About Time

Poems

By: David Duchovny

Narrated by: David Duchovny

From acclaimed author, actor, and singer-songwriter David Duchovny, a deeply personal, existential, and insightful debut poetry collection

DAVID DUCHOVNY’S SEVENTH PUBLISHED―AND FIRST POETIC―WORK covers a range of intimate themes and topics, including love, the loss of love, parenting, Duchovny’s own parents (in particular his father, who looms large throughout the work), alienation, and other emotional quandaries. Fans of Duchovny’s fiction will recognize the insightful and clever play of words that, in this new form, distill to an emotionally impactful portrayal of what the author holds most dear.

Duchovny’s approach to poetry is beautifully (and, typically, humorously) encapsulated in his introduction to the work, in which he writes:

Poetry is not useful. And that is exactly why we need it. It reminds us of two important things: our ultimate lack of agency (unpopular to say, I know) and our inability to say anything plain, our inability to capture what it means to be human with the imperfect tool of words; we come face-to-face with our shadow selves, for in the end we will all die and be forgotten, and come away with nothing, nothing in the way of utility anyway, no talking points, no bullet points, no propaganda, no resolutions, no policy, no knowledge. If anything, maybe we remember a few lines . . . something like a pop song from the collective unconscious, something like wisdom.

You see, I wanted to say it plain, but out comes that torrent of modifiers and adjustments, denials, double negatives, shading, stabs at wit, backpedaling, playing at capturing the lightning. Maybe this time. Maybe that’s what a poem is―that glorious feeling of Maybe this time I’ll get it right. If that’s the case, it seems a worthy enterprise to me. You see, I got somewhere, but the way back is unclear―that’s a good enough definition of poetry for now. No, it’s not.

Duchovny’s efforts at achieving such clarity range in this collection from laser-sharp, single-sentence poems to emotionally sweeping ruminations. With About Time―perhaps his most personal work to date―Duchovny continues his journey as one of the most prolific creators of his generation.

Front cover photo © Stefan Sappert

Poetry’s Useful Uselessness

Read this in print first but it’s always great to hear the author read their own work. I am not a poetry buff by any means, but these are good. Loved the whisper effect on “One Door.” I hope David keeps sharing his writing with his fans for years to come.

Your poems on faith & Memory

First of all, I sobbed for about 2 hours. You are a deep individual who is able to write these on point poems. Several, I swear you were identifying me with the way I’ve written on your Facebook business page about faith and forgiveness. The other was about wishing you could forget memories. I wish I could remember my memories. I had a stroke at 49 in 2012 and lost fine motor skills and memories of my children being born and you are so lucky to have never had a stroke or a life threatening condition, but I pushed through mine and I know you are driven and thriving so whatever happens, you’ll work on it with Monique and be successful. If you were less driven you wouldn’t be the man you are today! You said prayers are a waste of time on you, I’ll never believe that and both of you are safe within my umbrella.

I Never seen a book or poems from this view.

A story of life well told. very inspirational. very deep and well written. a wonderful outlook on life.

David you break my heart so beautifully

What an amazing book of poetry yet again! I still cannot stop crying over a few. You are amazing David thank you

Beautiful, insightful, moving

I obtained an early copy of this beautifully published book of poems. I then downloaded the Audible copy because I wanted to hear David’s own voice reading them, interpreting each as he intended. As he has shown in other narratives, he has a beautiful and easy listening vocal timber 😘. His poems are honest and thought-provoking. I cried often and chuckled, too. I’m too emotional anyway. I will treasure this lovely book.