Celeste Ramosa A Waterways Project Publication Richard Spiegel Barbara Fisher codirectors Thomas Perry administrative assistant Mr. Zacaries Rivers Teacher Bushwick HS Stephen E. Phillips Superintendent Alternative High Schools & Programs ©1997 Ten Penny Players with funding support from the NY State Council on the ArtsIn Strange Flesh I lie here And I watch you breathe. I catch your blood on my tongue Final drops of life. I am exclusively odd. There's something beautifully strange within my voice and my mind. I frighten myself — and I love it. I stare at you in strange flesh. For these eyes are not mine nor are the bones that move me to you. I suffer for the time being in strange flesh. And as much as I hate to decline from your experience... I've got to go Let me go They need me.An Autograph for a Friend In words to my friend I wish you luck, Anywhere near me May you never end up. "Why Go?" said Eddie -- Because we need to, We have to move on Out of frame, out of view. So I guess here we depart Homeless but still alive, ‘We'll all find a place Where we'll eventually survive. And though we all wish To be left alone,Sometimes you have to be two For one is a chilled bone. And though I hate to admit it I think I'll miss you, Despite the number of times I wanted to kill you. May everything you want Come out in the end, T'll miss you, I love you: Your most interesting friend.Fear & Adrenaline A favorite movie played A on a least favorite channel. The soul turned off the bathtub water. Another tragic love story - Eased in, clothes drowned by the water. The soul thought. the movie would be over in 20 minutes. The soul looked up and smiled at the light and the razor forced the hand and raised the blade. In stare with the wrist the razor went straight straight. Deep. the left skin began to cry.In stare with the wrist the razor went straight straight. Deep. the right skin began to cry. It fell. The small-tiled floor dotted with red. Skin met with water And said their final goodbyes. Then the soul let it go. The movie was finally over.10:00 two people meant for one another may be meeting now. a faithful man to family and job may be cheating. someone desperate in society is committing their first crime. someone who never thought of it is dying somewhere. people are enjoying the raptures of youth in a nightclub. someone is having sex for the first time willfully and vice-versa. someone is crossing the street taking that slight chance. someone is committing murder and can't decide the fate of the body.someone is just being born already missing their mother. someone is in pain. and has no damn aspirin. someone is sick while their sibling's just fine. someone is doing terrible things for money. someone is being arrested for a crime the officer committed. someone is hungry with money in their pockets. someone is watching over and we can't see who we worship. someone is swearing that this would be the last time. someone is missing you and you don't know who it could be. 8Lost in Black Threading It's like being lost in black threading: being so entangled‘in you. - Being so in love with you. Never would I say That I'd kill myself out of love. Because you're just like a dream, Like one of the blackest forms of Heaven God has ever allowed. But if it comes to that: my death, Then I'll finally know That when I look at you I'll see the clearest picture of Hell through my Black Heaven, And for the first time Hell would be beautiful.Capital of the World Fifth Avenue: Pauper's town. The rich's fame Are hell's hounds. The city, the lights: And no good show. No love, no life And no where to go. Pity, Respect, And all the Humanity: All people can say is "get away from me!" A big green park A wonderful place: And no one observes Discolored fabric below the lace. 10—_— ~ At the best restaurants: The food sickens you And the revolving eateries Have lost their view. The wonderful people: Tired as time ‘There are so many ladders And floors to climb, Large bank accounts: All with broken Bills The streets have gotten narrower There's less space to fill. That political Big Apple Thank God it was Clinton, not Dole That poor little Big Apple Soon to be swallowed whole,Throughout Evil Spreading down the hall of Time echoing madly throughout turning all those who hear it just as insane as the rest. Tam an outcast Yes, I know. The more you talk the more this is repeated: Yes, yes, yes! - I know. A pain grows and writhes within me A savage weed Entwined around this soul that is new and borrowed old and stolen. But anyway, there's something wrong with me: T look in the mirrorAnd it's the face I don't expect. I forget the way I look sometimes. And this is a sin, no? Tf this is a sin, Then therefore I am evil again, Evil rampant throughout. 13Four It’s all the same cycle. Over once, then repeated again. Four more left to go. Four more. I can't do this four more times. I can't fight her anymore. The loudest voice in my head Is subsiding. I'm scared now for sure. Am I strong enough? What do I think | am? I open my mouth to let the old one pour out And leave air for the new one But no one ever hears me scream! This has gone beyond desperation As I now calm a little Then get a little worse I can't do this another four times Without getting a litle worse. need someone Something Anybody, please! 14I don't know who I talk to in the mirror anymore. I am loved And at the same time I feel so alone . that my nerves begin to twitch and program her to keep me company in her own, vicious way. And though some may see keeping yourself company as rather psychotic I don't care. Each day, I breathe easier with a tighter chest, I breathe deeper without the muscle for this heavier load. I can't keep pulling this off for much longer, This actress is beginning to forget her lines I can't keep pulling this off for much longer, Soon I'll lose my masks and have bones to wear. I can't - Not four more... It's just too much for two people in one to bear. 15Aquarian x the others laugh. they have something to laugh at. they think they do. they really don't. they're just Jaughing to relieve themselves. they're just laughing to ease themselves. they know what they are and can't bear to think about it. so they laugh. i've never understood why i was born alone. is my purpose so great i can't have company? (they're still laughing.)a cold breeze is always in my hair. and i have guitars strings sewn into my sides, they were a gift. from someone that got lost in a storm and never came back. the strings were sewn in tight. that way, a melody would always be by my side. do they find that funny? i try to get rid of myself sometimes. but they don't make blades like they used to. you don't know what i'm talking about... i'm sorry, let me explain. (they still laugh.) you see, I have this twin. and she's out creating future trouble for me. and i think that that's the joke. they think that this only happens to the weird people.they think that i'm an alien, and don't talk to me. and i know that if the person who gave me the gift was here he'd never allow this. i miss him. there's something so wrong with me...the strings arc rusting with blood. no one will help me heal. and i think, if you've been paying strict attention, you know, the reason why. 18Scent " # Gasoline. Your carpets drink it. The clothes get a taste of it as do the stairs the kitchen the stove and everything else in your lovely home. And ah, the bed it cursed us both - gets an ever heavy sample. The gasoline follows me out onto the empty blackness of an early morning hour. My match finishes it off for me as a blue and yellow trail 19mindless with a mind of its own runs into the house and your house is aflame. Fire. It looks like the First House in Hell. Glorious, Vengeful. From my car I laugh. I am rid of your scent Forever. 20In Search of a Song Volume 323 [LAT QAROD Hy a waterways project publication