going backwards ain’t how growin’ goes

blue grass blew up under there, landed there, over there
you see, look here bled blue on this over here
so they sang over there, banjo’d blues ‘round those mountains
got a banjo too, but no bluegrass livin’ in these olive eyes
listen here, do you hear the weary sky humming da blues
below her womb, flesh ‘n bone spawning bitter gods
swelling wellsprings of madness
manic rivers drying, warm water shattering man-walls
cause he be screwing the planet ‘n mother earth be pissed

don’t we know, going backwards ain’t how growing goes

great grandpapa’s mighty oak just felled by climbing fire
man ‘n his man-guns knocking things ‘neath blue-blue sky
no seed sown with lead, no gilded heart embraces love 
listen here, do you hear the weary sky, how she hums da blues
she be blue, oh, so blue hummin’ above —
this mankind of ours screeching and scratching below

don’t we know, going backwards ain’t how growing goes


this piece inspired by a newly black-topped parking lot
here’s to looking up at the sky – still blue – still lovely
am:)

Recycling Experience

WE’RE NOT RUDE
WE’RE BUSY
PLEASE LET US DO OUR JOB

rubber-pink-finger points
cans, bottles—here
Gatorade empties rifled away—NO money for these

push the hair strands from your blue eyes
from your tee with the rainbow cat

rubber-pink-finger fires the final bottle
thank you, I smile
your lips don’t shift

more customers enter, I exit
with one 20—and two questions
do you own a rainbow cat?
do your blue eyes brighten when you smile?

hope you’re all managing the humidity
am:)

Missing Knuckles

I am thrilled my CNF piece, “Missing Knuckles,” was selected to be part of the amazing anthology, Death Lifespan Vol. 12, published by PURE SLUSH, independent publishers since 2010.

“I was twelve the year I noticed her missing knuckles. My perfect mother was missing the section of her pinky where there would have been ligaments, bone and a knuckle. Her right pinky was noticeably shorter than its left counterpart. And the finger with the diamond I sometimes lost my eyes in, though normal in length, was also missing a knuckle. Mom’s ring finger could only bend using the knuckle closest to the palm of her hand.

What other secrets did my mother have? What else hadn’t I noticed? She laughed when I accused her of not coming clean sooner and was surprised I hadn’t noticed before.”
excerpt from Missing Knuckles

PURE SLUSH has put together an entire LIFEspan series. These remarkable anthologies are worth checking out, and it’s always wonderful to support our independent publishers.

Thank you,
am:)
I hope you’re all managing the heat.

Grand Opening

decades through the doors
truckin’ up the steps
pushin’ at the walls

like floppin’ fishes
land-slappin’ the earth
swimmin’ up a universe

that in the end — always wins

drove by this shiny building with a sign that’s seen better pay periods –
an ironic image in the saddest way possible
after a brief photo moment, words rolled from my penny pencil

Sometimes the cold tries very hard

to bore into the underbelly of our hearts.

When trying to imagine the light
this grey time of year can envelop us
in its blue without shadow

To taste the sun on our bones
we must always be willing to barrel down the glassy peaks —
ice be damned!

(image courtesy of some screensaver thing somewhere)

– this morning I was thinking about the ice dark outside my studio window and these words found their way into my cold dang fingers – this is my winter desktop every year – it changes along with the seasons

I hope you’re all managing well.
am:)

elf not on a shelf

I re-post all my little holiday drawings and illustrations as we race ever closer to Christmas morn!

unused card

“Winter Wonderland” by Terry Redlin

This image sits on the shelf of my bedroom closet where I see it every morning and remember…

Other than this greeting card, I was unaware of Mr Redlin’s expansive body of work or that- “During the 1990s he was frequently named “America’s most popular artist” in annual gallery surveys conducted by U.S. Art magazine.”

Today while writing this homage, I was moved to write Mr. Redlin to thank him. I learned he passed away in 2016.

a mother’s pride

thanks to people’s generosity, max’s friend has a round trip ticket for the holidays
top left (Christmas 2017, max’s beautiful sister Caroline holding Mojo the wiener dog and to the right – max)

bottom right (max’s 2017 high school graduation snap)

a ‘Primarily Red’ turquoise hairband

Thrilled to have my painting ‘hairband’ displayed along with other beautiful works as part of Emerge Gallery’s Primar(il)y Red Exhibit!
(also honored to have ‘hairband’ (in upper right above) featured in announcement)
It goes without saying, if you’re ever near Saugerties, NY – visit. Both Emerge and Saugerties are enchanting. You won’t be disappointed😘

absolutely brilliant

well, this about ends my kiddie photo phase – it’s back to school 😘
I wish all children much educational success