Five Above

Detail of above work:

Do You Swear?

Do you swear?
To tell the truth
The whole truth
Nothing but the truth
So help you god

Our first leader
George Washington
Chopped down a cherry tree
And when he was asked
He couldn't tell a lie
He said he did it
I am supposed to use that as an example
Of a great leader's character
To never tell a lie
Yet he chopped down the cherry tree
A source of food
For no reason

No reason was ever given
Just that he couldn't lie
So he admitted doing it
Why?
He didn't like cherries?
What's not to like about cherries?
I think it was the first sign of aggression
He let it out by attacking the environment
He just didn't lie about it

Now when out modern leaders
Do their version of chopping down the cherry tree
They just lie
People know they chopped down the cherry tree

Out modern leaders respond
There was never a tree there

It's established there was a tree
They knew nothing about it

They then give their possible scenarios
The tree must have fallen over by itself
Maybe due to a powerful wind

When evidence of wood chips are found
Where the tree used to be
They respond
We have to do something about those pesky beavers

They are informed that all the beavers have died
Suddenly a boy scout is arrested
Said to have been on drugs
Searching his room
It is reported he listened to music about Satan

Notes were found, scribbled
On hundreds of girl-scout cookie boxes
From the girl-scout who sold him the cookies

The notes were
Rejections of his pleas
For her to be his cookie

It is reported we have caught
The Terrorist

After hearing this on the news
I am supposed to feel relieved
The problem has been solved
The guilty have been caught
And will be punished

The next day
Another tree is found missing

Do you swear?
To tell the truth
The whole truth
Nothing but the truth
So help you god


-Paul Richmond
From "...Ready or Not - Living in the Break Down Lane"

After August

Detail of the above work:


-by Stephanie Gerolimatos

From Jim:
"I just got to browse through Stephanie's work for images to display here, and I was inspired and excited again by the coolness of what she has made. Go visit her website yourself to see more."

Aren't You Interested?

He said Hi
She said try someone else
He said my name is Love
She said I have heard it before
He said this time it is real
She said I heard that before too
He said I know you're the one
She said for what
He said for walking into sunsets
She said it feels like it's going to rain
He said I have an umbrella
She said it's not big enough for both of us
He said I'll use it to cover you
She said I don't want to feel guilty
He said it was nice talking to you
She said what's the matter
Aren't you interested?


-Paul Richmond
from his book "Ready or Not - Living in the Break Down Lane"

Introducing: Paul Richmond

Yesterday, I went to read some poems at the Florence Poets Society's annual poetry festival. I was nervous but think it went well. There was this guy listening at the back, and my friend Brett waved to him and said hi and told me that the guy was a juggler.

It turns out he is also a poet. We said hi and traded books of poetry after the festival. I went home and read his book that night and was impressed. What I liked most about his writing was the genuineness and realness. I could tell that there was a unique human mind at work, and I think that's important in art.

He agreed to let me put some poems on here.

Links:
Human Error Publishing - His website
A book of his poetry on Lulu.com