The same old thing.

It's not me.
Ok, I get that.
HEY YOU!
Did you even bother?
I did.
But that doesn't matter.

Con-create.

I grew up in the sticks.
An only child, where imagination was not only important,
but absolutely vital.
I could play for hours with my own thoughts.
None real, but no less satisfying.
And I would dream.
Every. Single. Night.
And remember it.



Hollywood has had a bad influence on me.
I'm waiting for a story.

Strummer

I've got a chip on my shoulder,
but this chip's a boulder
unable to hold
any longer.
I've got obligations.
Decisions.
Strings keeping me in position.
Stagnating my vision.
Should I stay or go Joe?
Shit, you didn't even know.

Conduit

I don't like
being the medium
for sappy, cliche,
albeit adorable
ramblings
that are never
ever
about me.

Your Senior Photo

Today at Sussex Hamilton
a senior girl,
(who I took as being pretty popular)
came in with a baggy purple tee shirt,
messed up hair, and sweatpants.

She asked if she could take a photo
with both her thumbs up.

No, I said.

She asked if she could make a grumpy funny face.

No, I said.

Why? She demanded.


In my head I thought...

"Let's say you go missing, unintentionally, you're abducted.

Is that the photo you want up on the 10 o clock news?

Let's say, they don't find you for a while, so there's a massive, prolonged search.

Is that the photo you want printed thousands of times on leaflets, Sunday paper inserts, or next to John Walsh on America's Most Wanted?

Let's say they do find you, but it ain't good. You're dead.

Is that the photo you want at your memorial service, in front of your entire school. Even the kids who...let's face it, you treated like garbage. The photo printed on hundreds of buttons that your family and friends sell to establish a memorial scholarship in your honor? ...



"It goes on your college transcripts".



She immediately went home to go put something nice on and fix up for the photo.

Rain.

I am in the process
of buying umbrellas.
From thrift stores,
rummage sales,
anywhere that's cheap.

Because this is my plan,
and I don't know why.

I'm going to fill up a backpack
full of umbrellas.
And on a particularly rainy day,
I will walk down the street
and give an umbrella
to anyone walking
in the rain
without one.

And the rest of the day
they will wonder why
the fuck a girl
with a backpack full of umbrellas
gave them one.

Working Girl

Had dinner last night
with 200 nuns.
No lie.
Photographing at a convent
has perks.
Free coffee, turkey noodle soup,
(complete with ketchup, if needed)
and possible salvation.


Took a photo of a high school kid today.
Short hair.
Cargo shorts.
Great smile.
As soon as he left, my co-worker leans in and says-



"I'm 97% sure that kid was part of the Aryan Nation. A Nazi"

Gifts and Takes.

Yesterday,
at a red cross tent,
at a punk rock festival,
someone called me a hero.

And took my photo.
And had me sign a release.

Yesterday,
I gave one of my favorite musical artists
a photo of him,
that I entered in a contest,
but didn't win.

I forgot to tell him
"Hip hop changed my life"
I hope he doesn't throw it away.