messed up people

hey
go fighting irish
hahaha
…
you were crazy last night
you were falling all over the place, and then when I
like
fell into you
…
no, it was that second place we were at
…
you were so gone
I mean
not that I wasn’t
…
we should do a cleanse
…
I said we should do a cleanse
…
it will
like
detox all the alcohol

 

ladies and gentlemen
it’s a beautiful day today
I want to share with you my purpose from god

 

no, it’s bad to have all of that sit
like
in your liver
a cleanse would just make us
like
free of all the
…
what
…
yeah
rachel was talking a lot of stupid shit last night
…
haha
oh my god
what a bitch

 

you see
I had a mom who wasn’t there
and not because she couldn’t
but the way we was doing things weren’t all right
I’m going to do better
I’m going to make some revenues with entertainment
not sell drugs
not anymore
you see people
I’ve been to jail
but I’m on the comeup now baby
this is it
you know a lot of people don’t know god
god told me that I was an entertainer
so that’s what I’m going to give you blessed people

 

no she didn’t
oh my god
she would
…
well you heard that thing she did with Brian
right
…
yeah
she
…
no it’s some guy
he just got on the subway
…
I don’t know
he’s
like
whatever…

 

everybodys got a purpose
you feel me
and my purpose is to be in the entertainment business
god has a plan for me
my gifts will bring huge
uh
economic revenues
so listen
let me start-it-off for you here…

 

…
that’s just how rachel is
she’s always like that
her parents give her everything
and she still complains about working
like
two days a week
…
I know right
…
because when I say something about it
she’s gotta be all…

 

*boomboomboom click*
started with noth’en
*boomboomboom click*
ain’t got mon
ey
*boomboomboom click*
but now I entertain
*boomboomboom click*
cuz god told
me
*boomboomboom click*
I’m gunna be famous
*boomboomboom click*
ain’t gunna be
poor
*boomboomboom click*
mak’en that money
*boomboomboom click*
ain’t sling’en no
more

 

so
are you going to that thing tonight at rachel’s
I mean…

 

*boomboomboom click*
cuz god gave me a
plan

 

her parents are like out of town and…
…
yeah she’s a bitch
but…
…
I dunno
I’m still going…
…
oh
I dunno
he’s like crazy or something
he’s banging on the windows…

 

*boomboomboom click*
and now I’ma righteous
man

 

…
yeah
he’s black
…
I dunno
people are trying to
like
ignore him

 

*boomboomboom click*

 

…
I know
some people just don’t care

 

*boomboomboom click*

 

…
totally
there’s some messed up people in this world

“Homeless in Sacramento”

This is a poem I wrote based on the March 2011 feature article in Harper’s Magazine. The poem and the article go by the same name.

“Homeless in Sacramento”

I wander the streets, looking for pieces of copper and silver;
I can eat as long as change remains the only constant.
Although,
There’s often more change in my life than in my pocket,
Because the currency of change is predetermined by possessions.

And I have very little.

No abode with a basement…
No permanent placement…
Consequently my circumstances change constantly.

Even the constellations, which I myself will arrange
Into figures I’ve fashioned – some normal, some strange –
That broaden my roof to an infinite range
Change:
Perceivably one degree west every night.

There is but one quality I envy in such physical laws:
Stability.
Unfortunately,
State laws imitate the inconsistent chaos of homelessness;
Their similarity in polarity causes forces between them to repel.
– The forces of a place to sleep –
– The forces of helpful humanitarians –
– The forces of a decent meal –
All are repelled by laws administered by a force known as ‘police’.

Until their law coincides with physical law
I will always be a victim of change.