a swipe on the other, down to the emotion. [day 8]

Volunteer

But I’m her favorite girl.

The one who escorts her home and combs out the knots in her calves.

Who’s in a crash course for rich-people eating, new england exorcisms, and a little piano.
Who peeks at her calendar and commits all free nights to memory.
Who engages in her ritual emptying out of poisonous thorns.

She taught me the cardinal techniques.

I worshiped her eye opening as she turned up from the pillow.

Immersive as a spy.

Scouring the the city for a mesh bodysuit under $100. Paying full price when I can’t find one.
Eating cheese half-sandwiches for a week.

hello my funny face, remember not to drink anything the day before we shoot.

One leg (her left) is a little longer than the other.
The ULAN characters on her hip are 11 years old. I was in the Mission Girls Chorus at the time.
Who arose as the new beloved upon squirting.

Only the second time in my life.

She said, I can’t imagine leaving this room.

I said, I want the job. Tell me how to keep it. 

Constructed with words from Kimberly Alidio, Jai Arun Ravine, Anna Leonowens (via Jai Arun Ravine), Ching-In Chen, Pia C., and The System.

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Prompts:

‘What can it do but surge through me: your pain? What can it do but find a home here / in the pools of my eyes, the corners of my mouth? Where / will it go next?’—Niki Escobar

RSA Animate: “Smile or Die” by Barbara Ehrenrich 

Kimberly Alidio:    ”This is for all the people who have been here all day. You’re the ones living artistic lives. Being an artist, who gives a shit. But to live an artistic life means something.” — Penny Arcade on stage during the finale of the St. Mark’s marathon, 1/1/11

Jai Arun Ravine:    ”Because no matter what story I tell them…writers invent things about me, and once they’ve invented them they believe them.” - Yul Brynner, via “Yul: The Man Who Would Be King” by Rock Brynner 

Ching-In Chen:   “Everyday it happens or doesn’t happen. The I struggles to become a part of the reeking body. The body drifts off to fuck like a ghost. In countries with barriers, an attack, unwarranted. Wrists held tight behind the back. Great views from the wooden window toward whatever.” - from Dawn Lundy Martin’s Discipline. 

Pia C.:   “A torpedo cruising in the ocean, and soon it’s due.” From:

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Housekeeping

Please post in the comments section of this blog entry with: 1) your writing in response to today’s writing(s) and 2) a prompt or question to share for tomorrow.

And if the comments are down, feel free to send your work to arkipelagirl [at] gmail.com, and I’ll post for you when the comments are fixed. 

Full info on the process and this project can be found at this page. 

Hello to all you new followers on Tumblr and readers on the Internet! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy the company of our words as you eat dinner by yourself oh wait I’m just projecting. If you’d like to jump in and write with us, you’re totally welcome. 

I know this post went up quite late. This one brought up a lot of old feelings and was hard to write. But I will try hard to be more mindful about the time (and time differences!) going forward.

For the Dear Collaborators who have been in for most or all of the past week, how are you feeling so far about your writing/process/ how’s it going? Just want to check in. 

Cheers,

yael