i had plans for us, san francisco. i had plans

i had plans for us.  we were young.  but you held my name on your salivating tongue - we were naked SHIT i used to have plans.  before the sun rose over the wrong side of my island and my skin grew weak -  i was fighting for someone to pay attention to my agonizing yell when death came through the living room asking "who knows this boy?" * a moment * "prove it! the face-book-onlookers said as we held our ground- scared to go home - scared to stay - scared to be scared - oh how young we were san francisco diego antonio miguel (i always hated your name) - now i love it - what's left of it - of you - of us -  of (mostly) you - and your freakin-neat boots

- always will  .  goodbye

Photo by Eileen O'Malley.  Words by Dustin Whitehead.

try it, native spy

tongue go click and camel go
light face - hidden yellow
dance! sand - across earths bowl
you are cereal without a soul

i found you once when left alone
spirits honor confidence hone
i try to be a porcupine
dinner dessert and purple wine

stains on my t-shirt
under dressed
i forget to kill
yet you confessed

so i wash my quills and stomp my feet
making music cleanly beat

Photo by Falashay Pearson.  Words by Dustin Whitehead.

golf course and sky beam

paintball chase down episode magic feet forward mouse keeper sleep dream and do it again see who follows

not me this time

Photo by Rachel Broaddus.  Words by Dustin Whitehead.

I wish I may, I wish I might

She was born
a fated Princess,
borrowed from the fables.

Skin-
the color of fallen snow
Lips-
as red as blood

wearing a
cracked
glass
slipper
shoe
stolen
once upon a time
too soon.

She stepped on the cracks of the sidewalk.
It wouldn't break her Mother's back

She remembered a time- before
beloved
bedtime stories
became
never ending nightmares.

When fairy tales
of fancy
filled her
fantasies,
and Happily Ever Afters
were sealed with a kiss-

And when the clock struck,
her world became a pumpkin.
The apple was poisoned.
There was no prince.

Cinderella
had dressed in yellow-
she made a mistake and kissed a snake.

The London Bridge
came falling down
and said farewell
to her Fair Lady.

Sleeping Beauty
was left to slumber
leaving Bambi-

Motherless.

And so,
life was left
in the color of concrete
and
in the safety of cracks.

Soon
shades of cold
confined her
castle.
She
sacrificed
sorrow-
silently
swallowing
secret
tears.

The only type that
stain
and scar
and sweep away
sweet dreams.

I wished upon
a twinkled star
to be her granted wish.
I asked the storytellers
to make Me her
Fairy Godmother-

All I ever wanted
was to give her
a magic wand.

Photo by Nadia Hassler.  Words by Sarah Spatz.

Big Ass Stick

I try to make you appear as real as possible,
the breath and simpleness mostly.
You were better to me than I was to you.
There is a reason why loyalty is prescribed to friendship,
for the sadness of me was lapped away by your panting breath
and need to be close.
You were better to me than I was to you.
As the black cascades over your eyes,
and I watch the tail end of our friendship fade,
I play catch in my mind with your memories.
Throwing out into the depths of my mind
and brining back all your wagging tales and stories---------...................

'That's a big ass stick, boy'
'Thank you,' you said,
With your eyes,
For dogs don't speak well with giant ass sticks in their mouths.
'Do you think I'll ever have someone as loyal as you, boy?'
'I hope so,' you said,
'and if not, I'll be here as long as I can be.'
Thank you, boy,' I said.'Now give me that big ass stick.'
You dropped dropped dropped it at my feet.
Over and again,
I wonder why you were better to me than I was to you.

Painting by Mary Martin.  Words by Jordan Lane Shappell.