tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75076893274184578362024-03-17T23:04:03.703-04:00The Word Pimp Spits......wisdom like seedsThe Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-74138692250649921772024-01-07T13:29:00.003-05:002024-01-07T13:38:13.436-05:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd9_W9sfhLjx42tIx-0ppX6sVYAjDsPweJEkRbDp12nRmibohZmQoKsH2ja9OcxCEyEUip-hv8xBJQ5g_tYQfqNdc8VWIjieQfNvNGt393TF2BU4S8bxzoaiFlcEVNKMfIUSvOrFjnIeF1JYns7_Qc_rJM4KIkmuyr7xn0g0Mf-OnAX4WMWL0BWJmECOu/s900/Suprenovae.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd9_W9sfhLjx42tIx-0ppX6sVYAjDsPweJEkRbDp12nRmibohZmQoKsH2ja9OcxCEyEUip-hv8xBJQ5g_tYQfqNdc8VWIjieQfNvNGt393TF2BU4S8bxzoaiFlcEVNKMfIUSvOrFjnIeF1JYns7_Qc_rJM4KIkmuyr7xn0g0Mf-OnAX4WMWL0BWJmECOu/w320-h213/Suprenovae.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d04d12c0-7fff-30d1-37bf-4d687db53530" style="font-family: helvetica;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Supranova</span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I'm melting!”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">cried the Western witch,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">& I can feel her pain</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">as I begin </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">the newest year</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">in a hospital bed </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">high on morphine,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">fighting</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">off the effects </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">of a greasy cheesesteak</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">& a defective pancreas.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">I must be melting,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">I imagine as I swipe</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">across the images hidden</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">behind a digital brown bag:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lotis licking </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">a glass phallus,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">legs braided </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">like pretzel stix,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">toes pertly pointed</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">towards Her sacred </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">altar, & those wicked eyes</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">saying nothing,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">telling me everything,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">drawing me in </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">like sirens into waves</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">sure to break me</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">against jagged</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">rocks hidden</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">under perfect</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">pools.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am already broken,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">I laugh, as pain shoots</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">through me: lightning</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">riding my swollen,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">tattered guts—</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">aboriginal abdominal</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">chaos—ancestral</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">gift!</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I am no witch,”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">she says. Lies,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">or perhaps yet to realize</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">her power, or lost</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">in the perjorative,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">or…</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">evolved</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">beyond the labels</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">used to frame rare</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">strength & compassion</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">forevermore feared,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">misunderstood.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">¿Who am I</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">to define her?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">a poet, melting</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">on a hospital bed</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">in Baltimore, hoping</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">not to expire here </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">like Poe, for</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">while Death</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">& I are intimates,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have no desire</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">to consummate</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">that bond. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>I want </span></span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">only to live </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">long </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">enough to melt—</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">melt into the arms</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">of unparalleled</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">beauty, into pain</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">so perfect, so pure,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">we burn bright:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">stars merging,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">forming,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">forging light</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">white hot </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">enough to pull</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">the whole</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">of the Universe</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">towards us</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">& melt it all</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">away.</span> </span></p></span>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-43714270504602166972023-12-10T07:40:00.003-05:002024-01-07T13:33:40.803-05:00High Priestess <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcmapylfYWGm-m0W-1JnbwusSqZxjsvjgv5Fxp-U4LorzbAgYbIU-MLEOjQSs-YF9dRnapX_8JOjYhrwjUoArQ2XljA0z_XITScT2BfKy3qJxFdnDSRwO4sLtJRPz7Sly_ItiZwUtyP9M-e73551K-KTOsdY6mGFEMkGgU3rHA4xYZHwR0OabtL08BzQ0/s500/Priestess%20Kali.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcmapylfYWGm-m0W-1JnbwusSqZxjsvjgv5Fxp-U4LorzbAgYbIU-MLEOjQSs-YF9dRnapX_8JOjYhrwjUoArQ2XljA0z_XITScT2BfKy3qJxFdnDSRwO4sLtJRPz7Sly_ItiZwUtyP9M-e73551K-KTOsdY6mGFEMkGgU3rHA4xYZHwR0OabtL08BzQ0/s320/Priestess%20Kali.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-d1e8f5f7-7fff-c2a2-c2ae-8e8d49d3b341" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">High Priestess</span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-d1e8f5f7-7fff-c2a2-c2ae-8e8d49d3b341" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“‘I have no words’”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">actually means</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I have too many—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I need time & space</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to process them,”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I admit to the One</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I never met, except</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in the digital corners</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of the electronic birdhouse</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">slo-mo devolving into</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">an X-graded cess-</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">pool of bile & vitriol</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">disguised as liberty.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Yet how to process…</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What? Curiosity? Desire?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Manifest Destiny???</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">All of this & none</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">at once: the vibration</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">our souls buzz with</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as they glide through </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Limbo, tense & electric</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as they wonder</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">whether the road ends</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">at Heaven or Hell</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">or somewhere else</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">for which we meager</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">mortals have yet</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to find proper words.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I have no words</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as I watch Her</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">fondle the toy</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">with the pout</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of Her mouth—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Her lips pursing</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as they caress its tip,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">water pooling,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">not quite covering</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Her thighs, mesmerizing</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">droplets posting patterns</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as they slide along the glass </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shower door, one eye </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">covered by a wet</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">swath of hair</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">& the other: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">coy? </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shy? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shame perhaps???</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I think until it looks</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">directly at me—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">not me, I know; </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">looking at all</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">who follow, but—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">through</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">me</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">: </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">a stiletto</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">piercing</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">my already wounded</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">heart, & it dawns</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">on me:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">She's not hiding,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">there is no shame,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">only a clear understanding</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of Her own power,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Her Magick—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">a knowledge</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">deeper than most</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">that even a post</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">projects power,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">power that must be tempered</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">lest The Priestess</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">destroy The World</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">even lacking intent,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">& I want that intensity,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I want it more</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">than I've ever wanted </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">anything!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of course I do.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I am The Fool,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">after all, careening</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">carelessly through Life</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">with little more than hope</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">& irrepressible Joy</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">& The Fortune </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">that blesses all fools</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">too blind to accept </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the darkness</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">that envelops </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The World.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Alas, She will always be</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">little more than a ghost</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to me, a mystery</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">that I can almost taste</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">but never solve—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">perhaps if I could muster</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">enough courage, enough</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Will… …but then I'd </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">progress to The Mage, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">& I might Will all</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The World mine—</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">power I've feared</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to wield widely, wildly:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">even Wisdom</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">cannot always overcome </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the Chaos brought on</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by the temptations</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of The Devil.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So I settle for ghosts,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">for shadows, for the single</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">sided projections my mind</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">plays as truth because</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">actual Truth is too burdensome</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to bear: The World</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is too big, The Priestess</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is too far, & The Fool</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">only ever deserves</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to witness Life & Love,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">never to truly possess either</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">except in the dreams</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He prefers to reality:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">destined to live</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the life of The Hermit</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">while The World moves on</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">with or without Him,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as always.</span></p>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-24434736552138541282023-05-17T11:05:00.006-04:002023-05-17T11:08:38.290-04:00Ink·Heart·Serrations<div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWyLzpSiO2xMQaMzEiL7bZQ9E_H6pYE96l8x7nwzb1Jv34_zv2mGKZFhtIBos9eUwYClG_jPlbmVjR139KbZ74h0yueF_00qr_yclggSBl2SH6vFwH9XXuogc4F8Ju37cR9b33DZwsTXtiVwI16XJPFvI_ejgCNzxA8gwRrbzWk7IOaVuz6abdf3FUcw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1279" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWyLzpSiO2xMQaMzEiL7bZQ9E_H6pYE96l8x7nwzb1Jv34_zv2mGKZFhtIBos9eUwYClG_jPlbmVjR139KbZ74h0yueF_00qr_yclggSBl2SH6vFwH9XXuogc4F8Ju37cR9b33DZwsTXtiVwI16XJPFvI_ejgCNzxA8gwRrbzWk7IOaVuz6abdf3FUcw" width="240" /></a></div><br /><b><i>Ink·Heart·Serrations</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">She suffers,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">& I am useless,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">incapable of soothing<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">her pain,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">her profound loss,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">her unrelievable grief!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">How can she <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">grieve<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">when her Love <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">is not dead,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">merely trapped<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">in a dungeon—<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">his own devise—<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">his demise<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">a concoction of poor choices,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">arrogance & ego,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">deep insecurity<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">masked as toxic<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">machismo?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Her Love is undead,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">the great black wight,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">barely a whisper<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">haunting<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">the collapsing<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">hallways of her heart,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">& I can only bear<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">witness <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">because I must hide<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">my own love, lest<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">in my selfish want<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">of her she feels <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">smothered,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">deprived <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">of the space <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">she needs to mourn.