Graffiti

One of my hats as a writer is running a poetry workshop with youth at Denney Juvenile Justice Center . During the spring, I brought in the book, Graffiti LA: Street Styles and Art, and the youth and I had quite a discussion about graffiti and tag artists.

This summer, I decided to brush up on my own poetry skills and took a great week long poetry class at Richard Hugo House with JT Stewart.

The following is one of my poems inspired by a piece of art work JT brought to class and my work with the kids in detention.

Graffiti

Gang writing splashed onto walls.

Remove it at once!

Artist Expression

Finding its way onto drab, colorless buildiings

Fighting to be seen, not

Erased.

Tag artists

Not

Delinquents.

Dance!

Sometimes it’s easy to listen to the news and get caught up in high gas prices, low stocks, and is anyone ever going to buy my stories and turn them into books??? A friend of mine sent me this Utube video this morning, reminding me…..Dance! It’s not about those things outside of us that we have no control over, it’s about living life, experiencing, and finding joy! If you want to find out more go to: www.wherethehellismatt.com