Tag Archives: Freedom

Art History

In the beginning was pre-scarcity art

And the caves and the rocks were a’plenty.

Thrag asked “Mom, can I draw on the wall?”

She’d say “Sure, have a square foot or twenty.”

But as cavekids kept coming and new caves did not

The biggest of Thrags made a rule:

“You only draw pictures of how great I am

“Or I hit you with club ‘til you drool.“

Well the biggest of cavemen was one they called “God”

(Though it’s translated plenty of ways)

And for a few dozen eons all art was created

To offer him penance and praise.

Then one of those days God’s goons stopped beheading

And burning those who spoke their mind

And artists were arting about love and go-karting

And the God stuff got all left behind.

Well folks love their love (and, a bit less, their go-karts)

But artists got bored making beauty

So they started to mix, splatter, smear, scrape, and “other”

And their art got much less “bowl of fruit”y.

The people cried out “What’s this art all about?”

And the artists would pout and say “Feelings”

When really we know that the art status-quo

Was more about shady cash dealings.

And now we’ve arrived when the people are tired

Of listening to skilled people sing

And the artists are taught in the college of thought

That good art mustn’t mean anything.

So I, being me, full of whimsy and glee

Know you see that my own art is bad…

But my art’s about stuff, and today that’s enough

To make even my crap not so bad.

Leave a comment

Filed under Poems

Dear Weirdos

To the girl with funny yellow shoes

And the deaf guy who would sign the blues:

I hope you never have to choose

Between yourself and “normal.”

To the folks who love their face tattoos

And the ones who never drink the booze:

I hope you never, ever lose

Conviction just to be formal.

To the historians and dreamers,

The philosophers and schemers,

The poets and the memers

And the “just-plain-downright-odd”s:

I hope you never lose the spark

To make a name or leave a mark

Because few of us can parallel park

And fewer still are gods.

Leave a comment

Filed under Poems

You’ve Identified The Problem… What’s Your Solution?

If you call out “Woe is me”

Be assured that you are right,

For only you can cause the grief

Of thinking through the night,

Of worrying from dawn to dusk

Of things you’ve yet to do.

But if you choose to not be woe

You’re wise among the few.

Leave a comment

Filed under Poems

Millennial Fantasies 2: The Great Reset

They’ve already invented a time machine.

I’m as sure of this as I’ve ever been.

The reason it isn’t a feature today

Is because all the time travelers went away

To a time when a house was only 10k

And your wife could stay home with a kid on the way,

When votes were counted, voices were heard,

There wasn’t a World War (let alone a third).

They traveled and traveled and stopped at a time

Where telling the truth wasn’t punished as crime.

I just hope when they stopped is an age that will last

And will be in our future instead of our past.

Leave a comment

Filed under Poems

The Ants Go Marching

Do you recall what made you say

“There has to be another way”?

The moment when you burned yourself

Or windows fell and shattered?

Do you recall when you were scared

And learned that no one near you cared

And poured yourself some bottom-shelf

And figured out what mattered?

Remember when your throat was parched,

Your ankle turned, your body arched,

And when your dirty face cried out

The world put earbuds in?

If you recall, it’s time to be

A solo army, strong and free.

If you don’t, then have no doubt

These things will soon begin.

The world may not recall your name

Even if you win the game,

But when you count the victories

You get to choose your score.

So will you choose to recollect

A world of passive disconnect

Or will you solve the mysteries,

Wake up, and join the war?

Leave a comment

Filed under Poems

Is Giving Them The Finger Still Rude If They’re Missing One?

A bunch of years ago we said

“Hey King, screw your royal head”

And dumped a hunch of tea into

A bay to say “Bugger off to you.”

Now I think that united spirit

Should say to those who care to hear it

“You’re free to use 2:00 AM fireworks

“But if you do you’re also jerks.”

Leave a comment

Filed under Poems

Diversity on TV

Some people love a TV show

Or book with all their heart

Because it’s scary/witty/charming

And fast-paced/tender/smart.

Others see that TV show

And think one long “okaaaaaaay?”

I think that’s the best diversity

Even if no one’s black or gay.

Leave a comment

Filed under Poems

24 Hours Of Visibility And The Whole System Collapses…

I think for one day a year

All taxes should be ignored

And you’ll see how gas is a dollar less

And your check is twenty percent more

And as you drive your car on roads

With a single pothole, wonder

Why do we support “our side” so much

When both sides keep sucking us under?

Leave a comment

Filed under Poems

Released

Just time

No space

I wait

I pace

Feel stuck

Lack grace

Hands sweat

Hearts race

Then I hear

And I see

There is light

I am free!

Break the lock

Lose the key

I was that

Now I’m me.

Walking forward

Trying to run

Out of the tomb

Into the sun

Losing all my chains

Shedding my orange jumpsuit

Body free of all my pains

I am a vine grown from a root

What do I have left to do

Now that I am set free

Will I look for you

Or look for me

In the sunlight

Who will I be

Am I alright

Is this good

Who am I

I’m a bird

Can I fly

Hands sweat

Feet walk

Eyes wide

Tongues talk

Girls run

Boys chase

Same time

New space

Leave a comment

Filed under Poems

But Seriously, Who Doesn’t Want To Do This At Least Once?

I think people would be happier

If once a day, for free,

They could take an eighteen-wheeler

Packed with TNT

And have a robot drive it

Into their neighbor’s chrysanthemum

But that’s very illegal

‘Cause the government is dumb.

Leave a comment

Filed under Poems