[Applause] so let me give it up to this sister who
so let me give it up to this sister who
so let me give it up to this sister who how many of you have somebody in your
how many of you have somebody in your
how many of you have somebody in your life or know people that as soon as they
life or know people that as soon as they
life or know people that as soon as they get up in the morning and then I don’t
get up in the morning and then I don’t
get up in the morning and then I don’t know 12 14 16 hours later are still
know 12 14 16 hours later are still
know 12 14 16 hours later are still going how many of you that’s his sister
going how many of you that’s his sister
going how many of you that’s his sister were you like I didn’t I’m not doing
were you like I didn’t I’m not doing
were you like I didn’t I’m not doing enough with my life so thank you so I
enough with my life so thank you so I
enough with my life so thank you so I want to talk about your work is that
want to talk about your work is that
want to talk about your work is that cool that’s wonderful I’m excited it’s
cool that’s wonderful I’m excited it’s
cool that’s wonderful I’m excited it’s been nice to get to know you
been nice to get to know you
been nice to get to know you thank you I knew to thank your sister so
thank you I knew to thank your sister so
thank you I knew to thank your sister so we’re actually not gonna talk about your
we’re actually not gonna talk about your
we’re actually not gonna talk about your exhibit but I think everybody should go
exhibit but I think everybody should go
exhibit but I think everybody should go and see the work in that exhibit because
and see the work in that exhibit because
and see the work in that exhibit because what you did and for all of us is that
what you did and for all of us is that
what you did and for all of us is that Latoya Ruby Frazier was inspired by you
Latoya Ruby Frazier was inspired by you
Latoya Ruby Frazier was inspired by you she had you on her mind for two years
she had you on her mind for two years
she had you on her mind for two years right to do this work but I want to go
right to do this work but I want to go
right to do this work but I want to go back a little bit in time and talk about
back a little bit in time and talk about
back a little bit in time and talk about what you were doing in jail yeah I was
what you were doing in jail yeah I was
what you were doing in jail yeah I was in the Allegheny County Jail for five
in the Allegheny County Jail for five
in the Allegheny County Jail for five years and that came about because I went
years and that came about because I went
years and that came about because I went to a community meeting in Homewood and
to a community meeting in Homewood and
to a community meeting in Homewood and Homewood is a neighborhood in the city
Homewood is a neighborhood in the city
Homewood is a neighborhood in the city of Pittsburgh it’s about five miles east
of Pittsburgh it’s about five miles east
of Pittsburgh it’s about five miles east of the city center it’s a low-income
of the city center it’s a low-income
of the city center it’s a low-income predominantly black neighborhood that in
predominantly black neighborhood that in
predominantly black neighborhood that in the 1990s became gang infested with
the 1990s became gang infested with
the 1990s became gang infested with related violence and crime and that I
related violence and crime and that I
related violence and crime and that I had always admired the work of authors
had always admired the work of authors
had always admired the work of authors like Wally Liam and Sonia Sanchez and
like Wally Liam and Sonia Sanchez and
like Wally Liam and Sonia Sanchez and others who went into the prisons and
others who went into the prisons and
others who went into the prisons and taught creative writing so when I went
taught creative writing so when I went
taught creative writing so when I went to this community meeting and the
to this community meeting and the
to this community meeting and the community was saying we need jobs we
community was saying we need jobs we
community was saying we need jobs we need safety we need police protection
need safety we need police protection
need safety we need police protection we need income opportunity
we need income opportunity
we need income opportunity a young man who was about 25 I’d say
a young man who was about 25 I’d say
a young man who was about 25 I’d say stood up and said I can’t get a job it’s
stood up and said I can’t get a job it’s
stood up and said I can’t get a job it’s 25 I’m a convicted felon and anytime I
25 I’m a convicted felon and anytime I
25 I’m a convicted felon and anytime I go to look for a job I have to check
go to look for a job I have to check
go to look for a job I have to check that box on the employment application
that box on the employment application
that box on the employment application my opportunities go away and I thought
my opportunities go away and I thought
my opportunities go away and I thought to myself but if you are self-employed
to myself but if you are self-employed
to myself but if you are self-employed you wouldn’t have to check a box and
