.ether.

video of a hamster

on a squeaky wheel

closeup on running feet

panning back until

the wheel fills the screen

[ voiceover ]

there was a little girl

who had a little curl

right in the middle

of her forehead

when she was good

she was very very good

&when she was bad

she was horrid

enter m train

at central ave

to stand

- casual.slow -

by the express doors

something

turns

my stomach

lights

a fire

in my knees

quarter

turn

to see --

my hue

betrays

it's she

tuck chin

to grin&blush

hers angles

to smirk

she's so

close.close.close

i'm frozen

space

i shimmer

aliVe.

my edges

liquid

light

she

hOlds

the pOwer

knows

flirts

plays.

eyes

that

catch

hold

.break free

release

shake head

.stare

{burning}

at my feet.

she is the

stronger

lioness

*add conversation before bossa nova*

excuse me miss -

what combination

of things are you?

it has come

back around

to me

lovely conversation

with beautiful man

with deep black eyes

older man

clutching his cane

sits across

watches the interaction

bing

bong

he shakes

my hand

gets up

is gone

older man

across the way

watches still

sees me bask

in the glow of

experience

with a hitch

he heaves up

from his seat

traverses

the aisle

to pass me

on his way

to the

bing

bong

opening doors

excuse me

miss.

no disrespect

but you have

a beautiful smile.

smile ever wider

thank you

so much!

have a

beautiful

day

he nods

smiles

hand raised

as he steps out

onto the platform

looks around

realizes his mistake

(slightly sheepish)

ducks back in

return

bing

bong

the doors close

nodding

he heads back

to his seat

.monarch migration.

rent check

deposited in slit

onward.toward

Classon (G)

first thing

i see

yellow&black

butterfly wings

stuck.trapped

beneath

car wheel

.art

student

refuse.

i brace myself

against the curb

give a mighty yank

yellow feathers rip

but just the tip

success

free to fly

these wings

are just my size

(G) train giggler

any other day

he would be

making eyes

transfer together

.d.e.l.i.b.e.r.a.t.e.l.y.

meet his gaze

stifled snicker

pinched red face

the (L) train crowd

streams.crushes in

walking home

wind begins

to build

i struggle.twist

wings knock

my knees

stop&adjust

hold to the side

knocked back

they catch

the breeze

a sounds carries

to my ear

i hear

a blessed laugh

hello there

butterfly

i have to take

this picture

[image]

english sonnet

the halloween angel

excited to go to school

i trip up the cement steps

that lead to my front door

big scrape across my chin

(IMAGE)

for weeks after

don't touch that

it'll get infected

curious.rebellious

i poke

allison

&scratch

don't touch

&pick

oy vey -

yellow pus appears

(faint memory)

enter doctor

through back door

contagious

caution

quarantine

years later

yawn

in the mirror

suddenly i see

my chin is crooked

marred.forever.scarred

by my impatience

to heal

the way to you

found objects

kind blue.green

fish.bowl eyes

peer through

thick lenses

past wire

frames

smile

will you

sign my

yearbook?

of course!

senior year

make the rounds

respected english

teacher

head bent

over book

hand guides

pen across

the page

flourish

.done.

- return -

you know -

i was

thinking

about your

college

applications

.yes?

you were

asked

to write

about

risk

.yes?

&you wrote

about

curly hair

it totally

worked

.yes?

have you

considered

poetry --

.i will fly

on my father's

wings.

on the phone

deep inhale

i have to speak

- my truth -

i want

to be

a poet

slow deliberate

exhale

are you

sure?

certain

you know

-pregnant pause-

after

undergrad

i wrote for

three years

-beat-

nothing

came of it

(defeated sigh)

it's really tough

to succeed

.to places

he has

never been.

english sonnet

[picture of off the beaten track]

modernism & the city

- first lecture -

introductions

all around

perched

in the

back

of the

auditorium class

my eyes

catch

the flicker

of your face

my ears

swallow

each syllable

of your name

my spine

swivel.snAps

- at attention -

i know an

absolute

.i am

changing

my recitation.

- first recitation -

captain planet

french braid

glasses

i sit across

beaming.bright

shimmering light

i've learned now

how this goes

.we two

are the

most

beautiful

ones

here.

your face

remains

fixed to

your page

after class

approach

hello

small talk

pack up

we turn

to leave

out in

the hall

eyes

angle.uP

beaming

blue eyes

shining bright

.i wish i may.

.i wish i might.

(shake head)

.right.

so --

why are you

in grad school?

gazing down

-- honestly

i tried the

real world

(shrug)

got scared

(tucks chin in)

.i'm glad

you did.

is it worth it?

time

will

tell

blue eyes

blazing

burning

.yearning.

subject line

[ office hours ]

February 15, 2013 at 1:26 PM

Can I come to office hours just to

February 15, 2013 at 1:27 PM

Can I come to office hours to talk about ideas? I

February 15, 2013 at 1:28 PM

don't have any specific questions

February 15, 2013 at 1:29 PM

but I have ideas that I want to back up with thorough research. I am going to try to do an independent study next semester but I need to come up with the curriculum and right now you are the most approachable figure of academia for me

February 15, 2013 at 1:48 PM

I need to come up with a concrete idea that I can pursue through an independent study and I need someone to reign me in a little and who knows

February 15, 2013 at 1:50 PM

what is out there in terms of contemporary criticism. I would really appreciate h

February 15, 2013 at 1:51 PM

elp. What time would work? Thank you so much and have a wonderful weekend.

- sent -

February 15, 2013 at 1:53 PM

Can I come to office hours to talk about ideas? I don't have any specific questions

but I have ideas that I want to back up

with thorough research. Right now you are the most approachable figure of academia for me and I need to come up with a concrete idea that I can pursue through an independent study in the fall. I need someone who can reign me in a little and who knows what is out there in terms of contemporary criticism.

I would really appreciate the help.

What time would work for you?

Thank you so much

and have a wonderful weekend.

