The long awaited release of the Pet Milk Project has finally arrived! Conceived by Kelli Burton, this collaboration of writers, artists, and musicians culminated in a literary magazine, art exhibit, and CD that was unveiled tonight at the Arts Place in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. The event was well-attended. In fact, all the copies of the magazine and accompanying CD sold out before the end of the show.One of my poems--"The Stranglehold"--was included in the magazine and was the inspiration for artwork by Allison NeCamp (image above) and a song by Fanged Robot, track #3 on the CD. For those of you who were not able to attend the event or arrived too late to get a copy of the magazine and CD, here is the poem:
The Stranglehold
Callous hands around my throat
choking out my livelihood
I struggle and kick
but they squeeze tighter
only relenting long enough for
me to gasp noxious fumes
The people around do
nothing to stop them
Most rush past and
pretend not to see
shielding the bruises on
their own necks, convinced
there is no alternative
I'm just another poor soul
flailing in the dirty street
Others glide by unscathed
their pockets bulging with
profit from my distress
dollar signs in their eyes
blocking out my contorted face
I'm just another poor soul
gouged by selfish gain
I can't hold out much longer
the world is turning black
soon I will be finished
discarded on the road
Big oily handprints
left behind on my neck