you wouldn’t have to check a box and
you wouldn’t have to check a box and many writers are self-employed
many writers are self-employed
many writers are self-employed freelancers so I says okay I’m going to
freelancers so I says okay I’m going to
freelancers so I says okay I’m going to go down and see if I can teach creative
go down and see if I can teach creative
go down and see if I can teach creative writing at the Allegheny County Jail
yeah this isn’t an image of the bridge
yeah this isn’t an image of the bridge that goes from the Allegheny County
that goes from the Allegheny County
that goes from the Allegheny County Courthouse to where the jail the
Courthouse to where the jail the
Courthouse to where the jail the building where people have been housed
building where people have been housed
building where people have been housed in the jail for a century and my thought
in the jail for a century and my thought
in the jail for a century and my thought was flip this photograph and instead of
was flip this photograph and instead of
was flip this photograph and instead of going down into the jail how about
going down into the jail how about
going down into the jail how about taking the people who’ve been convicted
taking the people who’ve been convicted
taking the people who’ve been convicted and going up you know offering
and going up you know offering
and going up you know offering opportunities to improve to to have
opportunities to improve to to have
opportunities to improve to to have better lives to serve their time for
better lives to serve their time for
better lives to serve their time for whatever crimes that they did but when
whatever crimes that they did but when
whatever crimes that they did but when they come out what kind of people are
they come out what kind of people are
they come out what kind of people are they going to be so you know you have to
they going to be so you know you have to
they going to be so you know you have to make me a believer about perhaps others
make me a believer about perhaps others
make me a believer about perhaps others how many of you think that the creative
how many of you think that the creative
how many of you think that the creative arts can help reduce recidivism people
arts can help reduce recidivism people
arts can help reduce recidivism people returning back to prison just raise your
returning back to prison just raise your
returning back to prison just raise your hand all right
hand all right
hand all right there are a lot of moles that you
there are a lot of moles that you
there are a lot of moles that you planted in this class
so tell me what its what’s resonating in
so tell me what its what’s resonating in the community why do you think the
the community why do you think the
the community why do you think the creative arts can do that what they
creative arts can do that what they
creative arts can do that what they found is that when people who are
found is that when people who are
found is that when people who are incarcerated have arts programs
incarcerated have arts programs
incarcerated have arts programs available to them and especially
available to them and especially
available to them and especially creative writing they have to empathize
creative writing they have to empathize
creative writing they have to empathize and many people haven’t done that they
and many people haven’t done that they
and many people haven’t done that they committed the crimes they’ve stolen they
committed the crimes they’ve stolen they
committed the crimes they’ve stolen they probably whatever they’ve done because
probably whatever they’ve done because
probably whatever they’ve done because they weren’t really feeling for the
they weren’t really feeling for the
they weren’t really feeling for the other people but when you write a story
other people but when you write a story
other people but when you write a story and that characters are going to come
and that characters are going to come
and that characters are going to come true
true
true you’ve got to step into those other
you’ve got to step into those other
you’ve got to step into those other characters and understand what’s what
characters and understand what’s what
characters and understand what’s what they’re like which is an aspect of
they’re like which is an aspect of
they’re like which is an aspect of penance which is the root of the word
penance which is the root of the word
penance which is the root of the word penitentiary is that you understand what
penitentiary is that you understand what
penitentiary is that you understand what other people are going through and what
other people are going through and what
other people are going through and what you have done to them what you could do
you have done to them what you could do
you have done to them what you could do to them so as a result the state of
to them so as a result the state of
to them so as a result the state of California has done the research as have
California has done the research as have
California has done the research as have other states and found that over
other states and found that over