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">¿What, because I dream<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">of my every morning<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">dawning with her <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">in silhouette,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">a shadow<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">against every<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">subversive sunrise?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">& so we all suffer,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">all of our hearts<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">incarcerated—<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">his imprisoned<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">within walls<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">of iron & concrete,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">hers imprisoned<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">under the weight<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">of loss & absence,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">mine behind<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">a loneliness<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">only she can cure <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">& a foreboding fear<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">of losing her<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">forever—<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">all held <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">in solitary,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">confined<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">to the empty <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">wastelands of our souls,<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">where hope <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">can only be measured<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">by the pinpricks<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">of light that linger:<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">the imperfect promises<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">of love deferred. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-43406927004398388542022-04-02T15:31:00.002-04:002022-04-02T15:31:21.387-04:00Word Pimp Slap<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8cRD56MsXYPRqRttHxWOBQ-y4iJ3ArYX01kgSoQ1SMnPDn8t0qzodhQAefrsmnR5_K6kspKZ6xvpD-VKJ5vcLhIkd3hLjNx2XGGVDEnLari7Yep1qEsjQxGE52vMSy2zOzdF07DQNpZiJnoBN234ilnXUZ6899D5j_ffZaIQprNv0e3InjT2zlHpSQ/s1200/will-smith-slaps-chris-rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8cRD56MsXYPRqRttHxWOBQ-y4iJ3ArYX01kgSoQ1SMnPDn8t0qzodhQAefrsmnR5_K6kspKZ6xvpD-VKJ5vcLhIkd3hLjNx2XGGVDEnLari7Yep1qEsjQxGE52vMSy2zOzdF07DQNpZiJnoBN234ilnXUZ6899D5j_ffZaIQprNv0e3InjT2zlHpSQ/s320/will-smith-slaps-chris-rock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I should begin by stating unequivocally that I do not advocate nor endorse unwarranted violence. On the contrary, & much to the constant chagrin of my own children, I abide by more of a "turn the other cheek" philosophy, seeing violent retaliation as akin to allowing someone else to drag me down to their level. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Okay, now that that's out of the way, yes, the one time I met Chris Rock I was sorely tempted to smack the shit out of him just like Will Smith did during the recent Academy Awards Show. Let me explain.<br /><br />In the summer of 2002, I was running a Ritz Camera near the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. Mr Rock was in town shooting <i>Head of State</i>. I wasn't aware he was even in town until he walked into the store, entourage in tow. I barely had time to look up from what I had been doing before his excessively salty language reached my ears. I think he was on the back end of a "motherfucker." <br /><br />I was amused, but far from starstruck. If you worked anywhere near Baltimore's Inner Harbor in its heyday, you were bound to meet more than your fair share of celebrities. I'd sold everything from camera film to point & shoots to professional equipment to several Orioles, Ravens, Olympians, comedians, television & film actors... I even closed my store to allow Katt Williams a brief respite from being hounded by fans during the height of his popularity. I don't get starstruck, also to the chagrin of my children who would constantly bemoan my refusal to collect autographs when I would get home from work with news of one of my celebrity interactions.<br /><br />My amusement at seeing Chris Rock in my store was cut short. I had assumed that once he reached my counter, his performance for his buddies—& that's exactly what it was, an unceasing attempt to keep his retinue in stitches—would end so we could get down to business. I couldn't have been more wrong.<br /><br />Mr. Rock was in the market for a digital camera, his first. I began qualifying him as I would any other customer, trying to pin down his experience level, his price range, etc.; but it was all an uphill slog as nearly every question, every response, every suggestion was met with his expletive laden, mostly unfunny (except to his friends, & even there, some of the laughter was forced) running commentary.<br /><br />Now, anyone who has read my work knows I'm not averse to foul language. I believe all words serve a purpose, & the use of such words has its place. But I also believe, as many of my writing instructors have tried to relay, that when it comes to expletives, a little goes a long way, & a lot can ruin what might have been a good thing. Despite feeling annoyed at his vulgar banter, I wasn't going to let that get in the way of a camera sale. However, at a certain point, this was no longer about me. It was about Barb, the lady who processed film & printed photos in my lab.<br /><br />For those of you old enough to remember Ritz Camera, before digital photography took over the world & the market, all stores had equipment that allowed us to produce perfect pictures in an hour from 35mm film. Processing machines were placed front & center, allowing customers to see the work in progress. It also kept our lab staff close enough to see & hear everything going on in the store. That day, the person running the lab was a middle aged woman who was devoutly religious & very sensitive to that type of language.<br /><br />Sure enough, after he had dropped enough <i>f-bombs</i> to make even me queasy, I looked back to check on Barb. She was mortified. She was hunched over in her chair, her face beet red, as she tried to focus on printing the roll of film in front of her. I quickly dismissed any thought of asking him to tone it down. That had the possibility of backfiring, regardless of how politely & respectfully I asked. Losing a much needed sale was not an option. As I saw it, my only choice was to rush through the process, to get this foul-mouthed comic who could not for one moment stop the “Chris Rock Show” he was performing just for his friends out of my store—easier said than done.<br /><br />Everything I did had to be filtered through his pointless flurry of commentary & asides. With each one, I looked back at Barb, part of me hoping he would notice what I was looking at, a flustered woman who was now flush, beads of sweat gathering on her forehead. It was at that point that I admit the thought crossed my mind: <i>if this motherfucker doesn't shut his filthy fucking mouth, I'm going to reach across this counter and slap some sense into him</i>. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I have violent thoughts like just about everyone else. Thoughts are not actions, not until we will them so. <br /><br />I just wanted a way to snap him back to reality, to find his off switch, to make him realize that there were other considerations besides his own ego. Of course, I thought better of it. It wasn’t worth risking the sale, my job, even a lawsuit or potential imprisonment. In my experience, it rarely is. I suppressed my emotions & carried on.<br /><br />Fortunately, I was eventually able to rush him out of the store, without the aforementioned pimp slap. I got him set up with enough batteries & memory to start taking pictures immediately & for quite some time thereafter. I didn't want him back. I didn't even bother discussing the repair plan, a Ritz required ask for every equipment purchase. That would only have prolonged his stay, & Barb's discomfort was bleeding over to me as my armpits had begun pouring sweat. Besides, I was perfectly sure he could afford to replace his camera if he broke it. Everything was focused on getting him & his crew out of my store as soon as humanly possible.<br /><br />Once they were finally gone, I checked on Barb. "You okay?" The color had begun coming back to her face, but she was still having a hard time forming words. I told her to finish the roll she was working on & take a break, go for a walk, get some fresh air. When she got back & we finally got the opportunity to discuss it, I found out she didn't even know who Chris Rock was. She had not watched <i>Saturday Night Live</i>, the show where Rock had made his bones, in years, considering it too risque for her tastes.<br /><br />"Why would anyone talk like that?" she asked me. The only reply I had for her is that despite him usually being a brilliant, generally hilarious comedian, it was obvious he was showing off for his friends. I let her know that he had failed at one of the basic rules of performing: don't get so caught up in your performance that you forget to read your audience. I’ve made that mistake myself plenty of times.<br /><br />So when I saw what happened between Will Smith & Chris Rock, I got it. I immediately remembered, quite vividly, when I was but one poor judgment away from making the same mistake. …& it was a mistake. Will could have opted to let it go, or save it for a private moment. Hell, he could've waited until an after party to avoid forcing the show's production staff's scramble to censor the <i>f-bombs</i> he dropped during the live broadcast. <br /><br />It would've become little more than post-show tabloid fodder instead of tarnishing the award he won for Best Actor about forty minutes after the <i>slap heard around the world</i>. He is, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">after all,</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> only the fifth black male to win that award.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />It's a shame, really. As hard as it is to be a positive figure as a person of color in this country, both men, amazing & experienced performers in their own rights, seemed to have simultaneously forgotten that aforementioned cardinal rule: never get so caught up in what you're thinking, feeling, or doing that you neglect to read your audience. <br /><br />Now, I’m not here to take sides. There’s a lot of <i>Team Chris</i> versus <i>Team Will </i>talk going around. Some feel the Academy should go as far as taking Smith’s Oscar away & banning him for life. Some folx feel that it was Rock who went a step too far by making a joke at Jada Pinkett Smith's expense either unaware or not caring about her battle with alopecia. Whatever the fallout is, it’s not up to me. At the time of this writing, Smith has resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences. His resignation does not seem to have abated any disciplinary action being considered by the Academy. <br /><br />Rock seems to be coming out the hero in this instance, having handled the smack like a champ, not allowing it to impact his performance on stage, once he got past the initial shock of being bitch slapped in front of the whole world. Rock also refused to file charges, which I find not only classy in a sense, but spared everyone the indignation of having to watch another black man being taken down & arrested, this time live, in front of a global audience. <br /><br />There’s plenty of blame (& praise) to go around, but none of that changes the real fallout of this incident: for those who already give in to the trope of the “angry black man"</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that being black & male is enough to rationalize the level of fear that justifies violence, even murder</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">those irrational fears have only been reinforced. Outside of those who are lining up behind <i>Team Chris</i> or <i>Team Will</i>, those who abhor violence in any form, & those who define a man by how he stands up & defends those he loves, we cannot lose site of those for whom this was just another example of why people of color are inferior, unworthy of universal respect. <br /><br />…& therein lies the saddest part of this entire fiasco—while some of us are busy trying to figure out who the winners & losers are coming out of this incident, they perhaps are not thinking that actually, there were no winners. Despite the fact that the joke that went too far & the unwarranted violence that followed were about as human as human can get, there are far too many folx out there who will use it as more reason to continue considering people of color as less than human. Looked at through that lens, haven’t we all lost?</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-a99b280b-7fff-8467-3bb4-b61c6201f80b"><br /></span></div>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-17778244169845909282021-09-16T16:51:00.002-04:002023-05-17T11:09:44.470-04:00Looking for Loosies<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzCMGxbrK1oyK4j_TwZJ3gzGLr1fZRJJI4ZzI2zn7dkjoGvnzh6CpChkpk7tbdj2rse7h0bBQFibczFR-2e1A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Anybody got a loose one?!”</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">On the subway platform, waiting for the train at Mondawmin, his tortured voice cuts through the typical murmurs that bleed over the mechanical silence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Loose ones! Looking for loose ones. Anybody got a loose one?”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The call is just short of desperate. Granted, he’s still high enough to not sound desperate, yet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">One murmur becomes clearly audible. “Damn, they out late tonight.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">There is no they, just one lone addict coming off his fix & looking to feed a different craving: tobacco. They is a pejorative here. The addict is relegated to subhuman standards, not worthy of being an individual. Everyone knows what he wants. No one offers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">If you live close enough to Lexington Market, near downtown Baltimore, close enough to find yourself there often, you learn the lingo. If you wait for a bus on the corner of Howard & Saratoga enough times, you will inevitably be asked if you want to buy a loosie or have one to sell.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">You may be confused, at first, but when you finally see someone pop a cigarette out of a pack & exchange it for a few coins, it all becomes clear. Microeconomics. The soft sell of a sole cigarette.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Anybody got a looose one?!”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Now he was becoming more desperate. He had already made a lap of the platform, and with no luck, his call had transformed into a chant, an uncomfortable one with such energy, I could sense everyone one on the platform recoil, gather tighter, try to shield themselves from the discordance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Loose ones! Looking for loose ones! Anybody got a looose one?”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I’m no better. As he approaches me, I try to avert his gaze. I’m not trying to interact. I have my earbuds on, playing nothing—my shield against the world. But I also know better than to be completely unguarded. I observe him peripherally, notice the staggering cadence of his walk, his gray, unkempt crop. He looks old, but addicts can be deceiving. You never really know if one is old, or just prematurely aged from constantly poisoning himself. He looks old, but mostly, he just looks hollow, like his soul has been eaten away, leaving nothing but a drying husk.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Shit! </i>He’s looking at me. Betrayed by my curiosity, I’ve inadvertently made eye contact. I don’t know if I can handle this energy, now. I’ve just spent the past couple of hours consulting an old friend, being the ear she needed, offering a shoulder and a bit of hope. I’ve had my fill of desperation for the day. Any more could be wounding, leave me so raw that I’ll spend the next few days in self-induced solitary, hiding from the world in a bed I’ll be unable to sleep in, just toss, pretending sleep will come, eventually.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Loose one?” he asks. Even his eyes are hollow, his gaze dying, not dead, not yet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I take a deep breath to steel myself. Before I can let it out, I hear someone say, “Hey brother, how’s it going?” in a soothing baritone. An officer had made his way to the platform, had reached the man. There’s no acrimony. There’s no aggression. Just brother, from an MTA police officer whose build was as daunting as his voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Hello, officer. I obey the law, officer. I respect the law. I’m just looking for a loose one.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“That’s fine,” the officer says, “but I don’t think you’re going to find one here. You might have better luck somewhere else.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">By this point, they’re both past me, the officer is herding the man towards the up escalator, his broad shoulders dwarfing the small, broken man. They continue in now inaudible conversation. The rest of the platform finally loosens up as the desperate energy dissipates, like lungs after a fit of coughing. Everyone is free from having to face their reflections in the eyes of a hollowed one. We all have hollows & hate to be reminded how close we are to becoming completely, tragically empty, looking for our own loosies in a world that has none to offer.</span><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-91380937142095793792021-09-03T16:03:00.002-04:002021-09-03T16:03:17.336-04:00Oyá<div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65TC3r3_RvQsbQ4x_tHd5PGy7E8qIe7HAGUxDpqjtfra0-xE-412ayoi50tHzjbRRPbP8OuEOitqA6MCI2VD7wZg0OodP37X11_3fVZMSE8JPhHzzAayFQjLr1INJJsWFi-lf4PtekU4g/s1000/oya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65TC3r3_RvQsbQ4x_tHd5PGy7E8qIe7HAGUxDpqjtfra0-xE-412ayoi50tHzjbRRPbP8OuEOitqA6MCI2VD7wZg0OodP37X11_3fVZMSE8JPhHzzAayFQjLr1INJJsWFi-lf4PtekU4g/s320/oya.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></i><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Oyá</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i>"Your son was blessed </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">with life, but it comes </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">at a price. The rabbit,<br />who's throat you sliced <br />open in my graveyard, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">my temple,<br />is not enough </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">for this child,"<br />came the words<br />from my ten <br />year-old mouth—<br />not my words.