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Knock Knock Knocking On Godot’s Door

by Soren James

Nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It’s awful!
Knock knock.
Wow, what a change of fortune!

#

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
The interminable wait.
The interminable wait who?
You’re not making this any easier.

#

Knock, Knock.
Who’s there?
The revealer of ignorance.
The revealer of ignorance who?
My work here is done.

#

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Godot.
You’re joking?
Yes.
(pause) Yes, you’re joking? Or yes, you’re Godot?
No. I’m joking about anyone being here.
What’s the joke?
Exactly.
Mr Beckett, if you continue this harassment I’m calling the police.

#

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
God.
(A silent resentment ensues forever)

#

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Infinity.
Infinity who?
Infinity beginning: Knock knock. . . .

#

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Time. I was just passing.
You would have passed in any case.
Yes, but less rapidly – my car broke down.

#

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Waiting For Godot.
Waiting For Godot who?
I didn’t catch the last name.
You’re waiting on someone and you don’t even know their full name? Did you get a phone number or email?
We were distracted – Didi’s got these bad feet, and I’m . . .

#

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Dramatic irony.
Oh, I didn’t realise it was you!

#

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
The desire to communicate.
The desire to communicate who?
That’s a good point. I’ll reflect further on that before I bother you again, Estrogen.

#

Knock.
What?
Forget it.

#

Knock knock knock.
Who’s there?
Knock knock knock knock!
Shit, it’s the police!

 

Soren James is a writer and visual artist who recreates himself on a daily basis from the materials at his disposal, continuing to do so in an upbeat manner until one day he will sumptuously throw his drained materials aside and resume stillness without asking why. More of his work can be seen here: https://sorenjames.wordpress.com

What surprising, fascinating stuff can you tell us about the origin, drafting, and/or final version of “Knock Knock Knocking On Godot’s Door ”?

Having waited some time, I saw God appear before me conveying a series of Knock Knock jokes—which I hastily wrote down and sent on to you.

News

Check out the write-up of the journal in The Writer.

Matter Press recently released titles from Meg Boscov, Abby Frucht, Robert McBrearty, Tori Bond, Kathy Fish, and Christopher Allen. Click here.

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Poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction/prose poetry submissions are now closed. The reading period for standard submissions opens again September 15, 2025. Submit here.

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