I and the
by Charles Bernstein


I and the
to that you
it of a

know was uh
in but is
this me about

just don't my
what I'm like
or have so

it's not think
be with he
well do for

on because really
as at if
when had all

she said mean
then something that's
would there very

we get out
going her up
say way feel

thing things one
sort were want
didn't time now

your they are
go see can
feeling him some

other why how
been more thought
no right kind

here yeah an
which thinking ah
you're from them

I've maybe got
did much could
can't being myself

guess even too
any little always
back people these

who good anything
last by come
felt mother his

doing oh than
there's remember make
mind into has

night over saying
down before went
where talking again

never I'll he's
wasn't same only
I'd dream first

whether sure seems
doesn't sound lot
two also wanted

uhm trying around
feelings am might
getting have take

fact still day
came after suppose
eh else talk

yes father tell
could real today
will she's home

isn't whole work
part wouldn't does
yesterday made everything

off used another
girl somehow anyway
though told probably point look course
away understand okay
school put morning

seem long afraid
times week through
bad angry keep

started reason must
uhuh they're done
different almost these

yet coming nothing
quite house better
funny wrong may

what's idea person
find able such
yourself big happened

ever important actually
true somebody looking
give most guy

years money let's
next sometimes every
try our makes

three haven't nice
thoughts come sense
while either although

stuff own since
hard knew won't
call life exactly

great forth let
many alright called
their us Friday

certain pretty man
least except seemed
question couple making

start kept enough
room boy problem
year once took

business fear perhaps
bit ask both
end asked far

love left sexual
situation bed old
car between place

talked stop certainly
whatever believe along
relationship we're someone

words ago happen
say rather analysis
help until sex

working telling taking
means job gee
everybody without word

read reaction together
you've days looked
upset hand leave

picture wonder matter
interesting hour children
weekend Saturday saw

late sitting weeks
particularly toward woman
child few gone

anybody care need
head friends mad
wish kids we've

wanting change new
use hurt hadn't
married fantasy monday

five happy hell
interested family involved
show who's stay

suppsed worry four
clear parents usually
girls wants instead

aware guilty does
case mentioned friend
tomorrow type book

finally sleep gets
thursday completely sit
minutes reading answer

decided difference often
doctor image obviously
play kid half

against problems apparently
gotten huh shouldn't
each sick deal

figure gave tried
anger strange strong
we'll door particular

seen past found
terms trouble bring
less happens high

phone control baby
close hear realize
somewhere reasons sister

wondering hours alone
during seeing women
already class meant

asking become conscious
later moment second
wife cold ways

kinds side best
pay stand law
office anymore find

he'd minute sorry
dreams know running
you'd awful bought

realized ten face
six weren't set
concerned inside name

turn lying early
live number recall
open position playing

you'll intercourse general
scared paper worked
possible walked hate

heard sudden difficult
fight putting experience
tired attitude afternoon

giving nervous penis
under walking several
attention tuesday uncomfortable

immediately taken worried
began o'clock small
especially instance hospital

months god living
sunday college wednesday
explain forget front

summer accept connection
enjoy line outside
run session dinner

sounds world beginning
liked story eat
mine crazy crying

turned act wait
ahead apartment fantasies
hope mood behind

uhum listen unless
woke ought walk
guilt therefore free

struck books group
asthma pick men
month ready write

glad imagine street
building using aren't
conversation order expect

handle buy decision
looks she'd worse
excited jewish depressed

fun shit terribly
tonight hair meaning
miserable silly black

date leaving more
terrible feels given
interest meeting towards

lots badly teacher
fairly masturbation older
reminds train amount

cut sat stupid
view bother horrible
soon knowing happening

pleasure standing happening
stopped drive driving
anxious example assume

fall rate absolutely
lie whenever possibly
evening earlier check

attractive possibility firther
reality wanting nobody
it'll spend guys

brother hmm appointment
middle connected hit
uptight itself questions

whom boys area
excuse vacation normal
died sound subject

obvious store mother's
discuss became react
everyone beautiful noticed

speak busy calling
bill dead partly
teaching clearly role

smoking chance he'll
process effect opposite
physical starting stomach

dirty takes thinks
top changed ended
hostility we'd occurred

anyone across behavior
mouth nose till
comfortable bye dawn

definitely easy extent
hold weird light
please full relation

death clothes himself
one're responsibility treatment
father's lived lose

strikes suddenly understanding
direction etc extremely
recognize she'll wonderful