other states and found that over seven-year period people who committed
seven-year period people who committed
seven-year period people who committed who were released from jail did not come
who were released from jail did not come
who were released from jail did not come back and the rate of recidivism where
back and the rate of recidivism where
back and the rate of recidivism where people do come back got lower and lower
people do come back got lower and lower
people do come back got lower and lower the longer these people were out so in
the longer these people were out so in
the longer these people were out so in the land of the free we have one of the
the land of the free we have one of the
the land of the free we have one of the largest population of prisoners in the
largest population of prisoners in the
largest population of prisoners in the world yeah and not just looking at that
world yeah and not just looking at that
world yeah and not just looking at that number but you also talk about this idea
number but you also talk about this idea
number but you also talk about this idea about the collateral damage of
about the collateral damage of
about the collateral damage of incarceration can you say more about
incarceration can you say more about
incarceration can you say more about that right this picture says it all it’s
that right this picture says it all it’s
that right this picture says it all it’s a not just that a man or a woman goes to
a not just that a man or a woman goes to
a not just that a man or a woman goes to jail or prison their children their
jail or prison their children their
jail or prison their children their families even the community is affected
families even the community is affected
families even the community is affected and although we might think while the
and although we might think while the
and although we might think while the community is better off with them locked
community is better off with them locked
community is better off with them locked up the community also suffers a loss the
up the community also suffers a loss the
up the community also suffers a loss the family suffers a loss and what they
family suffers a loss and what they
family suffers a loss and what they found
found
found is the children of people who’ve been
is the children of people who’ve been
is the children of people who’ve been incarcerated have a higher likelihood of
incarcerated have a higher likelihood of
incarcerated have a higher likelihood of becoming offenders as an adult than the
becoming offenders as an adult than the
becoming offenders as an adult than the regular population
regular population
regular population what kind of genres of writing did you
what kind of genres of writing did you
what kind of genres of writing did you have in prison because I I see in you
have in prison because I I see in you
have in prison because I I see in you know some of the slides that are some
know some of the slides that are some
know some of the slides that are some makeup or maîtrise so you did some work
makeup or maîtrise so you did some work
makeup or maîtrise so you did some work in Westinghouse High School you talked
in Westinghouse High School you talked
in Westinghouse High School you talked about some of these personal what kind
about some of these personal what kind
about some of these personal what kind of work did you do I know you were
of work did you do I know you were
of work did you do I know you were talking about some of the works of the
talking about some of the works of the
talking about some of the works of the pieces that you wrote yeah or not just
pieces that you wrote yeah or not just
pieces that you wrote yeah or not just you wrote with the community of writers
you wrote with the community of writers
you wrote with the community of writers right but when I went in and bamm-bamm
right but when I went in and bamm-bamm
right but when I went in and bamm-bamm let me end my goal is to teach poetry
let me end my goal is to teach poetry
let me end my goal is to teach poetry fiction and say a memoir and by learning
fiction and say a memoir and by learning
fiction and say a memoir and by learning the rules conforming to the rules
the rules conforming to the rules
the rules conforming to the rules required of writing according to those
required of writing according to those
required of writing according to those different styles their reward would be
different styles their reward would be
different styles their reward would be that they would be published and the
that they would be published and the
that they would be published and the very first book that we did when I first
very first book that we did when I first
very first book that we did when I first went to the jail I refused to work with
went to the jail I refused to work with
went to the jail I refused to work with the men I’d seen several documentaries
the men I’d seen several documentaries
the men I’d seen several documentaries and scared the daylights out of me
and scared the daylights out of me
and scared the daylights out of me around so and then I get in there and
around so and then I get in there and