[emails]

first office hours.naussica

googled

you

she could

almost see

the swift

answering

flush

and i’m

glad i did

i found

the article

you wrote

about digital

literature

and it

woke me

she saw

that magic lure

in his eyes

(swallow bravely)

i’ve been

working on

something

for about

a year

and

now

i see

that i

am writing

for the scroll

there would be

no holding back

for her

she would

follow

her dream

of love

master

guide

she would

wild

untrammelled

free

the eyes

that were

fastened

upon her

set her

pulses

tingling

passion

silent

as the

grave

it made

her his

the space between

glows.betrays

my heart

i have no words

cannot look up

my eyes

drink their fill

his boots

.i know the value

of a good pair.

right foot

over left knee

jiggles once

self consciously

his hands

big.square

his chest

broad.defined

through soft

gauzy.grey

his neck

leads up to

pursed.smirked

lips.parted dip

smirk

snap uP

his eyes

catch me

avert mine fast

they fall to rest

his lap

i burn

i knOw

it shOws

i quiver.shake

release

wasteland

fecundity

after class.compelled to walk beside

tugged along to his next class

blindly in stride

meaningless chatter

steal sidelong glances

.what is this feeling?

.what are the chances?

at the door - he turns

.breath catches.

did you just

follow me to class?

the ground drops out

.spUtter.

- no –

(sheepish)

i have to go -

this way

.the horror.

final recitation

enlish sonnet

sarley

j alfred prufrock

harry.box me up

victor

ryan mckeevey

not realizing it was dating

walking from soho to 59th street

feeling for the first time

the sensation of wanting

to kiss someone first

sexually transmitted anxiety

spending a final night

i love you forever

.you've either got

r you haven't got :

STYLE

the dream life

of balso snell

the poet's progress

from anus mirabilis

to coitus victorious

building my paper

glazing over Nero

once

twice

finally fact check

understanding at last why Nero

trying to manufacture

a renaissance

- clarifying history -

italian sonnet

.i stand aloof

in giant ignorance.

independent study

john waters

i'm writing

a paper about

balso snell

&i wanted

to bounce

ideas off you

.so i have a list :

homer's iliad,

virgil's aeneid,

dante's inferno,

bunyan's

pilgrim's progress,

dreamlife of balso snell,

that's a crazy list -

(flustered.sputtering)

as he tries to argue

his way around nero

nero is just

a crazy guy

.a crazy guy.

i realize that he has no idea

what he is talking about

disappointed

i let him finish -

- he is no longer

a reliable source

of knowledge

he cannot admit

when he is wrong

[that’s not an ode]

writing manifest o

- nnnnneW –

power up.all or nothing

.no right no wrong

no rules for me

i’m free.

[i prefer not to]

i am holding

my paper hostage

it is more important

for me to go to

a party of peers

&spread the word

than it is to finish

Maureen mc lane

she nods politely

listens to my work

i take a breath

she cocks her head

why

are you

doing this?

reflex.response

I don't know

what else

to do

with

my body

[hell is other people]

on the way to his office

i find two large pages

torn from a sketchpad

- footprint stained faces -

roll.roll.roll into a sword

adjust leather bag

on shoulder.shield

into the fray.conquer this day

i'm holding

a paper hostage

i wrote this

manifesto

- i can explain

all of history

in terms of

the GREAT

oscillation

reading over

my notes

i see how

profoundly

your lectures

influenced me

can i read you

parts of it?

explain it to me

i'd really

like to read --

this is more fun

he crosses his arms

settles back.cocks

his head&smirks

as i expound

he is drawn in

follows word for word

i feel someone approach

move to enter

his hand goes up

dismisses.wait.returns

to rest on lap

now it's his turn

he reacts

.lean all the way back

looking up at the sky

as you recount

your facts of life.

well first of all

no one deserves

anything

.what?

he insists –

there is no canon

anymore

you should just

give it all away

for free --

the way

Socrates did

.look me in the eye

accept that i

am your equal.

my reply –

that doesn’t

work in our

modern world

you only say

that because

that's how

far back

( y o u )

reach

the office falls

to awkward silence

- checkmate -

i start to pack.to leave

to my back

he faintly chides

you should write

that paper now.

i turn to smirk over my shoulder

yes.i said.yes

i should

i guess

[make me a scroll]

1st avenue

- mountain animation -

.this is

the musician

she was telling

me about.

listen to a song while eating

the first real thing i'd eaten in days -

creative inspiration [too often]

trumps basic needs

the misguided mantra :

my body can handle it

their music speaks to me

- i know they know what's up -

as the train arrives

hey i just wrote

a manifesto.

can i talk to you

for a minute?

i'm kind of busy

right now.

okay.

step

dump

my stuff deliberately close to open case

tap

*bite*

tap

*bite*

until my feet get picked up

by the beat.dancing

breakfast.burrito in hand

- VIDEOS -

the three bites i ate

half.chewed start to jiggle

- sink down -

.if i threw up

right now

that might

make it

to afv.

.no

get it

together.

[ return ]

look across to see

banjo player

smiling wide

work up a sweat

remove my petticoat

fold up&place

inside my bag

group of black

boys.to.men

walk along

opposite

platform

giggling

at first

until i boogie to a

drop

dAmn

stop to watch

take phone out to record

- VIDEO -

aaaaa

oooooo

aaaaa

ooooo

.if he's aa.ooing

i must be doing

something right.

several people approach

make eye contact with me -

thank you

that was great

[ between songs ]

(sheepish.slow)

so.what's your

manifesto

about?

[ spiel ]

i smoke pot

i understand

energy

when i dance

i'm thinking

with my body.

moving into

the spaces

created by

your music.

(pivot)

what are you?

human

what

combination

of things

are you?