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br />"Your child was mine, <br />is mine,<br />has always been <br />mine. <br />He is on loan <br />at my discretion,<br />Eternally returnable to <br />sender, & it pains me <br />every day I am <br />without him."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br />I was there, but I wasn't—<br />lost beneath the weight<br />of Puerto Rican rum<br />& Dominican cigar<br />& <i>Oyá</i>, orisha of the dead,<br />Original Mother.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"He will live, <br />but you will not,"<br />dragged dread <br />through my heart as<br />my mouth continued<br />to spout another's<br />Words. ¡Yet, I could not<br />stop! "I will leave him<br />here, for now,<br />for the world to use<br />his gifts a while<br />longer, but know this:<br />I will take each & every<br />one of you instead."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br />I realized then<br />that loving me<br />is a death sentence<br />no words <br />could ever </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">complete.</span></div>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-12540798288924575092021-02-20T12:05:00.011-05:002021-02-20T12:05:54.442-05:00Petulance<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXmrZZtggfztd17-61PRCVY9krX7pt5kiBWVZFofEH5eKahBPI4gDq2_9jq6ZLr0TjQBkNrmBQ3MEZp8QQcN98x5X39IXF91kd2WR8gUHxxLuO7gsLtnsaGZB19d7EdG8fobk2iMk-MIq/s489/petulance%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="444" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXmrZZtggfztd17-61PRCVY9krX7pt5kiBWVZFofEH5eKahBPI4gDq2_9jq6ZLr0TjQBkNrmBQ3MEZp8QQcN98x5X39IXF91kd2WR8gUHxxLuO7gsLtnsaGZB19d7EdG8fobk2iMk-MIq/s320/petulance%257E2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"What does that mean?" she asks </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">as the big heads on the tube</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">analyze the blood sport </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">that has replaced the corpse </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">of politics. </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"Petulant?" I reply, called into duty, </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">called to defend my pride,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"Bratty, simply put—acting spoiled </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">& privileged." </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"& how do you spell it?" </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">I bristle at the challenge; </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">is that doubt, or a test; </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">but 2020 has been nothing </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">more than a riddle of doubt, </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">a series of tests, of challenges; & I am under her</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">Spell. Powerless, </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">I must comply. </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"P-E-T-U-L-E-N-T, petulent," </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">I announce in my best </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">bee boy B·boy voice, or the best I can offer </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">high & drunk & brimming </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">with Love, </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">as I finally find the strength </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">to look into the eyes </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">I've avoided all night, for fear I might </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">just blurt out everything I feel inside </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">& risk moments </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">like this one. </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">We ride on borrowed time,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">after all, live within a mirage,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">a <i>potemkin</i> friendship</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">that must be dismantled</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">when the Shogun has found</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">his way back to the dojo,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">relegating me to the discard pile—</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">a ronin ghost, serving none,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">served by none, once again</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">lost in the lonely wilderness,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">a sole sullen soul damned</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">to wander, aimlessly. </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"Alexa," she says, breaking </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">the silence as awkward as a tiny</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">boy in a world made for bigger men,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"spell petulant." She doubts me. </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">Fine. I doubt myself, perpetually,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">even wondering if I should be here;</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">or if I'm simply a glutton</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">for self-caused suffering,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">a dreamer who can never wake. </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"P-E-T-U-L-A-N-T" says Alexa</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">& I'm exposed; my flaws revealed</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">by a single vowel, clearly unveiling</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">my imperfections, my humaness.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">We laugh at my error, at a word</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">pimp bested by artificial intelligence.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">She reminds me of my claims,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">that she's added to my vast vocabulary,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"Is that true, or just empty words?"</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"There's no such thing!" I reply,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"Every word is pregnant with meaning,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">even in the face of apparent emptiness."</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">Emptiness is it's own language.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"But to answer your question, I have mad</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">respect for your skills, language & other-</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">wise; you are undoubtedly my muse."</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">Of that, I could never lie.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">I die</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">a little every time</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">I have to leave her.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">I want nothing</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">less than to be petulant,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">to cry,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">to whine,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">to tantrum,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">to beat my fists against the sky,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">to force this Jewel to shine</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">for me; but wisdom warns me</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">that would only lead to an end,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">already near, the end I fear;</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">& I cannot risk any</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">of these precious, stolen moments;</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">knowing I will soon lose</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">this privilege is pain</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">enough. </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">So, I remain composed for her,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">for me, for peace, for sanity—</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">however feigned, for the next day</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">I find myself, unable to think,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">to work, to do anything other</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">than catch her scent in the pilfered</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">hair band wrapped around my wrist,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">breathing in these notes of nutmeg</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">& leather, not unlike last night's wine.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">I am hopeless & sad & fucked</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">in so many ways, except...</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">"Remember, remember,"</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">I remind myself.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">Time is a fickle cunt,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">no telling what the future</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">holds—even the cards offer little</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">more than speculation, hope</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">for things that may never be. Best</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">not to think of it. Live</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">in these moments, as precious</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">as she is, as brilliant,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">as rare.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">As always, I hold faith in destiny;</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">but truth be told, I'd rather be holding</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">her...</span></div>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-25891784187692672362021-02-17T09:55:00.000-05:002021-02-17T09:55:48.396-05:00Black Cork<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGItYE17g0jsdp-JqoYbV2W0v9a6HUC22_eBwZPXVFsls2zGw-AlyZnVAjOYQWvxbcgb4CTRCJMIBqHsvowxfHVpsBTsbDI4qe8wbzGtpOWXlBAStVo5QuaORHA7B4PzcMo5kIvhI32Xwi/s949/BlackCork%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="949" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGItYE17g0jsdp-JqoYbV2W0v9a6HUC22_eBwZPXVFsls2zGw-AlyZnVAjOYQWvxbcgb4CTRCJMIBqHsvowxfHVpsBTsbDI4qe8wbzGtpOWXlBAStVo5QuaORHA7B4PzcMo5kIvhI32Xwi/w540-h228/BlackCork%257E2.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lost</span></span></div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">in a sea<br />of normalcy,<br />surrounded<br />by nothing<br />but beige,<br />taupe. tan—<br />shitty mediocrity,<br />I swim<br />with basic <br />bitches<br />& watch<br />them drown<br />while I rise<br />above them all.</span>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-50809956336948278852021-02-16T17:14:00.003-05:002024-03-17T10:58:07.643-04:00Missing the Blarney Stone<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMauBtLMQaTReuNnxUQjZfH4NdOOlHf0L7KP9tz1S8wIGzOSt7JBe5t9WS1XyLepjYdPz5-L66DM3LYFHpopQeVYYvzpR6LynMQ5xEo3nNGBwEVnpOgcPSJDZJHgfZt0QlKCYmcyn65YV/s771/Blarney-Castle-Ireland-15-artsy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="771" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMauBtLMQaTReuNnxUQjZfH4NdOOlHf0L7KP9tz1S8wIGzOSt7JBe5t9WS1XyLepjYdPz5-L66DM3LYFHpopQeVYYvzpR6LynMQ5xEo3nNGBwEVnpOgcPSJDZJHgfZt0QlKCYmcyn65YV/s320/Blarney-Castle-Ireland-15-artsy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><i>Missing the Blarney Stone</i></span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Sitting in the <i>Blarney Stone</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">sipping draught cider<span>—</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">a brief respite</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">from Pestilence</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">& Death's mad gallops,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">dowsing fear with alcohol,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">hoping to never hear</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">the trots of War</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">& Famine; & a glance</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">askance chances upon</span></div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><i>Clíodhna</i>, Celtic Venus,<br />Queen of Wails—</span><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">concealed in a corner,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">disguised behind spectacles,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">sipping ale from amber glass.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Dare I open my mouth,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">risk making a fool</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">of myself as I trip</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">unglibly through the ragged</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">words of a hermit, no longer</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">used to the social protocols </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">of humans? This cloistered</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">life foisted upon me has left</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">me more perverse than versed,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">lost in thoughts unshared,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">unshareable;</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">yet, now</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">beguiled</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">I want to speak, </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">to delve </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">into what drives</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">such a goddess</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">to hide, unassuming,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">in open corners.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">I dare!</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The words flow</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">out as easily as</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">the cider flows in,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">doubtless due</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">to my proximity</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">to </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the <i>Sidhe</i>, She</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">who shared</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">the Stone in which</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">we all now hide:</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">the lost, the lonely,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">the lovelorn, </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">all torn</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">by life's</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">callous cruelty, </span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">or our own.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Crowded,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">but we are alone</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">for a while,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">as all else</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">broken fades,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">save</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the occasional</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">offer of a sordid tale</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">or the reminisce</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">of cigarettes</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">as stale as the pick-up lines</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">with which they are proffered.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">This is dangerous!</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">We live in dangerous times,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">full of demons professing</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">to be saints, full</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">of killer crowns</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">that have made every kiss,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">every touch,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">even the act of sharing</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">breath taboo;</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">but that's all I want</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">to do, to steal</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">away with a goddess,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">to learn,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">to laugh,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">to live,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">to learn to laugh to live,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">again<span>—</span>to love!</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">& that scares me,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">& I don't know why.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">I know I did not arrive</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">alone, & turn to see</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">my companion, asleep,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">surrendered to the potions,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">surrounded by empty</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">upturned</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">vials & chalices;</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">but no one lives</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">at the <i>Blarney Stone</i>,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">we're all tourists,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">friendly invaders</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">whom sooner than later</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">must free ourselves</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">from this spell,</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">this illusion of freedom<span>—</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">every respite ends;</span></div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">reality awaits<span>—</span></span></div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">so I gather my goodbyes,<br />my gear, & my somnambulist<br />friend to kiss<br />the darkened sky;<br />& as we wander back<br />from whence we came—<br />I'm struck <br />by the fact<br />that I forgot<br />to kiss<br />the Stone;<br />worse yet,<br />I missed my chance<br />to kiss the goddess<br />who gifted <br />it to us all.