SECURITY CAMERAS AND
FLOWERS DREAMING THE
ELEVATION ALLEGIANCE
-for Susie Timmons
From Walnut & Broad St. to Walnut & 19th I stopped for every security camera. Philadelphia watches us always, FUCK YOU WATCHING US ALWAYS!! Several cameras in one block, I took notes, it was noon it was twelve just as I wanted it to be. I took notes for the poem, notes notes notes.
A little basket of edible flowers: nasturtiums, roses, pansies, I eat pansies, I LOVE pansies small buttery purple lettuce!! At each security camera I paused, looked into the camera, DIRECTLY IN THERE and stuck my tongue inside a flower. Flicked it in and out, in and out, flicking, licking, suckling blossoms. A security guard asked “What the fuck are YOU DOING?” I replied, “I’M A POLLINATOR, I’M A POLLINATOR!!” This was the only thing I was allowed to say for the duration of the security camera pollination application, “I’M A POLLINATOR, I’M A POLLINATOR!!” I took notes, took many notes, and the notes became a poem titled, “I WANT TO DO EVERY / THING WRONG JUST ONCE”
I WANT TO DO EVERY
THING WRONG JUST ONCE
suddenly we are
a daisy under
the big wheel
throw it out to the batter leave it up to the outfield
the umpire sees how I divide you from me
you have no choice over the
weak notes in the song
you think I’m afraid
of course I am
I’m disgusted chopping us in two
will it help to
kill the one who
hypnotizes you?
we can try
we can always try
betting on the better point of quaking
we cap the balding yard with angel wings ancient astronauts
a poetic acuity we have been waiting to carry us away forever
to survive I stayed away from
people who wanted to
kill me (that’s
the big secret)
let them jam it
in the back of your
mouth just a quick
police search