around so and then I get in there and the guys are all over the place walking
the guys are all over the place walking
the guys are all over the place walking through the halls and everything smiling
through the halls and everything smiling
through the halls and everything smiling how you doing miss I knew some of them
so one guy came in my class one day and
so one guy came in my class one day and said I know where you live
said I know where you live
said I know where you live you’re across the street from my cousin
you’re across the street from my cousin
you’re across the street from my cousin yeah so um so in this class with the
yeah so um so in this class with the
yeah so um so in this class with the ladies they were always willing but one
ladies they were always willing but one
ladies they were always willing but one day after I’ve been teaching the class
day after I’ve been teaching the class
day after I’ve been teaching the class for about four weeks they came in and
for about four weeks they came in and
for about four weeks they came in and they all came in down slumped he says
they all came in down slumped he says
they all came in down slumped he says what’s going on and they said miss
what’s going on and they said miss
what’s going on and they said miss Sandra I was gonna want to read anything
Sandra I was gonna want to read anything
Sandra I was gonna want to read anything we have to write and so we had to have a
we have to write and so we had to have a
we have to write and so we had to have a conversation first was to get over this
conversation first was to get over this
conversation first was to get over this concept that when you write it’s going
concept that when you write it’s going
concept that when you write it’s going to be right the first time you write it
to be right the first time you write it
to be right the first time you write it so we had to clear up the notion that
so we had to clear up the notion that
so we had to clear up the notion that everybody’s first draft is crappy Toni
everybody’s first draft is crappy Toni
everybody’s first draft is crappy Toni Morrison no ever you know it’s crappy
Morrison no ever you know it’s crappy
Morrison no ever you know it’s crappy the second was the concept that have you
the second was the concept that have you
the second was the concept that have you ever heard that a diamond is just a
ever heard that a diamond is just a
ever heard that a diamond is just a chunk of coal that made good under
chunk of coal that made good under
chunk of coal that made good under pressure and so as they’re sitting there
pressure and so as they’re sitting there
pressure and so as they’re sitting there thinking of themselves perhaps as chunks
thinking of themselves perhaps as chunks
thinking of themselves perhaps as chunks of coal I says yeah but under pressure
of coal I says yeah but under pressure
of coal I says yeah but under pressure that coal can become a diamond and one
that coal can become a diamond and one
that coal can become a diamond and one of the lady says you know what miss
of the lady says you know what miss
of the lady says you know what miss Sandra
Sandra
Sandra we’re diamonds in the rough that’s gonna
we’re diamonds in the rough that’s gonna
we’re diamonds in the rough that’s gonna be the name of our book and everything
be the name of our book and everything
be the name of our book and everything sales from then on we once I started
sales from then on we once I started
sales from then on we once I started working with the guys you know they had
working with the guys you know they had
working with the guys you know they had to meet strict requirements they would
to meet strict requirements they would
to meet strict requirements they would not be published just because they were
not be published just because they were
not be published just because they were in the class we’ve all had experiences
in the class we’ve all had experiences
in the class we’ve all had experiences like that in high school
like that in high school
like that in high school no there were you had to write polish
no there were you had to write polish
no there were you had to write polish edit proofread we handled it just as
edit proofread we handled it just as
edit proofread we handled it just as though they were going to submit that
though they were going to submit that
though they were going to submit that work to The New Yorker or the Missouri
work to The New Yorker or the Missouri
work to The New Yorker or the Missouri review or the Atlantic they earned their
review or the Atlantic they earned their
review or the Atlantic they earned their right to be in there which also was
right to be in there which also was
right to be in there which also was stimulating part of this involves the
stimulating part of this involves the
stimulating part of this involves the fact of what happened
fact of what happened
fact of what happened when people are intellectually
when people are intellectually
when people are intellectually stimulated which was one of the amazing
stimulated which was one of the amazing
stimulated which was one of the amazing things I found with when I was started