<br /><br />I may not always be The Hermit,<br />but I am perpetually The Fool.</span>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-58105121743338726022021-01-04T10:33:00.003-05:002023-02-16T21:33:40.529-05:00How to Love a Porn Star<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEZkx5kO2_KvQYdm6aC3cKNtckTIY9H5vThn0MXQBX92LxJc5_D1bBeoaQbZEp8BGYEDxGGobXqQ5PCvCkBiwfyX-KhDhDrqwaw9ay6jJx7SnQNE7zgxWoi1gNt_8lZb8Z421sfPL8sCh/s1236/PillowBookIMG01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1236" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEZkx5kO2_KvQYdm6aC3cKNtckTIY9H5vThn0MXQBX92LxJc5_D1bBeoaQbZEp8BGYEDxGGobXqQ5PCvCkBiwfyX-KhDhDrqwaw9ay6jJx7SnQNE7zgxWoi1gNt_8lZb8Z421sfPL8sCh/w400-h264/PillowBookIMG01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div><span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><i>How to Love a Porn Star</i></span></div></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-size: large;">First.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-size: large;">Foremost:<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-size: large;">Understand </span></span><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">she can never be yours.</span></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Even though she owns </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">your heart, </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">undoubtedly & irrevocably,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">she will always belong </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to everyone else, </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to her co-stars, </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to her audience, </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to her fans. </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You are none</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of these things;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">you can never be.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When I meet her, I have no idea</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">who she is; just the gorgeous</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">crimson-curled girl </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">washing her clothes</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">at the <i>lavanderia</i>, </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">attentively watching </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Spanish language <i>telenovelas</i>,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">brow furrowed </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">as she tries making sense</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of the endless melodrama.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I had never heard</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of Dallas Wagstaff.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Second.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Never ask for sex.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's her job, & no one enjoys</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">bringing their work home. </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Instead, be patient;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">she will come to you</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">upon her own whims,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">full of desire & lust & magick,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">& she will mount you</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">like a wide-winged dragon, </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">& soon enough </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">you will find </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">yourselves intertwined </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">& writhing like a gordian </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">ouroboros.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She seems surprised</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">when I approach her,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">or annoyed, thinking</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I was little more</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">than another </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">overzealous fan</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">presuming</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">she was forever</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">on the prowl </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">for new lovers,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">her brow </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">only digging deeper.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"You seem a bit confused,"</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I chide her, "I'd be happy</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to translate, happy to open</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">the world to you. My mother</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">always said two tongues</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">are better than one."</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Third.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Abolish jealousy.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It serves no good</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to anyone's heart,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">as thoughts of late </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">nights & long </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">weekends away, </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">as neverending visions </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of countless men & women</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">having their way</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">will only eat at you,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">a restless, rabid raccoon </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">perpetually gnawing </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">at your guts</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">& regurgitating</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">indigestible bile.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"<i>Te extraño,</i>" I say</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">as I transcribe the words</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">onto her bare back </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">with a sumi brush </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">dipped in <i>jagua </i>henna.</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"<i>Te extraño</i>," she repeats,</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"What does that mean?"</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"It means<i> I miss you</i>,"</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I reply as I cap the "n"</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">with a tilde.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I pull back </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to get a better look</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">at my handiwork,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">her vocabularium.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">These words will fade,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">but she will always see</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">their shadows.</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She turns her head</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to catch me</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">from the corner of her left eye.</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"<i>¿Me</i> <i>extraña," </i> she asks, coyly,</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"<i>aveces?"</i></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>"Me</i> <i>extrañas," I correct,"Bueno,</i></span></div></div><div><div><i><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">siempre y nunca, amor."</span></i></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Finally.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Accept that you will lose</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">her. Nothing lasts,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">nothing is permanent,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">every story ends.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">One day, Dallas will get home</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">from Houston after a weeklong</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">series of shoots with nary a call,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">nary a text, & all </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">this incommunicado</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">will drive you mad, </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">& you will attack</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">in a jealous rage.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You will insist </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">she be only yours.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You will demand </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">she fuck you, </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">immediately, to prove her love.</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">& she will realize </span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">that you, too, </span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">are incapable</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of loving her </span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">the way she needs </span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to be loved.</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She won't even unpack</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">her bags, she will call</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">a friend to get her & she will leave</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">you with apologies pouring forth</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">from your lips</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">like oxidized wine, nothing</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">but vinegar in her ears;</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">the damage already done.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I never </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">did get to know Dallas,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">only ever the girl </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">she hid beneath. "Why</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">do you like painting</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">on my body like this?"</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">asks the next one </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I cannot love.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She thinks </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">it odd, </span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">peculiar,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">kinky.</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"I love words," I lie,</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"the way they feel</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">when they are drawn out,</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">when I can witness </span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">their permanency & impermanence</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">at once."</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Are <i>we </i>permanent?" She asks,</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">wriggling under the tickle of the sumi brush.</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Of course," I say, smiling</span></div></div><div><div style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">at her extended eye.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I finish the thought in my mind:</span></div></div><div><div><i><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">as permanent as these words</span></i></div></div><div><div><i><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">inscribed on the wrong skin </span></i></div></div><div><div><i><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">in jagua henna.</span></i></div></div></blockquote>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-74373658244327681302020-05-14T11:03:00.004-04:002020-05-14T12:56:35.124-04:00Chango Crying: ONE<br />
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<span style="color: #fce5cd; font-size: large;"><i>Prayer to The Seven African Powers</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #fce5cd; font-size: medium; line-height: 1;">O, Seven African Powers, who are so near to our divine Creator, with great humility I kneel before thee, and implore your intercession before almighty God. Hear my petition, and grant me peace and prosperity. Please remove, forever, all of the obstacles that cause me to sin. Oh Heavenly Father, I trust in your words, “Ask and thy shall receive.”<br /><div style="text-align: right;">
Ashé</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jolDBypfXiPdSu4A5kebf6laCpWVTk0ISFbV1rO-6Fz-b7LWfT0PNG4lbT8pFDrp1aWAOZg8TiSb9lu2O4eNqRsYhGpxn-TBFSJhyphenhyphenZZSjHf5W500bu1IoUzv9FGtHebswY0fjCnNGq5t/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #fce5cd;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="357" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jolDBypfXiPdSu4A5kebf6laCpWVTk0ISFbV1rO-6Fz-b7LWfT0PNG4lbT8pFDrp1aWAOZg8TiSb9lu2O4eNqRsYhGpxn-TBFSJhyphenhyphenZZSjHf5W500bu1IoUzv9FGtHebswY0fjCnNGq5t/s320/Hooded.jpg" /></span></a><div style="font-size: large;"><br /></div>
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<b style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>ONE</i></span></span></b></div>
</span></span></b><span style="color: #fce5cd; font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">tanding in a stiff March wind in front of the Maryland House of Corrections in Jessup, I resist the urge to pull the hood of my sweatshirt up over my head. The breeze feels different on this side, freer. I’ve been locked up for almost five years for one last gram of cocaine. Because I wouldn’t give up my connection, they had wanted to give me twenty. I pled to eight. They paroled me after four and a half—a year too late to be there for my mother when she died. I’ve been in too long.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I turn around to catch the gate click shut behind me. It could have been worse, I think. It could have been like all the movies and television shows: a den of iniquity and violence, overflowing with criminals teaching each other how to be better criminals. It can be, if what you want is to be a criminal.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I just wanted to get out. I don’t want to remember going in, but I can’t help it. Walking into the cellblock, hearing the inmates hollering.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“¡Look at what we got here, fresh meat!”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“¡Oh Yeah! I see we got some tight virgin ass up in he’e.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“I got dibs on the little Indian.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The first night was the roughest. The few days I spent in lockup before making bail were bad enough. But this was a whole new monster. When you get to <i>the pen</i>, everyone is eyeing you up, checking you out. Some look at you with hungry eyes, as if you were meant to be their next meal. Some measure you up, as if deciding how much of a challenge it would be to take you out. It was the ones that didn’t look at you, the ones walking around with cold dead stares that scared me, most.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">It seemed I knew what I could expect from the rest. With the zombies, as I called them in my own head, anything seemed possible. Make a mistake, hit their trigger and I was sure I’d find myself on a coroner’s table quicker than I hoped.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The worst was that first dinner call. I always feel lost my first time in any cafeteria. The pen was no different, except I was lost in the most inhospitable of environments. No time to stand still and get my bearings, I was shoved aside like some willowy branch hanging in between predators and their prey. Even when I got in line, I kept getting grabbed and pushed back until I realized I was in the rear with the group I had come in with that day. What was left when we finally made it to the front was cold and inedible, not that being warm would have made what we were served any better.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">My plan had been to pass the time by finishing my high school diploma, catching up with some reading, and ingratiating myself to a few of the prisoners. I was no idiot, but my senior year in high school had been all about getting high and trying to get laid. I got plenty high, but never did manage to get laid. By the end of the third quarter, I had missed more days than not, so I decided to just stop going altogether. When I was sentenced, I figured I would at least have the time to finish what I had started. I’m not very good at that. I owed it to myself to at least finish high school.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I went to a few classes in the pen, and gave up. I couldn’t stand sitting in a classroom full of remedials. Anytime I heard someone trying to read at anything higher than a third grade level, stuttering and stammering through each word, I grit my teeth until my jaws ached. I never had the patience to sit through class, but that was unbearable. I think I went three times before dropping out. Again. I did spend plenty of time reading. And I managed to make a few friends by trying to be funny and useful.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">My cellmate was going on trial for stabbing a panhandler who he felt got too aggressive. The state wanted Ricky to cop to six years. Ricky claimed that because he only stabbed the bum in the leg, that he wouldn’t cop to more than three. He would end up pleading out for five years, three suspended.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Ricky was seventeen, two years younger than I was. He didn’t say much the first of couple days, except to run down some things I should know. “Don’t step on nobody’s kicks!” By kicks, he meant tennis shoes. “That’s instant beef. Watch where you walk, cuz you so much as nudge some of these fools, they’ll shank yo’ ass without lookin’ at you. Get to the food line as fast as you can. Some folks are friends with the servers, or they pay ‘em fugs...”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“Fugs?” I interrupted.