(suddenly flustered)

- i don't –

ohio

i just mean

you have

a beautiful face

and i want to know

what makes it

he sputters.starts to play again

i’ve overstayed my welcome

jump on the next brooklyn bound

one stop to bedford

peek out to see

familiar warbling uke

[the past]

.embarrassed

rosy.cheeked

- penniless -

she slipped

her book into

his can.

in payment

.art for art.

exit the car

stand with

conviction

dA ncE

peripheral

approach

at the end

of the song

i saw you

wiggling

over there –

what’s up?

[spiel]

can i

email it

to you?

[fIre in your eyes]

THE GREAT OSCILLATION :

.Destruction.Criticism.Renaissance.

ALLISON SYLVIA

To my Liberal.Arts.Degree,

many thanks.

LITERATURE, though not the first Art, was the first glimpse

into each unique conception of the human condition.

Whoever controlled the word, controlled the collective memory of the people.

Religion is the way of life of a People, based on geographical development of that Culture -

crystallized into literature.

My father is Jewish.

My mother was Roman Catholic.

She converted not for my father but for Faith :

Judaism better explained her World View.

Religion is just that - an intensely personal choice.

Everyone is entitled to their order : their beloved.balance : their solace : their faith.

I.for one.would only believe in a God who knows hOw to DANCE.

earth, SUN, mOOn, water, air - my only gods, since the dawn of this time.

.leT's call iT

year ZERO

and try this again.

Growth.and.Decay.

expansion, collapse.

If we consider the Cosmos,

we're but a tiny wave of EnErGy.

.BuT.you.goTtA.hAve.

Faith.ah.Faith.ah.Faith.

I.hAve.ABSOLUTE.fAith.

YOU

Let me recite what history teaches. History teaches.ThaT.iT's.GoT.tO. be OUrsTORy.

the pendulum's about to swing...

POET :

Suddenly Self Aware

HOMER's Iliad

primary source of Western literature

explains history of a destroyed civilization

our only understanding of Troy is the Greek perspective

VIRGIL's Aeneid

needs to plant his craft on solid ground so reaches back to Greece

the imagined history of the Trojan poet as founder of Rome

DANTE's Divine Comedy : poet in exile

scathing comment on Roman Catholicism

includes contemporary writers, philosophers, artists

putS popes in hell

BUNYAN's Pilgrim's Progress

comment on Protestantism

exclusively refers to the Bible

the only contemporaries are the parables

WEST's The Dream Life of Balso Snell

comment on Modernity

Prohibition was the breAk from Protestantism

when that happened in such a religiously and culturally diverse Country

it was no longer ruled by one.single.doctrine but by the burden of all History

DARWISH's Mural : poet in exile

from the outside, advancing the craft

the Alexandrian Poet

Clear the haze of war and animosity.

What has it been like to be.you.lately?

What have you been working on in your Collective Mind?

What do You want to Be when you Grow Up?

How many of us identify with that one Nationality? feel the Stability of Real roots?

Those that do, is it because :

you really are one.hUNdred Percent?

your family really has been.on.this.land since your Ancestors lanDeD?

you identify with the identity of your single Parent?

you look more one Thing than the Other?

We are Products of free love and peace and harmony and understanding.

The social.sexual.civil renaissance that began with the oldest of our parents made for fascinating combinations of Race and Creed before which had been IMPOSSIBLE.

Excuse me.Miss

.what bE.A.Utiful combination of.

.THINGS aRe.you?

We are a completely NEW Race of people.completely NEW faces the likes of which this world

has Never before sEEn :

WE ARE ORIGINAL

GodDammit.HaLelUia!MotherFucking.PrAise.the.lOrD!

We need to shed their rules - they no longer apply.

Let us square off.shake hands.and agree :

We are not so different, you and I.

Stop hemming and hAwing.

TorPedo through the M-i-l-e-s of Bullshit and get to the cOre :

Hello there. It's a pLeasure to meet you.

.we are the convergences of vastly different cultures colliding.combining in one

INDIVIDUAL.

That's quite a heavy load to bear.

It's a load we're meant to Share.sharing.is.caring -

We play these streets like a video game.

.but.what.if.we s.l.o.w.dOWn.

.take.a.look arOUnd.

- and.gO.with the flOw.

YOU've been saying it for years.

why don't WE just.do.iT?

HELL is other People.

.but.What.If it's heaven?

.from.AFRICA-to-Troy-to-Greece-to-Rome-to-England-to-the.USA.

.Return - to - HOME.

I am.PrOUD. to KNOW.your

beautiful.BLACK.blOOd.

.courses somewhere.dEEp.in my veins.

There.is No.Flag.left to hide.behind.

There.IS.only US.

the ONLY one that.I'll

sTANd by is

YOUR Freak.Flag.

.so leT iT flY.

a Nation is as great as its ode.

So let's write anew.

Let this be our Code -

It's very simple : Don't be an Asshole.

: everyday.in.every.way Decide that You are Beautiful.

.our DESTRUCTION happened young.only old enough to Know.

WE were expected to be People much too soon.

WE felt bigger than our trajectory.trapped in their Legacy -

THE RESULT

will.all.the former EMO kids,

pLease.

.sTAnD.

.uP?

iT.is.NoT.OUR.faulT.

WE are the Students : shackled to the desk, staring only at the Forms on the PowerPoint

: taught by a false Light.

About writing papers - I feel like I had the Fear.of.God in me when I was eighteen.

How many of you can 'just sit down and write a paper'?

Or do you block out big sections and gradually fill in the small details.skip from section to section.highlight what still needs to be done.bright florescent pink.SO.when you sCroll you see your

Progress.

sCulPtural writing

we were taught to plan

we were taught to organize

we were never taught to

if prose is architecture.

.let poetry be sculpture.

AND

my fellow IMer

remember how we used to whi l e.

.away the hOUrs.

feel a panic risE in the space between replieS?

- WE -

instinctually.CreAted a NEW Language

that was highly referential.dependent on punctuation for meaning.

.we timed responses to.

.win.an.argument/out.wiT with.quotes.

we grew.knew each other's secrets fAster.