things I found with when I was started
things I found with when I was started working with incarcerated populations
working with incarcerated populations
working with incarcerated populations the first time was with young men who
the first time was with young men who
the first time was with young men who were juveniles who were sentenced to the
were juveniles who were sentenced to the
were juveniles who were sentenced to the Abraxas Academy in lieu of being sent to
Abraxas Academy in lieu of being sent to
Abraxas Academy in lieu of being sent to a corrections Detention Center and not
a corrections Detention Center and not
a corrections Detention Center and not going there with these young criminals
going there with these young criminals
going there with these young criminals and they’re marvelous they’re marvelous
and they’re marvelous they’re marvelous
and they’re marvelous they’re marvelous I was teaching them photography and they
I was teaching them photography and they
I was teaching them photography and they were so eager to do the creative
were so eager to do the creative
were so eager to do the creative problem-solving saying let’s figure out
problem-solving saying let’s figure out
problem-solving saying let’s figure out how we light this let’s figure out how
how we light this let’s figure out how
how we light this let’s figure out how we work with this chemistry let’s figure
we work with this chemistry let’s figure
we work with this chemistry let’s figure out how we exposed these cameras and
out how we exposed these cameras and
out how we exposed these cameras and that’s when I first realized it’s the
that’s when I first realized it’s the
that’s when I first realized it’s the intellectual stimulation it’s the
intellectual stimulation it’s the
intellectual stimulation it’s the creative problem-solving positively
creative problem-solving positively
creative problem-solving positively applied that makes a difference then I
applied that makes a difference then I
applied that makes a difference then I went on to Westinghouse which was in
went on to Westinghouse which was in
went on to Westinghouse which was in chaos at that time Westinghouse High
chaos at that time Westinghouse High
chaos at that time Westinghouse High School in Homewood at least one student
School in Homewood at least one student
School in Homewood at least one student in my class was a gang member I knew he
in my class was a gang member I knew he
in my class was a gang member I knew he was and he was a leader he was
was and he was a leader he was
was and he was a leader he was belligerent
belligerent
belligerent he was tough but when I gave the class a
he was tough but when I gave the class a
he was tough but when I gave the class a word game challenge boggle he passed out
word game challenge boggle he passed out
word game challenge boggle he passed out dictionaries and says we’re gonna do
dictionaries and says we’re gonna do
dictionaries and says we’re gonna do this it was the intellectual challenge
this it was the intellectual challenge
this it was the intellectual challenge the intellectual stimulation of the same
the intellectual stimulation of the same
the intellectual stimulation of the same thing happened here and everybody
thing happened here and everybody
thing happened here and everybody listened to him when he said go get
listened to him when he said go get
listened to him when he said go get boggle yes oh yes a new superpower so if
boggle yes oh yes a new superpower so if
boggle yes oh yes a new superpower so if I want to finish this sentence as we
I want to finish this sentence as we
I want to finish this sentence as we kind of bring this to a close and then
kind of bring this to a close and then
kind of bring this to a close and then also connect this work to how this has
also connect this work to how this has
also connect this work to how this has manifested in the future with some of
manifested in the future with some of
manifested in the future with some of your students but if someone were to say
your students but if someone were to say
your students but if someone were to say why should my tax dollars go to pay for
why should my tax dollars go to pay for
why should my tax dollars go to pay for a criminal’s creative writing process or
a criminal’s creative writing process or
a criminal’s creative writing process or creative arts you would say because it
creative arts you would say because it
creative arts you would say because it makes the world a better place and a
makes the world a better place and a
makes the world a better place and a safer place the very reason you want
safer place the very reason you want
safer place the very reason you want these people in prison is so that
these people in prison is so that
these people in prison is so that society is safer but 95% of the people
society is safer but 95% of the people
society is safer but 95% of the people who go to prisons will be released one
who go to prisons will be released one
who go to prisons will be released one day
day
day and how do we want them to come out
and how do we want them to come out
and how do we want them to come out bitter angry criminal behavior
