Saturday, December 17, 2011

Poetry Break

Things to do when grief is concerned

1.       Collect and stare at photographs of him until you can retrace every curve and bend of his face with eyes closed. Even if you have mastered this skill repeat daily.



2.       Don’t buy a headstone for the grave. Procrastinate and ignore for as long as possible.  Engraved stone is much too hard and cold. Remember the softness and warmth.



3.       Erase his cell phone number out of your contacts but not before you copy it down onto paper. Dream about tattooing it onto your chest in beautiful fancy script.



4.       Dust off old VHS tapes of his trips to Alaska just to see 1 minute of footage of him walking upright.



5.       Get pregnant with a man child ASAP before death creeps and overtakes the entire plan. Pray the baby looks and acts like him. Give the child his middle name.



6.       Wear his size 4X sweaters around the house. Never wash it. Swim in the ocean of fabric. Imagine he is at the shore waiting for you.



7.       Make an appointment to have your head checked. Explain to the doctor that it feels like your right arm is missing. Apply for disability.



8.       Roll your eyes in disbelief when you hear someone say God answers all prayers. You have proof to dispute this. You prayed over him for 7 days straight no sleep and lack of food couldn’t stop you. You are skeptical.



9.       Feel bad and guilty about #8. Your daddy was a sanctified, Holy Ghost preaching pastor and a praying man.



10.   Prepare to live the rest of your days wrestling grief. The end is just the beginning.

-Lady Terror (2011)



Revolution means change
It's coming
Bear Down

Sharpen yo knives

Kiss yo babies

Grit yo teeth

Oil yo face with Vaseline

Braid yo hair

Gather stones and wood

Hide clean water

Stare at old photographs

Stretch yo limbs

Wear long sleeves

Remove jewerly

Say yo last prayers

Detox yo body

Stop lying

Research the facts

Smile at yo enemies

Reevaluate yo friends

Think quick on feet

Readjust yo thinking

It's coming

Yo!

Its already here

-Lady Terror

























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Artist Statement

I create art for the ones who lost their voice a long time ago. I believe that impromptu spectacles can bring awareness to social justice issues that paralyze our communities. Lady Terror examines the relationship between public space and performance space and also explores ranting as a medium to address social issues and as a tool to empower communities. My art is local and neighborhood specific in its execution but global in its ideas around poverty, injustice and violence.