Critique Poem Tea Towels
Four hand woven tea towels embroidered with poems about fixing government. Duplicates were sent to four senators (two Democratic and two Republican). Currently waiting for a response.
Eight hand woven cotton/linen tea towels, digitally embroidered, four USPS priority mail packages each containing a tea towel and a letter
2018
Oh shit this kid just asked if our democracy is broken
It’s the guy with the glasses
(The senator with the glasses)
He said yes it’s a little bit broken
Standing ovation
If something is broken
English says it can be fixed
And I’ve heard we speak English
Here in the United States of America
Mend it
Wash it
Sew it back together again
Dab it gently
Wipe it off
Throw it in the laundry
Fiddle with it
Break it
Tie some rope around it
Find a replacement part
Make a replacement part
Nail it
Weld it
Duck tape works for everything right?
People elected to do what the people want
To prepare and implement specific solutions
Actions designed to address specific problems
Go get ‘em handy man
I’ve heard people saying
Our Democracy is broken
Have you tried turning it off
and turning it back on again?
Buy a new one
Make a new one
Test it out
And yell at it until it works
Fire someone
Hire someone
Create a new position
Outsource it
Complain about it
Tweet about it
Bring in outside review
Rate it zero out of zero stars
Monitor the situation
Ignore the situation
Add a feedback loop
Let it run
Apple rotten to the core
Take a bite!
Savor sweet mealy chin dripping
sticky in the crevices between your fingers
In minds eye see Johnny spread seeds
Orchards planted barefoot in someone else’s fields
So we can offer apple in exchange
to teacher for children’s myth
A couple of weeks ago I learned
that two out of three Americans
(instead of which you should really say people currently residing within the US of A)
can’t name all three branches of our federal gov
Shiny red apple
stabbed with a knife
out drips glorious golden syrup
from sugar star
If the inside of the apple is rotten
don’t eat the fruit
Throw it out!
No pie for you
Dear Senator,
A word of advice. Once happened upon (as if you had nothing to do with its creation) a tangled mess leaves several options.
First: pull on one end with patience and time,
reverse, re-trace the chaos (your unknown steps), and if there is resistance, stop, rest, continue.
Second: cut in half and let the ends untwist gently, regulate each shorter piece, then knot back
together again. Feel what was lost in the name of understanding and visible connections.
Third: conduct a cost benefit analysis to determine if the decision is sound, to estimate strengths and weaknesses, to compare total expected cost against total expected benefit.
But (know that if you let it get too big you’re fucked, some tangles can’t be undone).
Sincerely, a concerned weaver living here.