These are just words. These are not just words.

text installation, 2007



As part of my senior thesis show, I installed a poem that ran on each stair riser starting from the first floor to be read as one ascended the stairs.


the untitled poem in its entirety:

THESE ARE JUST WORDS
THESE ARE NOT JUST WORDS
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
LEAVES OF GRASS
DESERT SILHOUETTES
LICK THE SALTY AIR
CROUCH IN THE CORNER
DEFECATE WITH GIDDY SMILES
UNABASHEDLY STRUCK
GLASS BOXES
MADE OF LIGHT
OR FORETHOUGHT
ARRANGE YOUR FURNITURE TO SUN MOVEMENT
BREATHE DEEPLY
DON'T THINK

LIE DOWN ON THE LAWN
LEAVES ARE PRINTED IN CEMENT
I WILL PRINT INTO YOUR HEAD
THE SHARP GRASS
WARM
BIRDS, CROWS
BARE OAKS
LOVE IS LEAF-LIKE
AUX FRUITS
IDYLLIC
BEES
AND ROOTS
THIS IS NOT THE TREE
RHIZOMATIC
BRONZE ANTLERS
JOHN STEINBECK

EVERYBODY HURTS
DISEMBODY YOURSELF
MAGIC CRANKS
EVEN IRON CAN BE A MIRROR
LET GO
THE OCEAN IS BIG
UNDULATING
WE ARE LIKE WAVES
BEACH GRASS
PREDATORY SNAILS
TIN DRUMS
PAPER CROWNS
SNOWFLAKES
XYLOPHONES AND ORGANS
LUNGS, LIVER, CONTAMINATED WATER
EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE

SILENCE
CAN BE PEACE
CAN BE TUMULTUOUS
YOU ARE RIVETING
IMPECCABLE
SNAKE FRIEND
SOOTHSAYER
AND SHAMAN
ANIMALS REALLY ARE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
JOSEPH BEUYS AND HIS DEAD HARE
BAREFACED AND BLAMELESS
PLEASE
DON'T EVER BE AFRAID