They never closed the curtains
She sat on a director’s chair
that read “antagonistic yet charismatic”.
He stood in front of her
wearing just a cowboy hat
and ballerina shoes.
She had a toy gun
pointed at him.
Their eyes were glued
by a childlike magnetism.
The scene made me uncomfortable
like talking to somebody with shaved eyebrows
and a mullet.
All of a sudden she shouted:
“Bang!”
And only after a perfectly executed pirouette
he dropped to the floor.
Dead.
-
At the fishmonger
I got lost in the cloudy eye of a sea bass.
I could see people with milk moustaches
at the blackjack table
waiting for their dose of dopamine,
while half naked ladies
were giving away flowers
and fully naked men
were giving neck massages
with a knife.
At the sound of a tinkling bell
they all rushed out to watch the sunrise
like Pavlov’s dogs
with their tongues out,
eager to taste the orange sky.
-
A photographic intermission
-
People watching in the City
Awkward bankers
running in slow-motion
to their voluntary exile,
a desk among the clouds
made of gimmicks
and relatable despair.
Constantly getting closer
to closing a deal
that’ll buy them distance
from their colleagues
from their neighbours
from their lives.
-
Leave the door open!
There he was
after a journey that took two sleeps
facing the family home.
The tree he used to climb with his brother
was still there,
staring at him,
waiting for him
to dive into his childhood.
Images started flashing through his memory
like quick-fire questions on a game show.
He answered with arrogance,
the arrogance of someone who’s got nothing,
nothing to lose.
Leaving the audience speechless
and himself breathless,
as the hands of loneliness
dragged his stomach to the ground.
Anguished, he did what he used to do
when his parents
switched off the lights for bedtime.
He yelled. Leave the door open!
-
Brain dump
Like a found object
with a lost soul
here I am,
covered in spiritual vomit
from an overdose of advertising.
Talking to a damaged fox
about freedom and art
on top of a pile of dirt
that looks like my conscience.
-
Gold tooth
A comb with a gold tooth
walks into a bar
where a bald man
painting war pictures for drinks
tells stories of chaos
and ambition.
People dressed in chess outfits
talk about feelings and vibrations
in a collaborative effort
to capture what’s not there,
the missing element
that keeps curious minds curious
and unsatisfied.
-
Tuesday
I opened the fridge
and I saw half an avocado
dancing on a pizza
surrounded by a family of broccoli
in an orgy
being watched by a tiny Martian whore
sucking on martinis
while getting her toes sucked
by the lady on the banana sticker.
-
A photographic intermission
-
On the tube
She slowly walked in
and chose to stand.
Arms crossed,
impeccably dressed.
The left hand clenched
in a fist,
a pack of kleenex in it.
The right hand free
to reach for the eyes,
red
yet peaceful.
Staring into the void,
or the future.
Daydreaming
of what could have been
with an expression
that rarely graces the face of adults.
I was jealous.
-
An unconditioned reflex
The uncontrollable nature of attraction
fascinates me
like blushing,
lighting my face red
to match the hint of polish on your toes
peeking from beneath
the sheer transparency
of black pantyhose.
-
My toddler self and me
I dreamt of having a beer
with my toddler self.
He was little
but his hands weren’t.
Looked funny,
until he slapped me.
He then hugged me
and cried in my ear:
who are you?
-
An example of powerful art
A scream.
Silent,
yet so loud
that can still be heard today,
within us.
-
Has this always been here?
I drank a coffee to wake up my body,
it woke my consciousness instead.
My fears and my dreams started chasing each other
like a dog chases its tail.
Thoughts started spinning
so much
my head started spinning, too.
Everything made sense
and nothing did.
I spent the morning staring at the freckle on my left hand,
between the thumb and the index finger,
wondering,
“Has this always been here?”
-
A photographic intermission
-
Post box, chicken pox
Post box,
chicken pox,
life’s an itch
that begs a scratch.
Patience is a virtue,
impatience too.
I don’t mind queuing
but not for the loo.
-
Outside the restaurant
They kissed
like their life depended on it,
then looked at each other
and cried.
They both knew it was over.
-
Genesis of the siren wail
Guided by vengeance
humans set out to murder
the temptresses of the sea,
not before torturing them,
turning those once alluring voices
into repetitive laments
impossible to ignore.