.felt brAver pressing -Enter- than we ever.would in.person.

when we would.have.had.to lOOk sOmeOne in the EyE

and SAY exactly what was on.OUR.mind

and then - all at once - the smoke cleared

and we started getting.in each.other's.Pants.

WELL.can I tell you a story?

you Can.

That's long since been established.

Why.not try.to get inside my mInD?

together WE can find

the answers that I'm sEArching for.

.so.here's to You

.every.single.QUEER.

who.really feels we.could.go

either.way -

hey.hey.hey.

.I love you in a.

.we.would.make.one.kickass.

FU.

.siON.

-HAH!-

.kind of way.

We already know we're headed toward.

.ze.end.of.ze.wORld.

I.ProPose.WE go.down singing.

.Oh sAy.can you seE.

.I .DeCLAre.

-INDEPENDENCE-

.the - INTERNET - is.OURS.

.and.it's Time.we TAke iT.Back.

.why.don't.we put.on our Big.Girl Panties and.Decide :

we are WOMEN. we are MEN. we are HERE.and.we are NOW.

iT.Is.Time.

that WE. - blinking - sTeP into the.sUn.

We fight along.about the equator.

We are too close.connect too fast.

We vibrate anxiously.

Friction to teNsioN to Violence.

Masculinity expended itself in all out war and easy sex.

HE.take.a.final.bow.perfected the art of killing and fucking.

Mankind - whose domination spawned the progress of human history - is Female - perpeTually

menstruating.

And let.me.be the.one to spoil the surprise :

no one of us is going to push the button, Mutual Destruction assures.

So let's come away from our guns and our tanks and our drones and know that there will never be another

TOTAL WAR

.we don't have much choice.

we'regoing to destroy each other.or.we're going to make.it.

My Fellow Man :

The Modernists exhausted the male psyche.

YOU.are transparent.

I.can.read you like.a

.BOOK.

YOU're.fRuStRaTeD.

everything is coming too e.a.s.i.l.y

your only violence is imaginary

.SO.why.don't you - TaKe.iT.ouT.

.on the dANCe floor

and show.me whaT.you've

GOT.

Always the mysterious.Other : WOMEN

: Earth's Best Kept Secret.

For the sake of Transparency :

We are each a microcosm of

THE GREAT OSCILLATION.

Like the moon.we ebb and flow

.foggy to Fierce.

Every month we experience Great Violence at the end of which we had better ride

the wave of Production before

two weeks later

our brains start to sCrAmBle.

We forget where we left -

BUT.if only.if only,WoMen harness this tide,

we'll rock you to sleep.singing sOft lullabies.

And while you lay dozing

.at - lasT.WE will R.I.S.E

Thank you for saying that we should try for superiority.

I daresay, you might be right.

That's how project two concludes.

But FIRST

Equality Preludes :

WE need to Stand Firm on

level ground and Hear one another and Become aware of Who we are and How we feel and how WE are going to run things when WE are in Charge -

we need to take the whEEL

Who among us will be ready to run for any office by the time we're 30?

Who will want to? Will we still be treading in debt? How can we not be?

.every.day.in.every.way they make damn.sure. that we.will.be.

So let's.move AwAy from.the BurDen of.their.eDucAtion :

their.FEAR

.and Congregate for a while. and puff.puff.pass a j. and shot.gulp.raise a glass. and dip.lick.roll.and dance. and love. and think. and feel.

and KNOW that WE are Exceptional.

.and then let's build - SomeThing - together.

.so.

.LET's geT.dOWn to Business.

.to defeaT.the.Ones.

______

The Proposal :

The digital age heralds the first crystallization of a creative force that is not - by conventional standards - substantive.

We have disposed of the Object.

The Physical.Arts' response to this existential crisis has yet to be harnessed into a successful commodity and thus continues to fly under the radar.

What have the Painters been up to? The Sculptors? The Architects? The Playwrights?

The Poets?

Where have you gone? What have you done as of late?

Let's temper this oscillation, shall we?

CREATION . criticism . CREATION

We need new Things to be subjected to our snide comments.

We need to give technology - once and for all - over to the Dreamers.

That was the Brass Age of modernity. Let us, finally.fully, enter the Digital Age.

TOTAL ART

we can work together

employ each other

make a collective Commodity

All we have to do is create.and.challenge.and.imagine.and.discuss.and BE.

All we need is you people.

.and.I.do.mean.

YOU, People.

But we need capital! - you cry.

I'll point you to any number of celebrities who hide a conscience : flaunt their righteousness :

don't.want.to.make another hang.over.movie.

Do you have anything to spare? Can you be our mama bear?

Can you give us wings to fly?

Often.mixed-are-metaphors.my.

.your capital leads us to :

I want to Buy a.Church.

An ULTIMATE Becoming :

ART finally.for art's sake.

Let us paint a new Sistine

put our mark on Permanence

and when its doors : they open wide

to spread the JOY

WE.refuse.to hide

we'll affix our plaque

Stating FACT :

___________

W E L C O M E

- to.the -

NEW WORLD

GOD save you, if iT.is.righT. that HE.should.Do.sO

it is, at long last, ABSOLUTELY uP.to

YOU

italian sonnet

puff.puff.

flick

puff.puff.

flick

solitary js

fuck up the rotation

inhale deep a final time

the crutch is all that remains

tip joint past the rim

of the crystal ashtray

shake.stand up (too) fast

blood rushes to my head

purple haze.spots fill my vision

knowledge.if i let myself go

i will fall

instead push up

both hands against

the bottom of the loft

rang like a gong

the sudden revelation

i have two sides

.give me symmetry or give me stress.

montage of manifestos

leroy bolton

man sitting on pickle tub

snow falling

she’s not wearing a coat

man tearing up

hearing the perfect quarter

lorimer -

giggling.drunk doofuses

taking pictures of themselves

posing with.beside somebody

passed out.slumped

on worn.wood bench

walk past.aghast

to settle beside a pole

diagonal from

bleached tipped indian

flannel button.down and bike pack

lanky.long blue-eyed brunette lopes

along.slow instrument in tow

i hate people.

you hear me?

i hate people

he drops his case beside flannel.fellow.friend

looks up at me

invitation to engage

can i talk to you

for a minute?

noncommittal

nods of affirmation

[launch]

okay,

i can explain

all of history

in terms of

the great oscillation

from destruction

to criticism

to renaissance.

i have a list

for evidence

-under the heading

POET :

suddenly

self aware --

indian friend

just stands there

nodding along -

musician stays with me

until electronic music

i gesture to his case –

you are a musician.

electronic music

is the way

of the future

what are you

talking about?

it's a matter

of expanding

the ability of

the physical

instrument

& our music

with it

- the turn –

why did you

decide to come

over here

and preach to me?