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“¡Fugs! Cigarettes. Where you from man? Anyway, they get what you might say is healthy servings. So if you late, you might be going to bed a little hungry. And if you ain’t looking to get fucked, don’t be nowhere where you by yo’self. They figure, if you there, you want some. And if you ain’t want some, you shouldn’ a been there.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">After a few days, once he realized I read a lot, he asked if I could write.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“I’m no writer, but I know how to write.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“Can you help me throw some shit together for my girl? She sent me some nekkid pictures, and I wanna say something nice.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“Did you try thank you?” I asked, realizing after I said it that I might have come across as belittling.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The sucking noise he made through his teeth told me I did, but forgivably so. “¡Yeah man! But I wanna do something nice for her. Like write a rap. You freestyle? You write rhymes?”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“You can probably freestyle a whole hell of a lot better than me,” I admitted, “but I can maybe help you write a decent poem.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">“¡Tight! Maybe I can beatbox over it. ¡Maybe we can tape it!”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We didn’t make a soundtrack for it, but I wrote a readable letter with a few verses and only had to think of three rhymes for <i>fuck</i> while he made sound effects with his mouth as he stood over my ear. Soon enough, I was writing or reading for fugs for almost half the block. I didn’t even smoke, at least not cigarettes. It was a dying currency, anyway. You can no longer smoke in bars and restaurants, so it won't be long before prisons make cigarettes contraband. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I never charged them, anyway. Tradition holds that I just do what is in my power for those that ask and deserve it. I’m to ask for nothing in return, but accept anything offered.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I ended up helping these kids sort through paperwork, reading the documents from the public defenders whose faces they rarely saw before their trail date, writing letters to try to get those same public defenders to visit, or filling out their parole applications. I’d listen to them for hours, telling me about problems I could rarely help with, but I’d try to offer what advice I could. I’d done the same thing in high school.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The seat on the bus next to mine was always empty for anyone wanting to share their pain. Actually, most of the time Krissy sat there. She couldn’t stop sleeping with her brother, or any other boy that asked nicely enough, except me. She walked over to me during lunch one day, her only complaint being that she was horny as hell. I offered to help her out if she’d just sneak behind our school’s little stadium with me. She thought about it for maybe five seconds before saying no.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I don’t think anything I said ever made a difference. My schoolmates would always go back to doing the same things that ended up hurting them—problems they would bother me with sooner or later. After I left high school, I heard Krissy went down on two guys at once in the walk-in freezer of the Hardee’s they all worked in. But I never let that stop me from trying to get in her pants every time I ran into her, to no avail.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> Most of the inmates in my cellblock were young like Ricky. They were awaiting trial and couldn’t afford bail. There was no room left in the Juvenile pre-trial facilities. The rest were juveniles convicted as adults. I supposed the powers-that-be either thought I wasn’t particularly dangerous, or they thought a small, nerdy guy like me might have some trouble in <i>genpop</i>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Not being forced to serve my time in general population suited me fine. Here the kids tried to act like adults, but could never shake that childlike demeanor. I never could either, really. At twenty two, I wasn’t much older. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Not everyone was friendly, though. Even in the juvie block, there were some crazies who’d snap your neck just to break the boredom. But my little crew of reprobates—they even had a name, <i>Dyin’ Tryin’</i>—protected me. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As young as they were, some of the kids broke six feet and two hundred pounds. I almost caught some trouble a few times, but I was always able to talk my way out of it. Those conversations generally involved me shoving a fistful of cigarettes into someone’s hands, albeit a bit bent and slightly stale. Still, better than none at all. I had plenty and wasn’t using them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">All of that was on the other side of the gate, now. I need to forget about that—leave it behind. On this side, I have nearly nothing. I gave my stash of fugs to Ricky. You would’ve thought he was eight years old and I’d given him a bike for Christmas. All I have now are the clothes on my back, $40 cash and an 8X10 picture of my mother lying dead on a coroner’s table in New Jersey. She’s been dead for nearly a year, now. They wouldn’t let me see her, wouldn’t give me a furlough to go to the funeral. I got the photo last October, five months after she died, and I had to write a few letters just to get that.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">On a bus headed to Baltimore, I slip the picture out of its manila envelope and stare at it. It doesn’t even look like her, face bloated like a fish left out in the hot sun too long. I trace the scars on each of her shoulders with a finger. Perhaps it’s a trick of the camera, but they seem to glow. Why wouldn’t they? The scar on each shoulder, along with the one on each foot, the one on each palm and the one over her heart represent the power she once believed she wielded.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Las Siete Potencias</i>, The Seven African Powers, which her scars represent, are supposed to be our connection to the energy of our ancestors which anyone is supposed to have access to. <i>Los Siete Rayos</i>, The Seven Slashes, two of which seem to glow more as I stare at my mother’s bare shoulders, mean that she was <i>Palo Mayombe</i>, Keeper of the Mysteries of the Spirits, a high priestess privy to the power of the ancestors to aid those in need. I reach under my shirt collar to feel one of the scars on my own shoulder. It seems inert, dead. Mine will never glow.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I slide the picture back into its envelope. I can feel tears starting to well. Inside, I could never cry for my mother. I couldn’t afford to. Like in the wild, a sign of weakness is seen as an opportunity to strike. But I’m not inside anymore. As I finally head home, I pull my hood up over my head and let the previously dammed tears flow.</span></span></div>
The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-35131426657540965232020-05-13T20:21:00.001-04:002020-05-13T20:25:25.051-04:00Chango Crying Pitch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxkuomIKifqja8BeVGXAQgzYnzyvRjnoZk3iGraLy9lZiMD8-Bfw1OyVtr2QLRsIKnl0NhV5o3T9_s9MQPiUbm0ASXP4GobeM3FtJp9AG_XOvAw-IivqJidggYeJngWknLsoZKuFibVke/s1600/Chango+Crying+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="513" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxkuomIKifqja8BeVGXAQgzYnzyvRjnoZk3iGraLy9lZiMD8-Bfw1OyVtr2QLRsIKnl0NhV5o3T9_s9MQPiUbm0ASXP4GobeM3FtJp9AG_XOvAw-IivqJidggYeJngWknLsoZKuFibVke/s320/Chango+Crying+Cover.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">P</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">edro Santos has lost everything. He lost his freedom when he was sent to prison, lost his wife, his kids. Pedro lost his mother, who died while he was locked up, without ever getting a chance to say goodbye. Ultimately, Pedro even lost his faith. That doesn’t stop his mother’s followers from turning to him for help once he gets out. Pedro’s mother, Paloma, was a powerful Santeria priestess, dedicating herself to using the mystical mesh of Catholicism and African Yoruba religion that rose out of slavery to aid anyone who came to her. Pedro wants to help, but can’t understand why anyone would look to a faithless loser, like him. Yet, all they see is </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">El Milagrito</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">, the “little miracle” that beat death twice by the time he was nine, and must therefore be destined to be a healer. If only he could heal himself...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In my novel, </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Chango Crying</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">, we meet Pedro as he’s released after four years of incarceration near Baltimore for selling cocaine to help support his own young children after his wife abandoned their family to try to make it as a stripper in New York. Having nowhere else to go, Pedro returns to his mother’s tiny apartment in Hoboken, New Jersey. When people hear that </span><i>El Milagrito</i><span style="font-size: large;"> has come home, they flock to Pedro. Despite no longer believing in the magic promised by Santeria and its rituals, he is obligated to help. Paloma only had two rules: turn no one away, and ask nothing in return. Saying no would dishonor his mom’s memory.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It’s not long before Pedro finds himself in way over his head. A desperate Manhattan socialite turns to him for help in finding her son, who disappeared in Mexico during Spring Break. Reluctantly, Pedro fulfills his obligation to 'turn no one away' and risks his newfound freedom by leaving the country while on probation. Pedro is able to track the socialite’s son to a pair of </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">brujos</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">, evil Santeria practitioners who sacrifice humans in dark, brutal rituals designed to protect a powerful Mexican drug cartel, and is soon caught in the midst of a violent drug war. He suspects the socialite’s son is already dead. Once the </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">brujos</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> discover his presence, Pedro needs to find his faith, fast, just to stay alive. Otherwise, he's going to need another miracle.</span></span>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-63081148902030355672020-03-25T09:39:00.000-04:002020-03-25T09:41:29.988-04:00Tenacity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDR-Nd5-Ped7anjK1icZroLOVNRUDL_EcyEpCOae5hBGsmH4KJ3elfFswgqR3wtaEXZj7LpEmjxjC_DXC32VP6gTMMAaP-vP_htICmMY2zB4yJqb5QY7_HrUVnzbFDBxfkFyRM0yc8hZEK/s1600/Tenacity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDR-Nd5-Ped7anjK1icZroLOVNRUDL_EcyEpCOae5hBGsmH4KJ3elfFswgqR3wtaEXZj7LpEmjxjC_DXC32VP6gTMMAaP-vP_htICmMY2zB4yJqb5QY7_HrUVnzbFDBxfkFyRM0yc8hZEK/s320/Tenacity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Tenacity</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />The World is dying<br />around us as we risk<br />Contagion, while I pull<br />her destiny from my deck.<br />"You're future is up<br />to you Jewels;” I say,<br />“you know<br />what you've done—<br />laid the groundwork,<br />built the foundation,<br />all driven<br />by the power<br />of unfulfilled lust,<br />laced with pure wit,<br />undying persistence,<br />& mad perspicacity!"<br /><br />There is no rod,<br />no staff to comfort her;<br />she must rise, alone,<br />to meet the challenge,<br />& she leaves me awed<br />in her renewed glow,<br />a shine so bright<br />I can't even look at her<br />directly, I can only cast<br />askance glances,<br />because she is everything<br />I want, but nothing<br />I can have.<br /><br />She wants a warrior,<br />& I am but a simple poet—<br />The Fool, falling again,<br />yet again, never caring,<br />knowing it never matters<br />how far I fall, I always land<br />on my feet. I make words,<br />not wars, but her soldier<br />is POWed, a prisoner<br />of poor states<br />& even poorer<br />circumstances.<br /><br />But when The World<br />is dying, when destiny<br />is threatened by fate<br />& folly, exceptions<br />must be made. So<br />we end up naked<br />on her sleigh,<br />ready to face<br />The End<br />together.<br /><br />The End,<br />with rules:<br />I cannot touch<br />The Jewels;<br />I do not need to;<br />her presence is enough.<br />It's enough to feel her<br />firmly tucked into my nook,<br />enough to feel her feel<br />secure enough to sleep<br />there soundly.<br /><br />Where there is enough Love,<br />nothing else matters.<br /><br />The End<br />is all in our heads,<br />but sometimes<br />you have to pretend—<br />Nothing's ever over,<br />but Death is still a diva<br />when she's striking down<br />en masse,<br />when she's put The World<br />on blast,<br />when you have everything<br />to lose, but no one<br />to lose it with.<br /><br />So, in the end,<br />I end up alone,<br />lounging<br />on my orange throne,<br />listening to The World<br />dying on every channel,<br />haunted<br />by faint memories,<br />echoes of our time<br />together, ghosts<br />of what may have been,<br />had Jewels preferred poets<br />to warriors,<br />Lovers to fighters,<br />Truth to power.<br /><br />She holds all<br />the power she needs,<br />after all. Perhaps,<br />once Jewels can see<br />the potency<br />of her own shine,<br />she will allow me<br />the honor<br />of being consumed,<br />utterly devoured,<br />by her glorious light!</i></span>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-68333497445528752192020-01-02T16:42:00.001-05:002020-01-02T16:42:35.698-05:00The Word Pimp Reads @ Evil Grin 12.01.2019In case you missed it:<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_-jUojUFFLw" width="480"></iframe>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-50266779016998733422018-02-14T08:21:00.000-05:002018-09-16T11:39:21.733-04:00The Word Pimpdex<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Poetry</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>LOVE</i></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/10/bloom.html">Bloom</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/10/blood-moon.html">Blood Moon</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/09/night-falls.html">Night Falls</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/09/eight-blades.html">Eight Blades </a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-longest-day.html">The Longest Day</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/09/nothing.html">Nothing</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2017/04/ghosts.html">Ghosts </a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2014/11/your-eternal-dance.html">Your Eternal Dance</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/08/i-do-not-need-i-do-not-need-to-kiss-you.html">I Do Not Need</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/04/moon-madness.html#painting">Painting the Moon</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/03/lunacy.html">Lunacy</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/01/few-really-old-poems.html">Jasmine</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2010/07/wilt.html">Wilt</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-night-poem.html">My Night</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2008/10/lunatic.html">Lunatic</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2008/09/poem-day-day-three.html">the Bigger the Bang</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2014/11/your-eternal-dance.html">Your Eternal Dance</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/09/cyclops.html">Cyclops</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/06/water-love-story.html">Water: A Love Story</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/02/for-valerie.html">A Woman's Kiss</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/06/phase.html">Phase</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/09/alchemy.html">Alchemy</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/10/firefly.html">Firefly</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/09/jealous.html">Jealousy</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/09/sky.html">Sky</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/02/tarot-for-beginners.html">Tarot for Beginners</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-jewel-shogun.html">The Jewel & The Shogun</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-snapshot.html">Snapshot</a><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2009/07/praying-in-temple-of-moon.html">Praying in the Temple of the Moon</a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/09/purgatory.html">Purgatory</a></i></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/04/really-old-poetry.html">Eternal</a></i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/04/really-old-poetry.html">Under the Whatever Tree</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2010/06/chosen.html">Chosen</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: 22px;"> </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: x-large;"><i>NATURE</i></span></span></h3>