bitter angry criminal behavior
bitter angry criminal behavior reinforced by associations or do we want
reinforced by associations or do we want
reinforced by associations or do we want these people to come out with a sense of
these people to come out with a sense of
these people to come out with a sense of purpose and hope and maybe there’s
purpose and hope and maybe there’s
purpose and hope and maybe there’s something I can do their humanity has
something I can do their humanity has
something I can do their humanity has been maintained through empathy in the
been maintained through empathy in the
been maintained through empathy in the process of penance so what do we want
process of penance so what do we want
process of penance so what do we want our prisons to do and our jails to do
our prisons to do and our jails to do
our prisons to do and our jails to do what do we want them to build bridges to
what do we want them to build bridges to
what do we want them to build bridges to and here you have examples of how some
and here you have examples of how some
and here you have examples of how some of my students felt about the
of my students felt about the
of my students felt about the opportunities that they have
opportunities that they have
opportunities that they have thank you sister thank you for your work
[Music]
[Music] might we all be part of a lineage right
might we all be part of a lineage right
might we all be part of a lineage right we all are a part of a lineage of
we all are a part of a lineage of
we all are a part of a lineage of sharing our work and what does that mean
sharing our work and what does that mean
sharing our work and what does that mean and you did this work five or six years
and you did this work five or six years
and you did this work five or six years ago yes I at the end of I did I was in
ago yes I at the end of I did I was in
ago yes I at the end of I did I was in the jail from 2004 to 2010 at that point
the jail from 2004 to 2010 at that point
the jail from 2004 to 2010 at that point I gifted the program to Chatham
I gifted the program to Chatham
I gifted the program to Chatham University they were looking for an
University they were looking for an
University they were looking for an opportunity to get into Corrections I
opportunity to get into Corrections I
opportunity to get into Corrections I was leaving I had promised to go I
was leaving I had promised to go I
was leaving I had promised to go I promised to go to jail for five years
promised to go to jail for five years
promised to go to jail for five years they let me keep coming back coming back
they let me keep coming back coming back
they let me keep coming back coming back for five years
for five years
for five years Chatham has taken up the program their
Chatham has taken up the program their
Chatham has taken up the program their graduate writing program under Cheryl
graduate writing program under Cheryl
graduate writing program under Cheryl st. Germain has taken this up carried it
st. Germain has taken this up carried it
st. Germain has taken this up carried it forward and are doing a wonderful job
forward and are doing a wonderful job
forward and are doing a wonderful job and I hope that other others continue to
and I hope that other others continue to
and I hope that other others continue to do the same as inspired in the beginning
do the same as inspired in the beginning
do the same as inspired in the beginning by people like Wally Lamb and Sonia
by people like Wally Lamb and Sonia
by people like Wally Lamb and Sonia Sanchez and the other great writers
Sanchez and the other great writers
Sanchez and the other great writers beautiful so there is a lineage holder
beautiful so there is a lineage holder
beautiful so there is a lineage holder here of this work and that is Eric Boyd
here of this work and that is Eric Boyd
here of this work and that is Eric Boyd so I’m gonna step off the stage okay and
so I’m gonna step off the stage okay and
so I’m gonna step off the stage okay and why don’t you bring that brother forward
why don’t you bring that brother forward
why don’t you bring that brother forward to share his word gladly all right in
to share his word gladly all right in
to share his word gladly all right in fact Eric’s signature is on here the
fact Eric’s signature is on here the
fact Eric’s signature is on here the thank you for everything and Eric was
thank you for everything and Eric was
thank you for everything and Eric was one of my students and I’m endlessly
one of my students and I’m endlessly
one of my students and I’m endlessly proud of him as a talent and and what
proud of him as a talent and and what
proud of him as a talent and and what he’s doing with his work and this is the
he’s doing with his work and this is the
he’s doing with his work and this is the real treat
thank you
thank you [Music]
before I get started two things one I
before I get started two things one I know you gave her two rounds of applause
know you gave her two rounds of applause
know you gave her two rounds of applause hear me 1/2 a woman you gave her one and
hear me 1/2 a woman you gave her one and
