whole Emo slashing, you know.

boo.

Comment by J. Hova
2009-08-15 19:52:10

It was not forgotten. It was blocked out. Too traumatic.

Oh, and “eek”.

Reply here

Comment by jmb
2009-08-15 12:26:44

Ooh, I’m going to steal that.
Reply to this comment

Comment by Kimberly M. Wetherell
2009-08-15 08:35:51

What would happen, I wonder, if one were to press #8?
Reply to this comment

Comment by jmb
2009-08-15 12:31:16

Direct line to Rich Ferguson.
Reply to this comment
Comment by Kimberly M. Wetherell
2009-08-15 12:56:00

Nightlight Jesus.

Of course!
Reply to this comment

Comment by josie
2009-08-16 08:52:14

woe the tragic consequence
to the piece you’ve posted here
poetry strewn throughout the thread
like the chrapnel from a holy bomb
even the time on the clock responds
poetry poetic comments galore
woe the tragic consequence
my arm bent
I had no choice
the devil made me rhyme it

You rock the run-on Mr. Blaine, you rock it just right!
Reply to this comment

Comment by jmb
2009-08-16 10:49:04

TNB’s first collective book should just be culled
from comments.

!
Reply to this comment
Comment by josie
2009-08-16 11:10:04

That’s an excellent idea. I’ve been toying with the idea of a book called My Life In Comments where I list all my cyber-chatter. Reads like poetry. Really bad poetry but whatever. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find a place to end it.
Reply to this comment

Comment by Marni Grossman
2009-08-17 10:33:20

You always manage to make me want to use the word “evocative.”
Reply to this comment

Comment by Sherri
2009-08-21 04:06:59

Good stuff my poet friend! What I would like to read is the beat up notebook that u pick up to scratch out thoughts into when your mind runs places that you dare not take anyone with you!
Reply to this comment

Comment by jmb
2009-08-21 09:47:25

I started to say this is where that came from but it would
not completely be true.

Oh, those notebooks.
There are so many of them now.
My mind races
alone
probably far too much
Reply to this comment

Comment by Sherri
2009-08-26 17:46:28

I challenge you to post one from that notebook. I can assure all here that it will be one of your best!!!!
Reply to this comment

Director’s Commentary: The bottom photo is a recreation. My name is backwards in a phone number there. There really is a closet with a phone number scratched but a veterinarian bought our old house. Like a lot of unstable writers, Revelation is very influential for me. These sorts of things come out very quickly to me but I like them. Seems strange to have 1000 words of comments on a 200 word piece but comments are their own gravy on TNB…