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<a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/08/i-do-not-need-i-do-not-need-to-kiss-you.html#fall"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Fall</i></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2013/04/moon-madness.html#disconnect">Disconnect</a></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2016/09/sons-of-equinox.html">Sons of the Equinox</a></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2010/06/villalba.html">Villalba</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2008/09/poem-day-day-five.html">Orange Eye</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>M<a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2008/09/poem-day-day-four.html">emory</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>FAMILY</i></span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/05/sonspot.html">SonSpot</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/06/candelario.html">Candelario</a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/08/sometimes.html">Sometimes</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2011/12/a-few-older-poems.html">The Daisy Field</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2011/10/in-memoriam-joseph-anthony-soto.html">Rocked by Ages</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2009/12/a-few-verses-for-my-father.html">Parade</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2009/12/a-few-verses-for-my-father.html">Father's Daze</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2008/09/poem-day-day-two.html">Ceremony</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-large;"><i>WRITING</i></span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-read-this-poem.html">How to Read This Poem</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/04/like-diamond-trapped-in-lode.html">[LIKE A DIAMOND TRAPPED IN LODE...]</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> SELF PORTRAITS</i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/04/lost-found-poetry-day-three.html">Five O'clock Shadows</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/04/lost-found-poetry-day-three.html">smacking birdies from the foul line in the bed that eats tired men</a></i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/04/these-lips-both-versions.html">These Lips </a></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/01/within-without.html">Within, Without</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> HATE</i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-promised-you-hate-poem.html">Final Letter to Maria</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-promised-you-hate-poem.html">Embers</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-promised-you-hate-poem.html">Clean Rinse</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> POLITICAL</i></span></h3>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2011/09/lullaby.html">lullaby</a></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2008/09/poem-day-keeps-darkness-at-bay.html">soular eclipse</a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2008/05/state-of-my-soul.html">State of My Soul Address</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2016/07/niggersmatter.html">#niggersmatter</a></i></span>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-27182966761225908132017-09-25T19:20:00.001-04:002017-09-25T19:20:59.722-04:00What Are My Words Worth?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMSRRB78Fg95BnbSZY2GWisDzTNw1QxakiSdYG60V-Df8ksQ996R_-i5zUx2o5NVoF9vnVGfy8NOU0ei8Ar4cqeGoAD38rAziYNNat7Ffr8O0xvudPH9QEbO4b_XQM0aiiOZ-N0cBsa7I/s1600/PenAndCash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="407" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMSRRB78Fg95BnbSZY2GWisDzTNw1QxakiSdYG60V-Df8ksQ996R_-i5zUx2o5NVoF9vnVGfy8NOU0ei8Ar4cqeGoAD38rAziYNNat7Ffr8O0xvudPH9QEbO4b_XQM0aiiOZ-N0cBsa7I/s320/PenAndCash.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">s the business of writing changes, writers have to change with it. The inability to see & adapt to that reality creates a situation where those writers—all artists, for that matter—may eventually find themselves behind the curve, or even completely lost, stuck trying to achieve things few writers can. I feel the time has come to redefine success, at least for myself. Joining the ranks of artists using <a href="https://www.patreon.com/TheWordPimp">Patreon</a> is my attempt to do just that, by using an age old method of financing that takes advantage of modern technology.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />For those of you who may not be aware of the history of patronage in art, it is a system that has been around nearly as long as art itself. It rose to prominence in Europe, in particular, feeding the movement that became the Renaissance. While the patronage model fell out of favor for a while, due in large part to the rise of a middle class during the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the internet allows for a new, more egalitarian version of a model that allowed artists to focus on the art rather than survival.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Philosophically, I’ve come to a conclusion about writing: Anything worth reading shouldn't need a price tag. Because of that, I've decided to offer everything I've written & will write for free. You won't even find ads on my blogs. I want my readers to view my work without distractions. As one of my readers, you get to decide what my words are worth to you, not a publisher, not the market.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />This doesn’t mean I won’t make money off publishing my work. On the contrary, I may very well still self-publish compilations of my writing. As I’ve discovered, fans of particular writers will purchase those writers’ books, whether or not they’ve already read the work, if only to have the author sign it. But just because you’re willing to pay for my work, that doesn’t mean you can, or should have to, in order to enjoy it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joining Patreon also allows for an evolved concept of writing. The physical book, itself, is no longer </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the standard format for writing. With the advent of electronic publishing, the concept of labeling any written work as “finished” is irrelevant. I periodically edit pieces I posted years ago. This creates an opportunity for readers to be more than that. My readers will be witnesses to my process, especially as I release & revise new work. This may not only prove fascinating to my readers, but may also provide insight for the fellow writers who are part of my audience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It also allows me to reward the readers that decide to support me. Right now, for a commitment of as little as $1.00, you will get Limerick Rolled by me. Every patron gets a handwritten limerick, inspired by them & signed by me. I will also post those limericks on a running Limerick Roll Call, unless you choose to remain anonymous. I will post other rewards as I come up with them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On that note, you will notice I am not listing amounts on my Patreon page, only the number of patrons. This is being done intentionally, to dissuade comparisons between what my readers are giving. You decide what my words are worth to you. No pressure! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If I’m going to be honest, I have to admit I’m tired. I’m tired of submitting work. I’m tired of rejections. I’m tired of being told why my work won’t sell. I’m tired of the having to hustle so hard: invest time, effort, money, even tears for little, if any, returns. My work speaks for itself, & my readers will let me know how the work speaks to them. If I earn it, perhaps Patreon will help free me from having to juggle a full time job & my art, a relationship where, in my experience, the art suffers.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, the ball is in your court, readers. How much are my words worth to you? Let me know be <a href="https://www.patreon.com/TheWordPimp">visiting my page on Patreon. </a></span></div>
The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-72008825685064687832017-09-22T17:30:00.000-04:002017-09-23T10:30:41.252-04:00Middlesex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> was thirteen years old the night I helped my newest friends drag a massive cross we had hastily built near the train tracks that served as one of our hangouts. We got it to the top of the hill behind Stemmers Run Middle School, the highest point on school property, drove it into the ground until it was deep enough to stay up on its own, smothered it in gasoline, and set it on fire. As I write this, I understand that many of you are immediately wondering how a little Puerto Rican like me, one that could never easily be mistaken for white, ends up burning a cross in Middle River, Maryland. Well, the first thing I had to do was become white, enough.<br /><br />My first semester at Stemmers Run could almost be considered mundane. Once I got settled in, after my mom finally replaced my <i><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2016/03/swoosh.html">Sikes </a></i>with a pair of <i>Keds</i>, I managed to make a couple of friends. As usual, I gravitated towards the smarter, nerdier kids, in this case, Paul & Pete, two boys who were already good friends. They invited me over, and we walked the two miles to Essex to get to Peter’s house, where we played with his<i> TI-99</i>, an early home computer put out by <i>Texas Instruments</i>. Usually, we would stay at school playing <i>Dungeons & Dragons</i> until it would start getting dark, but as the days got longer, as April turned into May, the walk to Essex became more appealing. <br /><br />Our geeky trio fell apart when Pete’s dad, who worked at Martins Airport, was abruptly transferred out of state, with only a few weeks left in the school year. Paul and I needed him as a buffer. Without him, we were constantly clashing. The tension came to a head when Paul came to my locker after school and insisted I wait until he got out of detention so we could hang out. I had just been sick and had missed a few days of school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I apologized, showed the small stack of assignments I had missed and needed to make up. Actually, it was just an excuse. I was already tired of Paul’s over the top personality. He insisted, and I refused, back & forth, until he snatched the papers out of my hand, tore them apart, and tossed them in the air so they floated down to the floor, like oversized confetti.<br /><br />I couldn’t let that go. I had always been serious about my schoolwork, making up missed assignments as quickly as possible. More importantly, I couldn’t let other kids that might be watching think they could get away with anything like that. As the smallest kid in 7th grade, it was imperative that everyone knew my size wasn’t going to stop me from defending myself. I pounced on him, but we were promptly pulled apart and escorted off school property.<br /><br />I was still steamed as I walked home. We were pulled apart too quickly. I doubted I would get another chance to beat his ass, and I was right. That was my last interaction with Paul.<br /><br />I would get another chance to release that rage. On my way home, I ran into my sister. She was upset. Some boy had come on to her, and when she rejected him, called her a <i>bitch</i>, grabbed her by the arm and flung her to the ground. I ran off in the direction he had headed. I caught up to him in a small patch of woods that separated the two halves of <i>Riverdale Village</i>, the apartment complex we all lived in. “Hey, are you the motherfucker who just called my sister a bitch?” I yelled after him.<br /><br />He turned around, and I immediately regretted what I was doing. He wasn’t much bigger than me. He didn’t look faster. There was just something about him that scared me, a wildness. “Yeah, so?”<br /><br />“So, don’t ever touch her again. Don’t talk to her. Don’t even look at her!”<br /><br />He wasn’t the least bit intimidated. He just stepped right up to me and cold cocked me in the face. I was down before I even realized I was going down. By the time I got up, blood now streaming from my nose, he was just about gone. I got a quick glimpse of the apartment he went into. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My rage only swelling, I wiped at the blood on my face and hurried back to my apartment. Tony was there. Tony was my mom’s boyfriend, at the time. He was a <i>Marielito</i>, coming over from Cuba during the <i>Mariel</i> boatlift. He claimed to have been a political prisoner, a master chess player who would have become a grandmaster if only he had pledged allegiance to the Communist Party. His lack of loyalty to the party had also kept him off the national baseball team, if he was to be believed. In truth, he was little more than a thug, a wannabe <i>Scarface </i>without the drive or the wits, only the propensity for paranoia and violence. <br /><br />Tony hadn’t been able to hold down a regular job since getting to the states, so he mostly sponged off our family’s welfare benefits, only supplementing them with the occasional odd job. He loved to offer fatherly advice, in the form of Cuban proverbs. You knew your actions were about to be judged when he opened a sentence with the phrase, “Refran dice…” As far as I could tell, though, his favorite pastime was getting drunk with my mother on weekends and letting himself get drawn into an argument that would inevitably turn physical.<br /><br />Tony saw the blood smeared across my face, but even before he could ask, I told him everything that had happened. He insisted I show him where the boy lived. I took him across the open quad that was surrounded by the two story buildings that made up our block of the apartment complex, then across the quad the next block over, to the apartment I had watched the kid enter. Tony beat on the door until a short, older woman answered, and he immediately cut into his broken English, so flawed that the only word that could be made out was the occasional sprinkling of “motherfucker.” The lady, obviously the boy’s mother, looked scared and confused. I jumped in and explained. She turned her head and hollered. “Billy!” He came to the door, and all that cockiness had dissolved into fear.<br /><br />She introduced herself as Sue, and she made Billy apologize to me and promise not to harass my sister, again. It should’ve ended there, but it wasn’t long before school was over, and perhaps out of sheer proximity, Billy Cook had become my closest friend. <br /><br />His family had cable, a luxury we couldn’t afford, then. I would go over to his house to watch videos on <i>Mtv </i>with him and Joe, his younger brother. He introduced me to his crew, a group of boys from families as broken as ours. Together, we would haunt the parking lot at the <i>Mars Supermarket</i> a couple of blocks from <i>Riverdale Village</i>. We would help people with their groceries, collecting quarters and the occasional dollar bills, until we could pool together enough money to afford a pack of cigarettes, a fifth of liquor, & enough Coke for us to chase it with. We’d have just enough left over to buy a few slices at the pizza shop and dump some quarters into the <i>Ms. Pacman</i> machine. If we got chased away from <i>Mars</i>, we would walk the quarter mile up the road to the <i>Giant</i>.<br /><br />I wasn’t new to drinking. My mom was liberal enough to allow me the occasional sip of beer or wine, even the occasional shot of <i>Bacardi</i>. It wasn’t difficult for me to adapt to drinking regularly. I enjoyed the sensation. The numbness was preferable to how aware I often was that I didn’t fit in, that I was far from the place where I did, where you’d walk out of your home and straight into a wall of <i>Disco</i>, <i>Salsa</i>, or <i>Hip Hop</i>, sometimes all three colliding into a sonic wall of beautiful chaos. Drinking with my new friends was preferable to the drinking and violence I had to deal with at home. By the time I got home, walking off my buzz on the way, everyone would be in bed. I had missed any drama.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In <i>Riverdale Village</i>, the soundtrack was heavy metal. We would ride around Middle River on our bikes—or in my case, not owning a bike, on the back of someone else’s—singing <i>Ozzy</i>, <i>Scorpions</i>, <i>Iron Maiden</i> at the top of our lungs. We would ride along the train tracks until we got to this wooded area where we could congregate, but stay invisible. We set coins on the track to see how flat they’d get. We’d build terrible forts that would fall apart, almost immediately. We fought.<br /><br />I wasn’t the only small guy in our crew. There was a boy named Keith. He was the youngest, just having turned twelve. Keith was pale, with bright red, closely cropped hair. Despite being younger, Keith was still a tad bigger than me. Billy came up with the idea that the two smallest ones in the crew should fight, to see who was the most badass little guy. The fight didn’t last long. We exchanged a few blows until Keith caught me upside , the head, sending my glasses flying. Everything stopped. Everyone of us were in the same situation. We all knew how expensive it was to replace things like a pair of glasses when benefits only covered a new pair every other year.<br /><br />“I can see! I can see!” I shouted. We all laughed. I bent over, picked up my glasses, inspected them enough to see there was no catastrophic damage, and put them back on. We were still laughing, with echoes of “I can see!” coming from the others, as we walked on to find something else to do.<br /><br />I was led to believe we had rivals, crews from the neighboring towns, like <i>Hawthorne </i>and, of course, <i>Essex</i>, though I never saw them. Apparently, they took on the name of their respective towns. Not us. Middle River didn’t sound as cool as <i>Middlesex</i>. <i>Middlesex </i>wasn’t a even town so much as a business district. Just beyond the part of I-695 that went over Eastern Boulevard near the school, it divided Essex from Middle River. We did spent plenty of time there, especially at <i>Skateland</i>, the closest roller rink, where Billy taught me how to stay on my feet, and by the end of the summer, skate backwards. It’s also where the closest library was, where I’d spent plenty of time, before Billy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The closest I got to the library after was the time near the end of the summer when we were all supposed to meet up with a high school girl behind the library. She had promised to fuck us all. I was the only one of the group who was still a virgin, if you can believe the claims of a bunch of teen boys. It's unlikely I was the only one lying about it. I got as far as the shopping center, behind which was the library, before Billy pulled me aside.<br /><br />“Listen, Freddy,” he said, “she said everyone’s okay, except for the one with glasses.” I was the only one in the group who needed glasses to see, at all. I got it. There was no point in my coming along.<br /><br />“That’s fine,” I replied, “I’ll find something else to do.” I watched them walk behind the shopping center before I turned around to go home. On the walk home, I wondered if it had anything at all to do with the fact that I wore glasses, or if it had everything to do with the fact that I wasn’t white.<br /><br />But times like those were few and far between. For the most part, Middlesex made me feel like I belonged. When I next saw them, they downplayed the encounter behind the library, telling me that she had smelled bad, so they just let her blow them before moving on. Once I developed a taste for hard rock and foreswore the <i>WWF </i>for the <i>WCW</i>, I was really no different. I might not be white, but at least I wasn’t black.<br /><br />There were no black people in Middle River, at least none that I remember. Black folk were just the people we would hear about on the news, getting arrested for drugs and murder in Baltimore, about twenty minutes west of us down Eastern Boulevard. They were little more than rumors of race riots taking place after school in places like <i>Patterson Park</i>, instigated by black kids from notorious schools, like <i>Hampstead Hill Jr High</i>. <br /><br />Despite my early upbringing in the diverse melting pot that is the New York Metropolitan area, I was not immune to racist thinking. Some of my mom’s closest friends were black. Hell, Puerto Ricans came in all shades! But my grandmother held a deep seated fear of non Hispanic Blacks, a fear that easily carried over to me as I watched the news and we discussed it among our crew. Blacks were taking over the city and taking the decent working class jobs away from whites. That’s what we were all taught. It came as no surprise that we wanted to cap off the summer by burning a cross at our school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We stood there, around our flaming cross, and I genuinely felt nothing. Not hate. Not fear. Just an inkling of guilt that I swallowed down with whiskey and chased with <i>Coke </i>when the bottle of <i>Jack </i>made it back to me. We stood there, until we saw the flashing blue lights pop up over Eastern Boulevard. We jumped the low fence that separated school property from the woods surrounding it and scattered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />School started up again that fall, but the partying never stopped. School became just what wasted time before I could be free to hang with the crew. In the fall, we volunteered to work at the haunted house at <i>Cox Point</i>, setting it up and taking roles as ghouls and zombies. As Christmas approached, we abandoned our grocery carrying enterprise in favor of singing Christmas carols door to door for cash. I was settling into everything except the my schoolwork, but I had become oblivious to my grades. My effort had become minimal, but it’s not like I cared enough to want to change.