I don't care.

Okay?

I don't care -

.can't give up now.

why did you say

you hated them?

because they were

treating that man

like he was a thing

.an object

he shouts over my reason

as the train arrives

- bristling get into train

stand at diagonal door -

out of peripheral

see friend bow head

calmly gesture.explain -

one stop. two

- loping.slow approaches -

i'm sorry.

i hope

i didn't

offend you.

you didn't.

did i

offend you?

no.

someone

should be

saying those things

he regards me from the side

- small talk.response to spiel –

until Jefferson

[all conversation.roads lead to god]

oh this is

my stop too.

we can talk about

god -

his friend approaches.quick to remind

- no this isn't –

shakes hand.warm grasp.gasp.

transference of energy

.palm to palm.

respect

let's give them

something

to talk about

- party –

his head shakes as he rolls a j.

descends closer&closer to the task

at hand

but what

are you

saying?

the tall dark stranger slinking back against the wall

can i talk

to you

for a second?

response is passive

[spiel]

hey

if you have

to preach --

another with a firm square jaw & carefully combed dark hair smirks

as I approach

do you think

i'm a republican?

what?

that's not

relevant –

[spiel]

shakes&shakes&shakes

his head

[to some.it’s better left unsaid]

a beautiful blond in

denim skirt&light pink top

catches my eye

suddenly recognize

[over the years in st mark's dollar pizza]

i've seen you

around.

you look

beautiful -

thank you

(touched)

- about the book in hand –

only revolutions.star crossed lovers

smoke on the roof - talk to wenyang shi and square man in leather jacket

return to apartment.too cold to remain above

people lie side by side looking up.music playing - mood

the square faced guy

- talking about the iming part of spiel -

yea I have

this great idea

and I just.have to

be the first

to get it out there.

success measured in copycats

i smile.muse.observe

stand apart

beauty approaches.asks –

what are you

thinking about?

- the uncomfortable feeling - seen.surrounded.admired

anticipating.revelating

homeward bound

[outside cobra club]

hysterical

mocking laughter

cuts through the air--

and this girl

says she wrote

a manifesto

crisp.clear blue winter day

washington square fountain

center stage

a mustachioed man.grey peacoat.blue jeans.good pair of boots.stands tall.faces the sun.freedom.inhales deep.does a little arabesque from stage to basin

i need a dolla dolla dolla

is what i need

hey hey

he smiles at me as he ascends the stair beside

i smirk.let me tell you a story.&take my stand.turn.bellow : TEKIA

[manifesto]

toward the end my memory fails me

scroll unravels.flaps out before me.unfurled

as i scramble for the words i wrote .to make you fall.

he fixes his gaze on me.captivated audience.moves along the fountain with the sun.keeping time

ABSOLUTELY uP to

(you)

flaccid scroll cannot be wielded as a sword

i stand.beaming.as i roll

he remains.patiently waits

i.at last.approach & smile

thank you for that beautiful gift

thank you for listening

out of our peripheral.a girl.who read as i recited.puts a finger in her place

makes a move to engage

you should

go talk to her.

TRUST

that i'll stay

&wait for

ou.

.but she just doesn't know.should she stay? should she go?

not today.i shake my head.bashful grin.decide to dedicate this time to him

italian sonnet

.williamsburg bridge pilgrimage.

overjoyed i begin the climb

bow to each walking man

meet eye a fellow

walking toward manhattan

on the way back.catch same eye

hello.instantly.comfortably fall into step

where are you

coming from?

a party where

i was too

uncomfortable

to talk

me too.

melt.cozy.home into this

blue.eyed brunette

conversation grows

who are you?

matt

allison

what do you do?

i'm in med school

i'm an undergrad

but right now

i work in harlem

teaching health

and sex ed.

where are you from?

(long island)

who exactly

do you think

you are?

so i'm a poet

&i wrote

a manifesto

i can explain

all of history.

in terms of

the great

oscillation

i'm trying to

incite an art

revolution

okay so

what just

happened there?

we were having

a nice conversation

&then suddenly

you dropped into

an elevator pitch

(embarrassed)

i know that's

how it sounds

but this is just

something that

i've talked about

to a lot of people

&have had incredible

conversations

so where

do you live?

off myrtle ave/broadway

.and you?

see that

big building

there?

yea what are

they doing to it?

i don't know.

they're painting it

[drunken accent on pAInt]

but see that

low building behind?

from the roof

you can see

both bridges

&the city

an entire future flashes

through my mind

.cuddling on the roof.

loving in the night

waking in the morning

alright

i have to go

this way.

he turns to me

my heart catches

beneath a deep v

a healthy tuft of hair

.this is a MAN.

he reaches for his phone.i reach for my business card

my body balks.doesn't take out a pen.

he accepts.disappointed

walks away.never to see again

coulda.

woulda.

shoulda

put my number on the back

if i had let you in.it might have been

a happy end

.the beauty lies

in the discovery.

FHW class

feeling them figure it out

seeing a guy start to boogie with me on the g train

he looks up at me

shoulders jiggle.bop

body angles toward mine

if i engage him right now - what happens?