hear me 1/2 a woman you gave her one and a half rounds of applause I I wouldn’t
a half rounds of applause I I wouldn’t
a half rounds of applause I I wouldn’t be here tonight
be here tonight
be here tonight whether on this stage or possibly in
whether on this stage or possibly in
whether on this stage or possibly in this situation at all
this situation at all
this situation at all if it weren’t for this woman so I’d
if it weren’t for this woman so I’d
if it weren’t for this woman so I’d really like another round of
and Eric Eric made it all worthwhile
and Eric Eric made it all worthwhile thank you today I’m going to share a
thank you today I’m going to share a
thank you today I’m going to share a well a truncated version of an excerpt
well a truncated version of an excerpt
well a truncated version of an excerpt of a novel that I’m starting so in the
of a novel that I’m starting so in the
of a novel that I’m starting so in the scheme of things that’s you know a drop
scheme of things that’s you know a drop
scheme of things that’s you know a drop but if any of you like the truncated
but if any of you like the truncated
but if any of you like the truncated version of the excerpt but there are
version of the excerpt but there are
version of the excerpt but there are full versions of that excerpt under your
full versions of that excerpt under your
full versions of that excerpt under your chairs if you haven’t seen them already
chairs if you haven’t seen them already
chairs if you haven’t seen them already and thank you to CDI printing for making
and thank you to CDI printing for making
and thank you to CDI printing for making them aka my mother who works there thank
them aka my mother who works there thank
them aka my mother who works there thank you mom
you mom
you mom [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
the red bridge motel I’m in a motel and
the red bridge motel I’m in a motel and Kansas City taking a shower which I’ve
Kansas City taking a shower which I’ve
Kansas City taking a shower which I’ve barely done since I started train
barely done since I started train
barely done since I started train hopping the manager I’ve been
hopping the manager I’ve been
hopping the manager I’ve been suspiciously but his idea of a single
suspiciously but his idea of a single
suspiciously but his idea of a single girl checking into a room is probably
girl checking into a room is probably
girl checking into a room is probably she’s somebody’s mistress or worse but
she’s somebody’s mistress or worse but
she’s somebody’s mistress or worse but still that’s better insane
still that’s better insane
still that’s better insane hi I’m Farah I’m basically a hobo and
hi I’m Farah I’m basically a hobo and
hi I’m Farah I’m basically a hobo and I’m getting a room to meet another girl
I’m getting a room to meet another girl
I’m getting a room to meet another girl tonight in the shower the water is so
tonight in the shower the water is so
tonight in the shower the water is so hot that the last few hundred miles melt
hot that the last few hundred miles melt
hot that the last few hundred miles melt off of me I sent in the tub tuck my
off of me I sent in the tub tuck my
off of me I sent in the tub tuck my knees up and rest my head letting the
knees up and rest my head letting the
knees up and rest my head letting the water run down my back I hope audrey
water run down my back I hope audrey
water run down my back I hope audrey comes but she probably won’t
comes but she probably won’t
comes but she probably won’t I started train hopping to save money
I started train hopping to save money
I started train hopping to save money for school I’d lost my job and heard a
for school I’d lost my job and heard a
for school I’d lost my job and heard a tip from some crust punk about picking
tip from some crust punk about picking
tip from some crust punk about picking weed in the West Coast in the summer I
weed in the West Coast in the summer I
weed in the West Coast in the summer I had just enough money for some decent
had just enough money for some decent
had just enough money for some decent boots to get started and bent
boots to get started and bent
boots to get started and bent panhandling until I reached California I
panhandling until I reached California I
panhandling until I reached California I began taking photos on my phone post him
began taking photos on my phone post him
began taking photos on my phone post him through Wi-Fi to a blog I started about
through Wi-Fi to a blog I started about
through Wi-Fi to a blog I started about the road a few people liked my posts now
the road a few people liked my posts now
the road a few people liked my posts now and then not many but Audrey was one of
and then not many but Audrey was one of
and then not many but Audrey was one of them she messaged me one day not
them she messaged me one day not
them she messaged me one day not pressing for any crazy details and while
pressing for any crazy details and while
pressing for any crazy details and while I was doing all this mostly we just
I was doing all this mostly we just
I was doing all this mostly we just talked about movies she’d never seen The
