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By Misti Date: 2003 Aug 23 Comment on this Work [[2003.08.23.02.55.20580]] |
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you will have to keep plenty of black ink pens by the computer by the bed by the toilet by the kitchen sink in every purse or bag you carry you will have to lie to family and friends say you feel like it's your calling to be a massage therapist radiologist dental assistant literacy skills instructor for the mentally retarded you will have to say all of this while slaving away at a job you hate and barely tolerate talking on the phone for ten hours straight or upselling fountain cokes and candy bars in a convenience store you will have to keep the escape hatch loosely latched at all times there will never be a better job but maybe a better paycheck to spend on black ink pens and poetry paperbacks by chicks like Nicole Blackman and Iris Berry at your favorite used bookstore you will have to learn the local poetry scene read your most bone baring poems in bad lighting to jaded strangers who can write seven circles of hell around you and then some, baby you will have to read your poems even when your voice wavers and your stomach turns and your hands shake you will need the validation and attention you will need to know how badly you suck you will have to fuck a lot if you want to be a poet the best poets are the best fucks not necessarily some poets may suck in bed but they write like they don't you will have to eat a lot of pussy if that's your preference suck a lot of dick if that's more your flavor of choice stretch your voice like Silly Putty scream until you can hear it scream until the neighbors call the cops keep track of all the memories and ghosts they deserve your respect you will have to love a lot if you want to be a poet you will have to love people who do not love you back you will have to love life even if all life has given you is cigarette burn scars and bad credit you can't let it all keep you down for any length of time there are lotsa other mutants in your cheap shoes and they need to hear you sing their version of the blues loud and clear and honest and often. |