.O book! infinite sweetness

let my heart

suck ev’ry letter.

writing the word

sagrada familia

.just a curbside prophet.

corner of jefferson and wyckoff

approaching slowly.smiling.tuning

i've never

seen anyone

set up here

it’s a nice place

he looks up

nodding

i don't have

any money.

but i've been

thinking lately

-- sometimes

it is more

valuable

just to be

an audience.

participate

in the music

as i speak

he squints up

& at that he thumps his seat& launches.strumming.into a song

beaming i start to dance

a girl rounds the corner

we're dancing

now?

hands in pockets

clicking.clacking high heel boots

smiles after several measures

starts to walk away

lright.

see you soon

italian sonnet

keating cut

line in the mirror

too many zoos

dancing with two other people

A cry of defiance, and not of fear,

A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door,

And a word that shall echo for evermore!

begins with hearing the pickle tubs from the nqr platform

my body starts to move.drawn to the l platform by the rhythm

he follows close behind

- dancing - released by the tick on the garbage pail -

i got that whole thing - brandishing his phone

really? let me see

no.recording

the british are coming

really dancing with that one guy who got goofy until tick

he broke away embarrassed. distanced.confused -

kept looking at me throughout the night like i had violated him in some way.

the bad vibey guy who let me dance forehead to forehead with him -

predictably his hands made contact.along my sides.to squeeze at waist

i twist away & shake my head

if you're going to let me dance with you i'm going to dance

but don't get too handsy.

bobby - belle of the ball - come on you danced with me more than anyone else - stay - i think we should make out now

bashful shake my head

alright well will you take my number?

.do you wanna dance with me,

baby?

bossa nova civic club

return to the floor of my former triumph

the energy across.smooth.mellow.safe

afraid to see what this might be

i focus on his dance - hips swivel.knees bop.legs wiggle.red&green feathers on black.baggy.button down.tight black.faintly zebra striped.pants.

feet two step.battered boots laced up halfway

the two beside us fall away

at last.contact.touch

palm pressed to palm

beam into beam

we circle round

.you've almost convinced me i'm real.

i could have spun forever

hand against beautiful.hand.orbiting

.a warrior knows how to wait.

he finds me before he leaves

hey can we exchange numbers?

remove card from pocket.pen

turn to look deep into magic eyes

the hand over.my fingers.raised.curl

through curtain of leather fringe

roll up slow to stand.palm to palm.pressed

raise arms high.mountain.sky

hmOah

hm.draw hands down.

lips part as palms pass

to release the O

fly out.wings either side

float up.ah.arc

return to prayer

eyes land on ana's card

dynamic eye

.close the circuit.

dip thumbs between pursed lips

tongue touches tips

HMOAH

purple haze descends

consumes field of vision

have to squat down.fast

sparked.electric shocked

its not about breaking laws.

its about transcending dimensions.

i know i am on to something. patience.

you can't break down the pearly gates.just barge right in.

patience. you have to enter a lover.knower.friend.

.all the answers you need are right in front of you.

PATIENCE is a virtue.

you MUST BE

a WOMAN among MEN

before you WILL BE

a GODESS among GODS.

french sonnet

.surprised by joy

impatient as the wind.

- true love -

wherever

you might be

.listen to me.

it might seem like.

i'm giving up on you.

well, that ain't true.

it's.just late &

i'm getting tired

i ain't giving up on you.

just got things

i've got to do.

i need time

to think

this through.

so i am

moving

bizarre bar - approaching church, orion right above the steeple

my hips burn.spurn me on

jolted awake

my knees.marionette

i am pulled along the path of fate

premo - we may have to take this show on the road

dances past me.i dip.head leaning forward.

left middle finger taps.tip to heart

kevin - studded shoulder.leather jacket

patch

&patch

black eye

- you're so delicate.

i lost my hat and double gloves.

distress crosses his face

he grips his in closed fists

.should i

offer mine?

caught&kissed

her back.of.hand

looked up into her eyes

Goodbye.

jason - who is this lanky.moshing monkey?

your heart is your wingspan.

you're not sexually attracted

to me?

sly.sarcastic.devilish grin.

blushing.shake head.fidget.distract

what's this?

the pendant round his neck

he leans in

close.close.close

check it out

tips gently finger the symbol

heart expanding.fluttering.pounding

the scent of mountain.earth.air

hands on slender.curves.

.squeeze.

* sharp intake *

Please.

I must

have sex

ith

ou.

your body

omes

alIve when

i touch you

(squeezes tight)

can you feel it?

hugging me.

olding me.

wallowing me

hole.

.yes.

.wait.

- no -

(demurely.

shake my head)

.let's dance.

e break apart.

I start to shimmy.step.away

he follows to the dance floor

catches hand in hand

swings 'round.

wiveling hips

tip.tapping toes.

& then we dance

wiveling back&forth

across the dance floor

hands catching hands

releasing.spin away

4 am - it's time for me to leave

descend to find my hat&gloves

tucked in a dark corner

gone.lost -

found i hear a thunder on the stairs

jason stands before me

tall.proud.cocksure

are you going home now?

if you go home with anyone it should be me

he collects his things

a bag with a stalk of aloe

poking.comically.sharp past the plastic

should we

hold hands?

e should

hold hands.

should we

iss?

re we

allowed to?

i can do

anything

want.

Suddenly.certain.scared

I turn my face away.

(kiss.miss)

i can kiss

your cheek.

He trails his kisses.

*one*

*two*

mm.

Our lips.soft.parted

eet.

baby.bird.

shake.desperate to fly.

I quake.I cling to him.

y mouth

- frAntic -

t sings to him

issing deeper

arder

- STOP -

hoa

slow down.

don't bite

my lip.

just.kiss.

break apart&start to part.

return.push back.against the car.

feels for breast beneath uffy.jacket

come home with me

embarrassed.shy - no

i can heal you.make you quake with pleasure

what are you doing?

i'm making out with this beautiful girl.

the next night.into morning

there he is.long and dark

suit and scarf.six pack

in left hand

start to walk.head just reaches

magnetizes to his warm.thrumming heart

wander.speaking sweet nothings

nuzzle into each other's rhythms

share headphones.

treat her like

ire

where are

going?

