[Fresh outta art school]

Fresh outta art school
I’m quickly realizing that
those 6-hour classes with
dreadlocked, tattooed classmates
weren’t part of the real world

Haiku for the Braindead

It’s that time of the year again: the semester’s end, where the days consist of more schoolwork than sleep, the nerds run for cover, and the all-nighters begin. I call it Haiku Season – cause seventeen syllables is about all I’ve got brainpower for.

Take Me to Town

This week I’m doing things a little differently…. If you know much about my tastes in music, you might know that I quite like Hozier.  Undoubtedly one of their best known and most unique sounding songs is “Take Me to Church”. I’ve always loved the song, but I’ve gotta admit the lyrics aren’t my favorite. That’s why, this week, instead of a poem I’m sharing “Take Me to Town” – a parody I wrote to the tune of “Take Me to Church” based on what it’s like to move to a small town in order to attend college. Enjoy!

(PS – If you haven’t listened to the song, I recommend doing so. Even if the lyrics aren’t your cup of tea, the sound is still amazing. You can find the song here)

“Take Me to Town”

Haliburton’s got some cheer
It’s not a place for students to fear
And yet they say “don’t go to art school”
Should I have taken that gap year?

It’s a nice town in a good way
But there are some things I cannot find
Some buildings missing from the main street
A new discovery each week
“This place is not big.” You heard them say it

My town offers few commodities
It has no theater or drive-in
The only movies I see past six
Are when I’m on Netflix
And then there’s sushi – there is no sushi
Anywhere in town

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

Take me to town
I’ll rely on transportation from my feet
Re-shave my head less than once every week
Student budget – trust my advice
You know, you’ll love that small town life

If I’m a student, I’m the good kind
Haven’t turned into a jackass
To keep the teachers off my ass
They demand my marks be first-class
To get above a C, paint realistically

They know the guy who made that blue horse
As if it’s just a matter of course
But they expect me to be as good
And eat some vegetables for food
When junk food and beer
Is so much cheaper here
School is hungry work

Take me to town
I’ll rely on transportation from my feet
Re-shave my head less than once every week
Student budget – trust my advice
You know, you’ll love that small town life

No parents or siblings when your trip up north begins
There is no better way to spend your well-earned government loan
And don’t you be afraid – go ahead and get tattooed
You don’t need it to fit in here
But you know it looks so cool

Oh yes. Oh yes. Oh yes.

Take me to town
I’ll rely on transportation from my feet
Re-shave my head less than once every week
Student budget – trust my advice
You know, you’ll love that small town life

M.
Archival ink on paper – pointillism
Sep 11/16