<br /><br />And then I came home to find out that Tony had finally found a real job. In Baltimore.<br /><br />We had been here barely a year, and we were moving, again—another new year, another new town, another new school. As I went around to each of my teachers to get my grades, it finally became apparent how much I had neglected my schoolwork. I was failing everything except <i>English</i>, <i>Drama</i>, and <i>Art</i>. I was barely passing <i>English</i>! I think I was lucky that Ms. Fleming, the <i>English </i>teacher was also my <i>Drama </i>teacher, that she had seen my potential for both, maybe. Or maybe she just felt sorry for me.<br /><br />That Saturday, I had to force my goodbyes, not just to <i>Middlesex</i>, but everyone that I’d become acquainted with because of them: Billy’s older brother, Chuck, the most level headed of the Cook family, who once flew out of his apartment to smother a scarecrow we’d set on fire with a lighter and a can of hairspray; Tasha, the cute, blonde girl I’d had a crush on since moving to Middle River, who when I told her I was moving finally invited me into her apartment and gave me the most amazing kiss I’d ever had up until then; and of course, Sue Cook, who despite our less than hospitable introductions, treated me like a son.<br /><br />The following Monday, as my family was barely settled into our tiny apartment on Pratt Street, two blocks from <i>Patterson Park</i>, my mom walked me through the main doors of the notorious <i>Hampstead Hill Jr High</i>, my new zoned school. I sat in the guidance office, head down, as Mr. Gregory reviewed my transcripts. I could feel him looking at me for what seemed like an inordinate amount of time before he finally spoke.<br /><br />“You know what I’m looking at, right?” I nodded, sheepishly. “Let me tell you what I see. I see a kid who doesn’t look like these grades. I can’t imagine that these grades are who you really are. So, this is what we’re going to do. Since these grades aren’t you, we’re going to ignore them. We’re starting over, here. I think we’ll see the real you, soon enough.”<br /><br />I fought to hold back tears all the way back home. Once I found some privacy, I set them free. I needed to start again, but there was no part of me that wanted to. I had sacrificed so much of myself to belong in <i>Middlesex</i>. Now, I was right back to feeling like ever belonging anywhere was just an illusion.</span>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-44232223215600395312017-08-06T15:05:00.000-04:002017-08-06T15:05:41.463-04:00Word of the Moment: Omnism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Word of the Moment</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Omnism</i></b>—a profound respect for all faiths, deities, & spiritual beliefs, or the lack thereof.</span></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Gods were created to honor n</span><span style="font-size: large;">ature & ancestors, explain the unexplainable, & in attempts bring order to of the chaos of early civilizations. They are a reflection of who we are as humans. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While judging the bad acts of any faith’s followers is perfectly valid, using those acts to attack a faith as a whole is counterproductive, even potentially dangerous. Despite their current status, all gods were real to the people that worshiped them. None hold all truths, but truth may be gleaned from all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sins</b>: To intentionally harm another, except when defending yourself or others from harm. To allow others to come to harm when it is within your power to intervene.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>An Omnist’s Prayer</b>: <i>I honor all the gods that were, all the gods that are, & all the gods that will ever be.</i></span></div>
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The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-66767414706542912572017-04-11T11:53:00.000-04:002018-04-11T13:24:59.905-04:00Ghosts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzX-xKGuJPplIyxxJtaZOthst7QxhXYjmuoVkf4JEoQG3O-rAi4LL9z4oQefewN5LqIEAUr5EXRjRYtPZU34Zyb3K39D2lXj0DCq2N0h_mMc0m2MvUjewVqx6F3NWU2lWXT5yRIHVkNRLm/s1600/LipStain+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzX-xKGuJPplIyxxJtaZOthst7QxhXYjmuoVkf4JEoQG3O-rAi4LL9z4oQefewN5LqIEAUr5EXRjRYtPZU34Zyb3K39D2lXj0DCq2N0h_mMc0m2MvUjewVqx6F3NWU2lWXT5yRIHVkNRLm/s1600/LipStain+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Ghosts</b> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">My favorite<br />part of the morning—<br />settling in <br />for a day of work,<br />finally getting a chance<br />to put a little food<br />in my stomach,<br />my lips get greasy<br />with soppressata & butter;<br />I wipe them clean,<br />my tissue shines<br />in pink & red hues,<br />residue from kissing you.<br /><br /><br />I’m loathe to throw<br />it away, rather<br />I tuck it in my sleeve,<br />because when I have<br />to be without you,<br />at least I can be<br />comforted by the ghosts<br />of our kisses.</span></div>
The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-81941143129154029482017-01-21T21:14:00.001-05:002017-01-21T21:18:17.513-05:00Dream Catcher: Lurch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></b>here’s a <i>Ride </i>waiting for me outside Tech. My dream girl told me it would be there after she disconnected me from my Assistant. After the quick procedure, she let me know it wouldn’t be long before Control discovered the broken link, likely as soon as the technician returned and realized I’m gone. I tried to ask questions, but she wouldn’t allow me to speak. “There’s no time now. Go. Hurry! Find your Ride before you get caught. I don’t have to tell you what happens if you get caught with a disconnected link.”<br /><br />I hop in the back, close the door. The <i>Ride </i>speaks. <i>Good Afternoon, Mr. Somnian. Your destination has been pre-programmed. Are you ready to depart?</i><br /><br />I look back at the entrance to Tech. I can see a squad of guards headed to the doors, most likely looking for me. I can’t go back. “Go!” I shout. “Go, now.” The car pulls off. I look back to see my technician and his goons pour out onto the street.<br /><br />Getting caught with a severed link is not as simple as having it reconnected. It’s illegal to tamper with the wireless connection between your wetware and your hardware. First of all, it’s proprietary, meaning that any required work has to be done by an authorized technician. There are a few out there that take the risk of jailbreaking their units, but if they ever get caught, we're talking about arrest and interrogation. Many have their units removed and taken away, then promptly dropped into a <i>Red Zone</i> to fend for themselves. It’s not a good life. Without an assistant, it’s nearly impossible to find work. Most major employers look at being able to get in touch with you at all times as imperative.<br /><br />A few actually get accused of espionage or treason, accused of working on behalf of a foreign government or some shadow organization looking to overthrow the government. Those violators get the most press, their names and faces disseminated throughout traditional and social media, before they disappear, never again to be seen or heard from. The rumor is that these most dangerous of offenders are quietly shipped to Gitmo.<br /><br /><i>You have arrived at your destination.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i>Lost in my thoughts and anxiety, I didn’t pay attention to where I was being taken. I unbuckle my seatbelt and look around. I’m on a narrow street lined with tiny rowhouses. I think I’m still in the city, but where? I grasp the door handle when someone opens the driver’s side door and hops in the front. “Don’t move!” says the voice.<br /><br />“Where—”<br /><br />“Don’t speak,” she says as she begins to fiddle with the display on the dash. She’s in a hoodie, with the hood pulled up. Only her voice gives her away. I watch as she connects something to the display and gets busy tapping on the screen. “Okay, I’ve disabled all monitoring. We’re in the shadows for the next five minutes. I just have to remove any memory of your trip. It won’t take me long, so get ready to move.”<br /><br />“Can you explain to me what’s going on?” I ask, solemnly.<br /><br />“Not right now,” she says, “I’m a little busy.”<br /><br />I don’t know what else to say. I wait.<br /><br />“Okay, go now. Hurry.”<br /><br />We open our doors, almost simultaneously, and hop out.<br /><br />“This way,” she says. I follow her to an intersecting alley of nothing but connected garages. She turns down that alley and walks to one of the garages, reaches down, turns the oblong knob. The garage door flies up with a pop. Inside is a older car, a pre 21st century <i>Impala</i>. “Hop in,” she says as she opens the driver’s side door and gets in behind the wheel. I open the passenger side door and slide in next to her. By the time I close my door, the engine is running. By the time my seatbelt is on, we’re out of the garage, turning back toward the street we just left. The <i>Ride </i>is gone.<br /><br />I lurch forward as the <i>Impala </i>stops abruptly. My driver pops the car into park and hops out. I watch her hustle back to the garage, fling its door back down, and hustle back into the car. We’re moving again. My heart feels too big, like it’s about to break through my ribcage. Only once we turn onto a larger street do I realize where we are, somewhere in lower Fells Point, not far from Patterson Park.<br /><br />We get to Broadway, and neither of us have said a word. At this point, I have so many questions, I don’t know where to begin. Once we cross Broadway, she glances at me. “So, you’re the dreamer?”<br /><br />“Dreamer? Not that I know of. I mean sure, but we all dream, don’t we?”<br /><br />“Not quite like you, Solomon.”<br /><br />She also knows my name. I’m getting tired of meeting people who seem to know me while I know nothing. Her hood is down. I finally get a decent look at her. She’s got a round face, cocoa brown, childlike, save for the scowl. Her hair is just an organic puff of tight curls, like a homemade crown. “Everyone seems to know me today, but I don’t know them. Who are you? What’s going on?”<br /><br />“Sorry for all the cloak and dagger, Solomon. We have to be careful. We can’t afford for them to find you, now. I’m Asia. As for what’s going on, it’s not up to me to tell you. All I can say is I have to get you into the <i>Red Zone</i> before they track you down." Nothing she said makes my heart any smaller. On the contrary, once she mentioned our destination, my chest only got tighter.<br /><br />As we approach the entrance to the <i>Red Zone</i>, we stop behind a line of other vehicles waiting to get in, about a block long. “Okay, I need you to hop in the back. Pull that center console down and squeeze through into the trunk.”<br /><br />I look at her. “Is that really necessary?”<br /><br />“Well, considering you need to show ID to get in, that you’re not authorized to enter the zone, and that by now, there’s an APB out for you, and you’ll be taken into custody at the gates, you tell me.”<br /><br />Reluctantly, I undo my seatbelt, slither over the back of my seat onto the back seat, and pull the console down. I lurch as the car moves up the line. “Don’t dawdle,” says Asia. I squeeze my way through and into the dark. I reach an arm back through, grab the strap on the console, and pull it closed as the car lurches forward again.<br /><br />I’m in pitch blackness for only a few minutes, the car moving along in short lunges, before I can hear muffled voices. I can barely make it out, a male voice asking for identification, Asia complying. The rest of the conversation is inaudible, until the male voice says, “I need to look in your trunk. Pop it!” I immediately start to shake uncontrollably, and am instantly coated in a layer of sweat.<br /><br />“I can’t just pop it, man. I have to get out to open it.”<br /><br />“Well then, you better fucking hurry. You’re holding up the line.”<br /><br />I hear the engine stop, Asia’s door open and shut. I hold my breath, as if that was enough to make me invisible. I hear the key click into the lock, the lock pops, the trunk door squeaks as it opens. Light! None. I’m still in the dark. “We good?” I hear Asia ask.<br /><br />“Move on.” the male voice replies. I want to breathe, but I can’t. So I try to remember how as I shiver in my now cold sweat. The car starts and we move forward with one last lurch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://thewordpimpspits.blogspot.com/2016/05/dream-catcher.html"><i>Previous Chapter</i></a></span></div>
The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-89583502026673016052017-01-20T13:46:00.000-05:002017-01-20T13:46:24.186-05:00Open Letter to President Obama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dear President Obama:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eight years ago, I was in a bar not far from the National Mall watching you take your oath as I drank margaritas with my new, at that time, girlfriend. Although we'd left Baltimore early, the crowds were so thick, getting past the checkpoints and into the mall seemed impossible. Everything about that time seemed impossible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had lost my job that previous summer. I managed a watch boutique in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and I could tell that the country was in a bad place. I'd been working in that area for years, and I'd never seen it so slow. The usual bustle of locals and tourists had dwindled to a trickle. I wasn't the least bit surprised that my management, not the crashing economy, was blamed for my store's poor numbers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In a sense, I felt relieved. I predicted (accurately, it turned out) that the store itself would close down after not too long. Also, it gave me the opportunity to do something I had always imagined, but never actually tried before, working on a political campaign. By that time, I'd had the honor of hearing you speak when you stopped in Baltimore during the primaries. Now, unburdened of the stresses of running a retail operation and eligible to collect unemployment benefits, I finally had the time I needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In early September I applied to volunteer as a Deputy Field Organizer, and on October 1, 2008, I stepped off a train in Manassas, Virginia, where it had been decided I could do the most good. I cannot tell you, Mr. President, how proud I was to be there. Even for a Word Pimp, the words can be hard to muster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It wasn't easy. I was immediately thrown into the fire, asked to debate a local GOP official at a local nursing home. Without talking points! I'm happy to say that I crushed him. Your ideas were so vivid, so eloquent, your arguments so cogent, that they rolled off my tongue as easily as if it were your lips moving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I walked miles, made hundreds of calls, had issues with lodging, and I came home to a $1000 plus phone bill; but I knew in my heart that it was all worth it. Whatever small role I could play in winning Virginia for Democrats, for the first time in forty years, was worth the price. Besides, the rewards were priceless, like my unexpected debate, and the day I got to cater to Susan Rice before a speech she gave in Manassas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Election night, when it was announced that we'd won Virginia, was one of the proudest moments of my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for making those experiences possible for me. Thank you for stepping right in and stopping the carnage the tanked economy had caused our nation. In an impossible job market, you helped me personally by making sure unemployment benefits were extended. When my girlfriend lost her business, it was your initiatives that helped her find a job.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I write this, it's my understanding that a new president is being sworn in. I can't be sure as I refuse to watch it. For me, it would be condoning your successor's abhorrent behavior and vile ideas. How am I supposed to transition from the grace and wisdom that you showed over the past eight years to...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Apologies. This missive is not about what may happen, this is about you and how grateful I am for all of your efforts and accomplishments, despite the fact that many were intent on diminishing, even demonizing them and you. I am grateful for the way you carried and conducted yourself. I am grateful for how you represented our country around the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You were a beacon during darker days, and I find it sad that we seem to now be drawn back towards darkness. Forgive me if I find myself dwelling on another inauguration, one that despite its bitter cold was full of cheer and warmth, even in a crowded bar off the National Mall.</span>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-69739608393223871182017-01-07T12:14:00.000-05:002017-01-07T12:26:22.001-05:00Goodbye Sunshine Treatment<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Treatment for a script <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlwaysValeria">Valerie </a>& I have completed a first draft of...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Goodbye Sunshine</i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />Characters:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />Gabriel — named after Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Gabe is a writer who has failed repeatedly to publish his novel, Goodbye Sunshine. He recently turned down an offer of $50,000 to publish his novel, on the condition that he lets his main character, Sunshine, live.<br /><br />Molly — is Gabe’s childhood friend. They were the couple everyone thought would hook up but never did. They had one miserable date. They remained close friends, however, even going to art school together. When Gabriel pulls one of his notorious pranks, Molly always come to the rescue.<br /><br />Lucia — is Gabriel’s wife. They met in art school, where she immediately began pushing Molly out. She went as far as convincing Gabe to transfer to a writing program to finish his novel, but mostly to get him away from Molly. Lucia’s comes from money, although her family is suffering from financial problems. She recognizes his talent, and sees Gabe as a way back to the Big Time.<br /><br />Josh — also met the rest of the gang in art school. He knew Lucia from high school, but is more of a fanboy, like Molly & Gabe. He’s known as a jokester with an insatiable libido.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /><br />The movie opens with a close up of a rope around someone’s neck. As the camera draws back, we see that it’s Gabe. He’s taking pictures of himself, pretending to be dead, like <i>Sunshine, </i>for a blog entry about his most recent failure to publish. While trying to get himself out of the noose, he slips, nearly choking himself, knocking his laptop over, and accidentally posting a picture where he appears to be dead with the title, “Goodbye.” The rope snaps, Gabe hits his head on the floor, and the laptop falls on his head. He is knocked unconscious.<br /><br />Immediately, his post is broadcast all over the internet. We see Josh receive the news first. he’s at the airport, about to catch a flight to <i>Hedonism</i>. He’s shocked. He tries to call Gabe, but gets no answer. He calls Lucia. Lucia reluctantly checks the post and assumes the worst. She asks Josh to find out if its true, but he doesn’t want to cancel his flight. Josh tells her to call the police. Lucia doesn’t want police involved until they absolutely have to be. Josh tells Lucia to call Molly. She’s not far from the studio. Lucia refuses. Josh calls Molly.