I was

following

was

following

you

turn.hrm.back the way we came

the corner of the car.kiss

.just past castle braid.

wait.stop

for a second.

beckon

come here

smirking.loving

i trip toward him

lip.to.lip meet true love

in honor of christmas

the thoughtful way he looks at me

surprised.enamored

you beautiful thing

climb him like a tree

decadence survival decay exorcism

- thunder - seeing the shape of sound - star tetrahedron

cozy in bed.final dream playing vivid in my head

word for word.understood.comprehended

until the lecture builds to the climax

'disobedience' - echoes in my mind

wakes me up.sends me careening to the bathroom

violently ill - mind over (matter) over mind

caravan of dreams - circle round the block

we understand each other better

when we're touching

pass him to the bathroom

he catches hold.my waist

indulges.kisses tips through shirt

i burn amazed.i turn.go.dazed

rooftop revelations

lewd gestures

french sonnet

Len

see rebirth as tree

climb trees

reach for the star

valentine's day -

waiting on the elevated track

softly falling snow

- heart don't fail me now.

courage don't desert me -

meeting on the train -

comes loping down the center

through forbidden doors.

throws bag aside.catches face.

push back against the pole.

reach up to grab hold.stabilize

maria hernadez

falun dafa stump

sexy

pull a weed

single strand of root

start to tug

feel.profound.fear

shudder.gasp

hold this being

feel its death

italian sonnet

going to three diamond door

dancing with blake

isn't it great to be goofy?

we make our bodies loose

we wiggle.wobble.pull a face

i look down at his feet

they kick.two step.spin round

oh man

you've got

footwork

i have none

of that

well maybe

i can teach you

really?

i would

love that

going outside to talk to him.

why do you smoke?

it was spliffs

back inside return to groove

he tries to link my arms round his neck

i resist.wag my head.two step away

i see he is about to leave

wait!

can i give you

my card/number?

why?

because

i really enjoyed

dancing with you

dancing with greg

swings me out

pulls me in

hand rests on hip

cha-cha

real smooth

.now this

is a man

who knows

how to lead.

the song ends

we break apart

as i pull away

my hand goes

to his heart

he grins.takes off his hat

instinctively my hand

goes up to readjust alfafa do

i catch myself before i reach him

.too intimate.

i pull my hand away

.too close.

no please.

fix it

ryan conversation perspectives

- woman on the platform -

smiles beside.happy to see

light conversation.bowed and blessed me as she left,

eye to eye - his right then left,

over everything - need to crystallize it,

saying messiah for the first time - tasting it,

- well that's just where you are right now

exiting door at the first chime of eleven o'clock,

foggy night,

pouring rain by the time i got home,

bo burnham's what - baptism,

the rock had been tested it was perfect

maria hernadez run

orbits

on the other side of separation

head along familiar tracks

toward chicken torta.j.home.base

rush hour car.move in to hold seat's center pole

bump butt.to.butt behind

once.

twice.

elbow.bag

turn

equal and opposite revelations -

so the canadian secretary of defense

gave a talk to parliment

i don't want to hear about your psuedoscience

you're like a little fairy.butterfly

just flitting around.doing a little thing here

a little thing there

it insults my intelligence

when you talk about these things

nothing but the facts

TENSION.always.TENSION

- black and white video –

calming anger with energy from hands

free finally completely of a weight on my being.

cut ella enchanted strings

that's not true unfortunately

there's a higher puppet master

morgan okane

montana

italian sonnet

[It's too cold to wait for fate. If I recall - you exist outside of school? As it turns out, so do I and I would really like to get to know you as a person since I did such a shoddy job of it as a student. I'm out on a limb here : would you like to go out with me sometime? At any capacity, it will be worth my while.

Hope you have a good beginning

to the semester.

Stay warm]

premo uptown acoustic

123 what are we fighting 4

one man funk band.drunk bitches.santa hat attack.

you go girl - meaningless chant.pissing on her territory

.boogying.suddenly singing along.his eyes light up - i look away

holy shit

the obviously.latina who.seeing me.seems to doubt her place in this dude's crotch.

(spilling out)

I just want

o be

a ballerina.

(eyes wide.alight)

me too!

discharge.she disengages from expected role.

releases suave.swiveling hips.

shuffle.steps stilettoed toes.

and now i'm going to just improvise -- i don't give a fuck no more.

rooftop revelations

mimcry

angle of track

meets eye

last time

take me

try to take

this book

italian sonnet

found my footwork -

gliding.sliding socks across the floor

open studios-cody

by the water

night of art

too many zoos

dancing cut short

english sonnet

amy.hercules

rooftop revelations

crystallized intentions

please.one day

let me go home

turn to hold

.not as he is

but how he fuels

my dreams.

tim

stand up too fast

next to the island

direct hit.seam to edge

as the pain rings through my head

i hear :

you have forgotten

who you are

and so have

forgotten me

i see :

washington square park.fountain

you can either

run from it

or learn from it

- - i'm going back!

[prepare]

run over bridge

[ the scene ]

knock on the grey door

heart pounds in ears

he answers.pirouette.kind bar

in hand&mouth

- beat -

*chew.chew*

-gulp-

hello

[your turn]

(breathy.timid)

his eyes.his eyes.his eyes pour in

he considers

the foolish girl before

beckoning she enters

&sits across

the chair she settles down

beaming.dopey looking ‘round

at all the blessed things

his fingers touch

the desk.nod.the mouse&pad.my god.

right.she has to use her words

she turns

yearns

the bar disappears

in his lap a coffee cup

holds top&bottom

between fingers&thumb

.lucky cup.