There and then
a thought was born:
mimic their last cry
for nobler causes.
To deliver warning, hope,
and wonder to children’s eyes.
-
Classics
Dog-eared friends
taking us for walks in the mind,
to relieve needs of the soul.
-
First date
Two strangers
looking at each other,
figuring out
how to furnish
the space between them.
-
A photographic intermission
-
Lasagna lust
We know it’s going to burn
but we dive straight in it anyway,
no hesitation.
We simply can’t resist it.
We are inherently
attracted to heat,
to fire,
to hell.
Maybe it’s just gravity.
Worth it or not,
that’s not the matter.
Urgency is the matter
and urgency is living.
-
New dad statement
I’m so happy
I can’t stop smiling.
So happy that
if someone kicked me in the balls
I’d still smile.
-
About Simon
Simon's never smoked.
But he always carries a lighter with him,
just in case someone asks for it.
He dreads the idea
of not being able to save the day.
Really, he can’t bear the disappointment
in people’s faces.
-
Pigeons
Technology took their messenger jobs,
unemployment their dignity.
No ill intent in their erratic ways,
nor in where they spend a penny.
Just lack of direction
and purpose.
-
Practical romance
Swipe right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Match.
Repeat.
-
A photographic intermission
-
Dear runaway sock
Courageous soul,
curious mind,
free spirit
who sacrificed security
for adventure.
You left a partner,
a home,
a job.
For light,
air,
freedom.
Thanks for everything.
I hope you find
what you’re after.
-
Flossing
A game of hide-and-seek
taking place in my mouth
rewards me
with an unexpected
moment of mindfulness.
-
Fake plant litany
I wish I was real
so I could drink,
feel the sun,
grow.
I wish I was real
so I could change outfit,
blossom,
clean the air.
I wish I was real
so I could be vulnerable
to bugs,
darkness,
negligence.
I wish I was real
so I could Live.
I wish I was real
so I could die.
-
The sacrifice of the onion
Exposed and motionless,
death shines above its head.
Facing destiny
with the kind of dignity
that belongs to a stoic.
The blade drops.
One becomes two
then rat-a-tat-tat
rat-a-tat-tat
rat-a-tat-tat.
Over and over.
Silence.
A crime scene
never looked so peaceful.
The slayer’s weeping,
that’s what it’s all about.
-
Morning run
Trading an hour of sleep
and less than a pound of sweat
for endorphins,
agility
and redemption.
Plus something to brag about
until noon.
-
A photographic intermission
-
Winds
Like Greek gods
we can rule the winds.
Sometimes.
Winds that can be
fast and cold,
or slow and warm.
Producing sound,
or olfactory experiences.
Or both,
poking the nose
and poking the ear.
Their invisible presence
can be unpredictable, too.
Out of our control.
Can fill a room
with laughter
or fear.
-
Confessions of a clothes chair
I have no idea
how I ended up like this.
Yes, act of service
is my love language,
but there’s a limit.
I can’t see shit
and mostly
I can’t breathe!
I really wish I was a glass,
or a mug.
Hugged,
kissed,
bathed.
Daily.
Carried around,
treated with care,
respected.
Seen.
-
Green tea
Stillness
of the body
as I watch my thoughts
playing with each other
to the rhythm
of a newfound
muted heart.
-
Autumn
As we get dressed
trees get naked,
in style.
They put their best costume on
then slowly and gently strip before us.
Clearly,
burlesque was invented
by Mother Nature.
-
Brothers and sisters
Human beings
connected
by memories
of a time
they can’t remember.
-
A photographic intermission
-
Tears
When they appear
with violence
like a storm
they clear the air.
For a moment
silence takes over
and I feel
like a little boy again.
-
Music
It brings back
places,
people,
moods
and moments.
The closest we’ve got
to time travel.
-
Yawns
Daily reminders
that we can all become ugly,
at any point,
unexpectedly.
-
3am
One hour,
two faces:
tangling anxiety
or endless possibilities.
Like a coin toss
the outcome is always random.
Embrace it.
-
The life of a disposable coffee cup
(as told by a disposable coffee cup)
Standing
on top of each other,
waiting.
Until a warm touch
fills you with hope.
Hands,
heat,
hands, different hands.
Lips.
Kisses,
kisses,
kisses,
more kisses.
And then you’re empty,
alone
and cold.
Forever.