<br /><br />During all this time, we see various people, Gabe’s readers, friends, media and the editor who was going to publish GS receive the post. At this point, people begin sending condolences to Lucia. Lucia, swept up in the overflow of sympathy becomes convinced Gabe is dead and begins planning a memorial service.<br /><br />Molly doesn’t have a smartphone. Josh calls her, asking if she’s heard from Gabe. She tells him she hasn’t, but isn’t expecting to see him until the next day to shoot her “monster” movie. Josh tells her about the post. She thinks it must be a hoax. She agrees to check the studio.<br /><br /> Molly arrives at the studio and comes across Gabe’s body. She screams. He screams. She screams louder. Etc.<br /><br />Molly begins throwing things at Gabe. They argue. Molly’s phone rings. Josh received an invite to Gabe’s memorial service and is calling Molly to find out what the fuck is going on. Molly, busy fighting with Gabe doesn’t hear the phone. Molly tells Gabe to call Lucia. Gabe picks up the phone and sees the invite to his own memorial service. Gabe decides not to tell anyone he’s still alive so he can attend the service, especially when he realizes that his would-be publisher is attending.<br /><br />Gabriel convinces Molly not to call Lucia or Josh. He sits down to write a retraction and pretends to post it. Of course, because Molly’s phone sucks, she doesn’t realize he’s lying.<br /><br />Act 2 begins with Lucia talking to Matt Frisby, the editor of Tanner House Books. He was the editor who offered to publish Gabe’s book if he agreed to change the ending. He calls to offer his condolences and to offer Lucia the advance for publishing GS with the new ending. She agrees, only if he will change the dedication. Frisby will meet Lucia at the memorial service with a check, a contract and a galley of the book, new dedication and ending included.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Josh decides to miss his flight. He can’t get an answer from Molly, and Lucia is incomprehensible. He assumes Gabe must be dead. Josh tells all his monster cohorts to come in their costumes to honor Gabe. He heads home.<br /><br />Gabe sees the alert about the costumes. He realizes he can get into the service unnoticed in costume, but decides that wearing Godzilla would be too risky. He decides to break into Josh’s place to steal his Gamera suit.<br /><br />Molly gets home, checks her computer and realizes Gabe faked the retraction. She calls him. Angry words are exchanged. Gabe finally convinces her to let him talk to Frisby. He even gets her to agree to break into Josh’s place.<br /><br />In Act 3, hilarity ensues as Gabe and Molly break into Josh’s. Lucia is calling a caterer. Josh gets home to realize his suit is gone.<br /><br />Lucia is already at the service. Gabe arrives as Gamera. He runs into Lucia who thinks he’s Josh. Gabe runs off when he sees the real Josh come in. Lucia doesn’t even realize that Josh is out of costume one moment and in the next. Molly makes an entrance dressed as Mothra. Everybody’s entranced, even Gabe. Josh sees Gamera and gives chase.<br /><br />Eventually, Gabe comes across a copy of the galley. At first, he’s excited, thinking Tanner House decided to publish his novel. Suddenly, he rifles to the end and realizes the ending has been changed. He tries to tear the book apart, rips off the front cover, drops the rest of the book. He bends down to pick it up and notices the dedication has been changed from his late mother to Lucia. He slumps down next to his Gamera head.<br /><br />Molly enters, asks what’s wrong. Gabe tells her. Josh catches sight of Gamera. He sneaks up on it until he’s close enough and pounces. After a scuffle, Josh realizes Gabe is alive. He’s happy, until he finds out what Lucia did.<br /><br />Josh goes back to the service to confront Lucia. Frisby is at the mic offering a remembrance and announcing the deal. Everyone applauds. When the rest of the applause stops, we see Gabe is still clapping. Gasp! He’s alive. Lucia runs to Gabriel. He rebuffs her. She tries to humiliate him before storming off.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Denouement: Cut to Monster Movie shoot. We find out that, based on the publicity his stunt garnered, a rival publisher agrees to publish GS. blah blah blah. Gabe & Molly hold hands. End</b></span></div>
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The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-46361474003766442082017-01-06T21:56:00.004-05:002017-01-06T21:56:59.588-05:00Bus Stop<div>
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<span class="t12"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><i>..some micro-fiction I originally wrote in 1994 or so... semi-autobiographical... edited a few times ... appeared in "Smile Hon, You're in Baltimore" and heard on "The Signal"</i></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmdvdWNoZXIuZWR1L2ltYWdlcy90cmFuc3BvL210YV9idXMuanBn" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="108" src="https://www.goucher.edu/images/transpo/mta_bus.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" width="200" /></a><span class="t12"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>S</i></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">o there I am, sitting near the back of the number 13, working out the national debt in my head on my way to Fells Point, when I notice this woman getting on with a little boy who I figure is her son.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="t12" style="font-size: large;"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> As soon as I see her, I know she’s junked. Her hands look painfully swollen and puffy. Her cheeks, gaunt and sunken in, like someone had dug them out with a soup spoon. Dried spit, caked white, crusts on each corner of her mouth. Her half-lidded eyes are glazed over and unfocused, as if she can only see things within a foot of her—not that she’s trying to see <i>anything</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="t12" style="font-size: large;"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> She saunters towards the back, led by the boy, and sits almost directly across from me. The boy can’t be more than four years old, but is as alert as his mother is high. She spends her time nodding off, in & out of the heroin induced nirvana in her mind, while he maneuvers from seat to seat, alternating between looking out the window and catching his mother before she falls out of her seat and onto the floor of the bus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="t12" style="font-size: large;"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> He begins to get more agitated as we round North Avenue and start heading south on Wolfe Street. Every few blocks he tries to wake his mother up, each time with a little more desperation. At best she offers him nothing more than a quarter-lidded nod with a bit of a snort for good measure. At worst, she doesn’t even acknowledge his existence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="t12" style="font-size: large;"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Finally, as we near Johns Hopkins Hospital, he stands up on his seat and rings the bell himself, his cute little fingers barely able to reach the yellow stripe. As the driver slows to their stop, he hops down and starts tugging at his mother’s arm. “Momma! Momma!!” he squeals, “We gotta get off <i>he’e</i>!” …just loud enough to snap her out of her state of euphoria and bring her back to the city of Baltimore—at least long enough to let him guide her off the bus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="t12" style="font-size: large;"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Listening to the little boy’s voice, ingraining itself into my brain, takes me back to when I was his age… guiding my mother through the maze that is the New York subway system… making sure we got on the right PATH lest we end up at the Port Authority rather than Hoboken.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-3KkERDhC0RmV0IzUNsL7eKSGiQ_5BhqgRb6fCWjhG2L0QpcVwfTf0LZx0gX_OAm5McEdYh0RQd17aFduJUjQOFian8f6C7vAGhAItJd-vGL6biL6eZY273iV6eEksZi296hDmQKtDZH/s1600/batgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-3KkERDhC0RmV0IzUNsL7eKSGiQ_5BhqgRb6fCWjhG2L0QpcVwfTf0LZx0gX_OAm5McEdYh0RQd17aFduJUjQOFian8f6C7vAGhAItJd-vGL6biL6eZY273iV6eEksZi296hDmQKtDZH/s320/batgirl.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
<span class="t12" style="font-size: large;"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I wonder if he sits like I used to, in front of the television watching reruns of <i>Batman</i> and <i>Gilligan’s Island</i>, chomping on a box of Lucky Charms, hoping that Batgirl would show up in her skintight jumper, or that the Professor would finally get them off that fucking island. All the while, my mom would be slouching in a chair in the next room with lines of drool making etch-a-sketch patterns on her chest while she mumbled about how much she missed her friend Janis… Joplin, it turned out to be. I would just pray that she could work off her fix in time to cook something for dinner before I went to bed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="t12" style="font-size: large;"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> I realize that the bus is almost empty. We’re almost at my stop—the last stop. I use my sleeve to wipe the tears off my face and the drippings from my nose, wondering how long I’ve been crying… was I wailing… who had noticed… who cared?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="t12" style="font-size: large;"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> I send my heart out to the little man one last time, wondering if he would have the same chances I’d had, the same luck. I wonder if he too would grow up too early because of the premature responsibilities, missing out on a childhood you only try to relive once it’s too late. I shake my head. More than likely, he’ll just be another casualty, found lying in the street, in his teens, with a few bullet holes—<i>Baltimore Birthmarks</i>—in his body. Which fate was better?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="t12"><span class="t13 lh18"><span class="articleText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> I finish composing myself as I walk towards the front of the bus, wiping my sleeve on my jeans so the snot won’t stain, trying to shake that boys voice from my head. It’s times like these when think I can feel the pain of the whole world, but I’m powerless to ease it. I think about dinner as the bus doors slide shut behind me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-82367362109551510802016-11-24T00:53:00.001-05:002016-11-25T14:52:15.691-05:00Surviving the Trumpocalypse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">o, here we are. Hopefully, you’ve been paying attention and realize how we got here. Now the questions needs to be: What exactly do we have? How do we survive it? And what can be done about it?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">To understand what we have, you first need to understand who’s in control. The answer’s obvious, but I don’t just mean the man who will soon be our president. I mean the man that he is, the man he’s been. What I and <a href="https://www.google.com/#q=trump+master+manipulator" target="_blank">others </a>have noticed is that the man fits a specific archetype that’s troubling, even dangerous if combined with potentially darker personality traits. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Whether he is mostly harmless, a sociopath, a psychopath is still in question. What’s not in question is that he is a <a href="http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/10/why-is-trumps-skin-so-much-thinner-than-clintons.html" target="_blank">Narcissistic</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_manipulation" target="_blank">Master Manipulator</a>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">His favorite technique seems to be <a href="http://qz.com/805138/trump-just-gave-the-world-a-masterclass-in-the-persuasion-tactic-known-as-pacing-and-leading/" target="_blank">Pacing & Leading</a>. The manipulator "paces" the public by mimicking his target’s emotional state. He then pushes those emotions by making statements that may be even more extreme than they ever would make. That's what really draws them in. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"The economy/politicians/media/etc. are even worse than we thought! He gets it. He has my vote!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Once he's manipulated his target audience into believing he is the biggest badass on a given topic, he can then "lead." Since no one understands said topic(s) as well as he has made them believe he does, he is then free to "lead" them to whatever position he really wants to promote, because his target has already been manipulated to trust him, implicitly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So, what’s his endgame? What does a Narcissistic Master Manipulator really want? He's likely to "lead" everything to the center in order to widen his trust with the public. That will set him up for an "O, he wasn't that bad" re-election campaign. It's the Narcissist aspect we can't ignore, though. That means whatever he's out for, it needs to benefit him, most. That it actually benefits anyone else is just gravy. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confidence_trick" target="_blank">Gravy</a> is always a part of any good con.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So, what’s the con?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">My guess is that, at best, he just wants to enhance his brand. What better way to expand the brand than to attain the highest office in the land, if not the world. If that's the case, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/magazine/how-donald-trump-picked-his-running-mate.html">watch for him to be more mascot than president</a>, traveling & making appearances that make America, & by default himself, look <i>Great</i>. Actual governing will be left up to others.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">At worse, he wants use the office to benefit his businesses. For signs of that, look for him to do nothing about the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-09/trump-vs-trump-showdown-looms-as-debt-and-deals-pose-conflict">conflicts of interest</a> created by his office & his family's business. If he liquidates, we'll know he's thinking of Americans first. If he justs hands it all off to his kids, you can be pretty sure there will be deals being cut that will directly benefit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trump_Organization">The Organization</a>, both domestically & abroad. If he holds to his proposed economic policy, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/11/21/the-worst-case-scenario-for-the-economy-under-donald-trump/">the nation will suffer</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">At worst, he wants power for power’s sake. People like that don’t like to give it up. If that’s the case, look for increased domestic surveillance, suppression of the media & free speech, likely through litigation. <a href="http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-kirchick-trump-coup-20160719-snap-story.html">The slightest excuse might lead to a state of emergency</a>, extending & possibly prolonging his power. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We've all been manipulated, to one degree or another, for a long time. None of us are any less guilty than the other. It opened the door for a Master Manipulator to step in & turn it all to his advantage. Everybody already sort of hated the <i>other</i>. All that needed to be done was to stoke the right fires in the right places at the right times, & <i>viola</i>...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In a sense, what's happening now is part of a continuing manipulation. Not only are the divisions of one side against "the other" laid bare & hurting, now there's infighting, groups usually seeking common goals blaming & shaming each other. We've been royally Trumped!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Now we <i>need </i>to heal. We need to come together. <b>ALL </b>of us. If we continue to distract ourselves with the petty squabbles, no one will be watching while he takes it all down, or all for himself. It’s not a question of whether or not we can survive this. We can. We <i>will</i>. Society moves on despite oligarchs & tyrants. The real question is can we come out of this intact? The answer depends on whether we can get past the blaming, the guilt, the fear, and the hate. If we can turn our attention to what really matters, I like our prospects.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507689327418457836.post-16917161649874193232016-10-13T11:17:00.000-04:002016-10-13T11:19:05.849-04:00Enough!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm truly blessed to have <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlwaysValeria" target="_blank">one of the most beautiful women in the world</a> as my life partner. Unfortunately, there is a downside. It seems that the prettier a woman is, the more <i>some </i>men believe that there is an open invitation to treat that woman like their own personal sex object.<br /><br />I've lost count of the number of times Valerie has come to me, sometimes in tears, because some presumptuous man crossed a line, solely because he felt he could, solely because he thought he was entitled to say or do as he pleased with regard to those of the fairer sex.<br /><br />Now we are faced with the poster child for this kind of behavior possibly being handed the keys to the country. The proportion of the public willing to overlook that behavior will be very telling about the direction of our nation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To support that vile monster is to endorse his behavior. To endorse his behavior is to say "It's fine. It's the way women deserve to be treated. It was fine that Valerie has been treated that way, that our mothers, our sisters, our daughters have been treated that way, & it's fine that they will continue to put up with it. Boys will be boys, after all."<br /><br />If it's okay for a president to do it, it's okay for every man, for our brothers, for our sons.<br /><br />No woman deserves that, not Val, nor any woman on this planet. If you can't see that, while I still love you, you cannot remain a part of my circle. You either have a poor grasp on what women have to put up with on a daily basis, or worse, you condone it.<br /><br />I raised <i>my </i>sons to treat women with the utmost respect. They haven't been perfect. I, myself, can't claim to have always behaved like a perfect gentleman. This culture, let's call it what it is</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rape Culture</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">has gone on for far too long. It's time decent men rise up & speak out against Trump, speak out against the inhumanity of sexualizing others purely as a show of our power over them. If we are to salvage what's left of the little bit of decency our society is holding onto, we cannot afford to sit back silently. We have to rise up, speak out, & fight for change.<br /><br />#ENOUGH! #NotOk</span><br />
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The Word Pimphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502605633002014698noreply@blogger.com0