lost pattern perfectly
jealous eyes discussed
simply admit anxiety

young perfectly uncle
psychological level bothered
bought decide step

study specific others
trust straight good-by
express friendly fifteen

totally odd cry
consider statement begin
quit short attack

frightened letter present
worth easier necessary
consciously wall surprised

successfully body afterwards
trip game daddy
meet within specifically

hasn't patient husband
test floor younger
move ridiculous rest

known loved fit
weak met learn
herself rid fault

unhappy staged blue
bathroom holding recently
agree writing association

deep sorts watching
seven keeps mention
avoid grade human

relations umhmm schedule
serious marriage notice
issue dark grandmother

desire annoyed psychiatrist
somewhat bothers quality
emotional ideas follow

break scene die
they'll enjoyed piece
necessary confused effort

smoke incident longer
becomes hostile crap
here its warm

ran upon emotionally
continue keeping tied
tense themselves constantly

spent movie hot
voice truck tremendous
describe purpose lately

state picked purpose
hot water impression
caught mostly sleeping

fell willing discussion
table teach throw
push couch air

quiet truth dependent
watch conscience tape
physically main confidence

prove percent town
ugly doubt gives
wondered likes country

sent emotions shower
bus gives miss
sexually works competition

listening becomes logical
fast machine wrote
library similar thank

related fears eating
masturbating bothering chair
masturbate basically wear

bringing mixed disappointed
sad honest response
white twice send

dreamt grandfather needed
finding pressure easily
forgotten christmas food

note underneath wearing
reasonable degree twenty
form showed pants

whereas speaking heart
needs practice hoping
quickly pregnant mister

patients marry correct
missing various places
cutting decisions stuck

pleased acting aggressive
charge brings boat
critical figured day

kill moving pleasant
associate staying written
finished age stage

lack opened pictures
someplace goddamn learned
lead expected entirely

ride usual besides
escape expression they'd
lives mrs. basis

respect surface element
lady worrying anywhere
paying fellow slept

clean suit calls
passive research ashamed
opposed church described

associations near simple
shut hands starts
relate associated fair

changing forgot neurotic
city fuck heck
postive understood son

unusual none stick
generally shows 7:00
masculine ability frightening

immediate birthday blame
major relations intense
adult fat smart

bedroom sessions discussing
cpable impossible laughing
terrific background killed

enjoying caused cause
born poor box
letting direct mental

draw power remind
cannot regard frustration
doctors closed inferior

relaxed active female
upsetting drove tough
6:00 ha compulsive

yours accepted natural
force actual plans
emotion touch 12

bunch red upstairs
hated lonely lawyer
quarter dad otherwise

whose painful concern
large male nature
occasionally assumed essentially

split corner project
reacting character theory
homosexual spoke dare

played wow expressing
finger hurting directly
regular unpleasant tie

personal pain progress
however plus results
cases calm hall

disgusted parts fit
differently comment hi
practically urge commitment

article failure tells
liking drink opinion
dangerous context remembering

hiding second strongly
ice significance stronger
downstairs remark sequence

personality roommate hat
catholic cat hassles
confident opportunity build

changes shape held
turning extreme object
quick based turns

talks defense opening
suggested struggle vague
dislike mainly 9:00

riding erection downtown
peculiar teachers cigarette
authority breathing skiing

sensitive eventually convince
expensive harder kidding
broke complicated conclusion

lousy center 8:00
third phase furious
bigger frustrating medicine

daughter smile named
darn stoned jeeze
blah danger referring

plain joke carried
future ground hang
help picking nine

blow value advantage
closer attempt silence
park punishes cousin

relevant independence shot
glasses support magazine
courses pardon results


"I and The" was compiled from Word Frequencies in Spoken American English by Hartvig Dahl (Detroit: Verbatim/Gale Publishing, 1979). Dahl's sample was based on transcripts of 225 psychoanalytic sessions involving 29 generally middle-class speakers averaging in age in the late twenties. These speakers, 21 of whom were men, used a total of 17,871 different words in the session. In the poem, frequency is presented in descending order.


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May 2001