- he sips -

the long drawn out

[so why am i here]

this is my

office hour

i know this

trips from lips

she stumbles through

how she has grown

into the poet he had sown

he stares.smirking.nods along

she reverts to verbal diarrhea

i am a

digital poet

-- return to

the age of

the scroll,

you know?

i’ve been

working on

the first big

section of my

e p i cp o e m

- nebulous –

it is

multimedia

i can put

everything

but the

kitchen sink

.it goes both ways.

how is your

dissertation?

oh you know –

you could spend

ten years working on this

there's a lot of

organizing index cards

getting frustrated.

reorganizing

yelling at myself

in the mirror

she blushes deep.

imagines

many better ways

to resolve

a man’s

frustrations

lacks the courage

to meet his gaze

unravels.exhausting

every phrase

searching.fruitless

any excuse to linger

longer

longing

she peeks up

a smiles plays

across perfect lips

his eyes

catch me

hold me

black holes

e x p a n d

into the blue

(TUnnel.visiON)

.i could

spend

eternity.

knees melt.

stomach sinks.

lean in to -

shake head

look down

.i'm reading dune.

.for whom?

.i keep my scroll on hand.

.a preacher's got

to preach

you understand.

no.no.no - all out - time to go

awkward fumble.collecting things

to the space beside his head

please,

i want to

know you

as a person

his eyes.his eyes.his eyes bore in :

yes

I got

your email

*gulp*nod.right.fated fact

electronic self-though bold-lacks tact

[The office environment never fails to make a mouse out of me. I respect that your time is precious but would you ever be free to get coffee and talk in the park?

Hope you have a beautiful day]

english sonnet

.leave all&take the thread of love.

graduation day.wake from a dream

absolute certainty pulses in each knee

.i am going to see you&you will see me.

after pomp&circumstance

celebrate in park with whom i dance

my knees tingle

my stomach drops

i look up.beyond

my heart stops

&there he is

t.shirt.bag slung

across broad chest

walking beside

long.haired brunette

they stop.pivot to face

each other

strong hands

hold her head

fingers run

through hair

i sink down

openly stare

my first HE

considers me

what's with

you?

i shake my head

shrug

focus

were you

rolling

something?

right --

he returns

to the task

at hand

i be

come

a pair

of eyes

they settle

on the other

side of Garibaldi

- liminal moment -

she steps away

phone poised

to shoot.

document

the moment

walking on four legs

doubled caned

wobbly legged

carl

crosses

the court

i rush to

greet him

heart catches

he stops

right before

the statue

carl!

i graduated

congratulations!

beaming down

at me

today he dons

a purple cap

- nyu alumni -

past his face

i sneak a peek

two perfect lips

spread wide

so i have

all these

tickets for

free snacks

would you

like any?

i catch.quick

a true.blue eye

burning up at me

.yearning.

they gave me

a whole bag

of snacks

i just need help

moving it

i shimmer

in his sight

my heart&soul

take flight

i strike

a funny pose

well then

let me see

if i can do

anything

about that

i strut toward

his stash

carl laughs

his blessed laugh

you go girl

i turn to him

snack bag

in hand

where would

you like this?

behind my bench

please

of course

my friend

task done

carl settles down

rests canes

beside him

smiles up

i return to

sit with the

best friend

i feel him

m o v e

stand up

to peek

above

beyond

the statue

know just

where his

eyes will

meet

eyes

bore in

pour in

his hand

raises

short wave

i am his reflection

he turns.returns

i melt into the ground

[only want to share]

.in this strange labourinth how shall i turne?

dark maze in ny hall of science

today's the day i get to lead

on all fours i use my scents

nose high i sniff each rugged wall

turn corner.corner.block

retrace last steps

another turn

this way

i see the light

my sister follows close

together.slide down a small ramp

(confusion)

this is not the return we recall

a small space with desks and tv sets

night vision.each monitors the maze

the adults surround

(sheepish)

you found

the wrong

way out.

go back

inside&

try again

[ fool ]

i never learn

here is my hand

love love love

It's such a relief

to type the word

That day in your cellar.lair

My heart&soul escaped its cage

To dance with yours.in thrumming air

Rejoicing.destined for this age

The fire that I saw.ablaze

Has hardened.froze in winter days

A new intensity resides.black holes

Poisoning blue eyes

my love I promise I will go

To the event of each horizon

To pull you back from your despair

the only question.ask yourself :

Do I dare? And do I dare?

I have loved you

Since I caught the flicker of your face

From just one glance I knew

With a certainty that's absolute

I balked.could not bring myself

To play out the same old story

Of just another college girl

Fucking someone for the glory

You are too precious to have&too precious to lose

This feeling's not what I would choose

Months after I had hoped you left me

I find my heart still drops

At every blonde that looks my way

my love.my heart full.stops

Patience is a virtue

I hope persistence is another

As I have yet to learn to wait

And in my haste I've laid to waste

A forbearing lover's subtleties

I know I have come on too strong

But in another time&place

I would have written you a song

One for every single day I love you

Eternity.let me number the days

First turn to me.i will count the ways

I want to be the one to woo

Write true words to make you swoon

In this life I am the sun& moon

you are golden.Orion

my warrior.my muse

Ground your pursuit of the Pleiades

Your journey brought you

to my land

.still lost.

I keep this mortal hope

I only want to hold your hand

It's Artemis from whom you flee

This time reverse your course

swim toward the shore.come home.to me

Not goaded by Apollo now

By my word.my arrow won't fly

With verse I weave&cast my net

Entangled.love.you will not die

I promise that I mean no harm

Only yearn for refuge

in your arms

Please

hold me [ close ]&let me linger

You are the emptiness

between each finger

The space between my tongue&roof

Put your faith in destiny :

fear is dead

LOVE is the only truth

I pledge allegiance to your heart

Come place yours beside mine

will you let me write you poetry?

please.please.please

this time

say

yes

Let’s collaborate!

We inspire each other.