talked about movies she’d never seen The
talked about movies she’d never seen The Children’s Hour which was like
Children’s Hour which was like
Children’s Hour which was like unbelievable to me because it was this
unbelievable to me because it was this
unbelievable to me because it was this classic film starring Audrey Hepburn one
classic film starring Audrey Hepburn one
classic film starring Audrey Hepburn one of one of the first lesbian films that
of one of the first lesbian films that
of one of the first lesbian films that anyone admitted was about that and my
anyone admitted was about that and my
anyone admitted was about that and my Audrey was just as shocked I’d never
Audrey was just as shocked I’d never
Audrey was just as shocked I’d never seen Thelma and Louise but I mean Audrey
seen Thelma and Louise but I mean Audrey
seen Thelma and Louise but I mean Audrey was jealous of me for being out her dad
was jealous of me for being out her dad
was jealous of me for being out her dad was a bible-thumper who thought his
was a bible-thumper who thought his
was a bible-thumper who thought his daughter never had boyfriend because she
daughter never had boyfriend because she
daughter never had boyfriend because she because she was chaste I was jealous
because she was chaste I was jealous
because she was chaste I was jealous that Audrey has gained an arts degree in
that Audrey has gained an arts degree in
that Audrey has gained an arts degree in Missouri a state that I could actually
Missouri a state that I could actually
Missouri a state that I could actually stop him pretty easily on my
stop him pretty easily on my
stop him pretty easily on my California the closest I could get to
California the closest I could get to
California the closest I could get to her was a BNSF line a few miles from the
her was a BNSF line a few miles from the
her was a BNSF line a few miles from the Red Birds motel she agreed to meet me
Red Birds motel she agreed to meet me
Red Birds motel she agreed to meet me here tonight but as the shower gets
here tonight but as the shower gets
here tonight but as the shower gets lukewarm I’m not holding out hope I get
lukewarm I’m not holding out hope I get
lukewarm I’m not holding out hope I get out and dry off checking my phone sure
out and dry off checking my phone sure
out and dry off checking my phone sure enough she texts my dad saw her messages
enough she texts my dad saw her messages
enough she texts my dad saw her messages he just thinks I’m talking to a stranger
he just thinks I’m talking to a stranger
he just thinks I’m talking to a stranger he doesn’t know but he’s still freaking
he doesn’t know but he’s still freaking
he doesn’t know but he’s still freaking out maybe tomorrow
out maybe tomorrow
out maybe tomorrow like I said I’m not holding out hope I
like I said I’m not holding out hope I
like I said I’m not holding out hope I told her I was gonna stay the weekend
told her I was gonna stay the weekend
told her I was gonna stay the weekend already and of course I lied saying that
already and of course I lied saying that
already and of course I lied saying that was just for me to rest not to see her
was just for me to rest not to see her
was just for me to rest not to see her but I go to bed ready to leave bye check
but I go to bed ready to leave bye check
but I go to bed ready to leave bye check out the metal telephone next to the bed
out the metal telephone next to the bed
out the metal telephone next to the bed rings early in the morning the manager
rings early in the morning the manager
rings early in the morning the manager says there’s a package for me at the
says there’s a package for me at the
says there’s a package for me at the front desk he gives me the stink-eye and
front desk he gives me the stink-eye and
front desk he gives me the stink-eye and hands me a box from Amazon in white
hands me a box from Amazon in white
hands me a box from Amazon in white letters on a blue label it says same-day
letters on a blue label it says same-day
letters on a blue label it says same-day shipping
shipping
shipping I go into the room and open it up it’s a
I go into the room and open it up it’s a
I go into the room and open it up it’s a DVD of Thelma and Louise with a gift
DVD of Thelma and Louise with a gift
DVD of Thelma and Louise with a gift note on the packing slip I read that
note on the packing slip I read that
note on the packing slip I read that then jump into the shower again this
then jump into the shower again this
then jump into the shower again this time to get ready
time to get ready
time to get ready [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
you so much Eric it was beautiful who
you so much Eric it was beautiful who here your work and I know it was an
here your work and I know it was an
here your work and I know it was an honor to have the both of you on our
honor to have the both of you on our
honor to have the both of you on our stage so thank you so much more time
stage so thank you so much more time
stage so thank you so much more time [Applause]
”
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