yard waste
Did you forget something today?
watermelon peels
scattered around the
yard waste bin
…
the solutions
to our problems
always seem farther away
than they actually are
as we keep misplacing
where we put our thoughts
attention and feelings
corrugated
How do you eat a pizza slice?
olive oil
soaked onto
the pizza box
…
whether we hold
the crust flat
or fold the food
into the form
and palm of our hand
we still end up
eating the same slice
roller coaster
Does experience change your outlook on things?
click click
the shopping cart
wheel falls off
…
designed for us
to experience
tight turns
steep sloops
loop de loops
before we return
with newfound outlooks
cul-de-sac
Where did you grow up?
airplanes pass
over the local park
and tire swing
…
a dead end
for an automobile
could mean endless
games and possibilities
in our children’s eyes
with nothing but time
on summer vacation
destination
How do you locate your sense of direction?
narrow stream
passing by
the hunters cabin
…
finding true north
takes some adjusting
whether we search
from our computers
our compasses
to even using the sun,
moon, and stars
one-star review
How do you turn negative feedback into positive change?
chain-link fence
hamburger wrappers
in the trash
…
at the end of the day
there will always be
some people who will
unlike and unfollow
the products we create
but this doesn’t mean
we don’t create value for others
into the blender
When have you experienced regret?
bruised strawberry
our knees dropped
to the floor
…
when we experience
complex emotions
such as grief, regret,
to even jealousy
our internal dialogues
and outward appearances
may or may not mix
reputation
What name are you making for yourself?
billboard sign
hamburgers turn into
blueberry farms
…
our brand
means more than
our reflection
of our identities
but takes time
to build up
maintain and care for
everybody wins
Who is your work for? Yourself? Your audience? Both?
cool afternoon
drum and guitar loop
on the radio
…
a better way to focus on
whether to create art
for ourselves or an audience
might just be to make
one for us
and then
one for them
time to trade
What are you trading your time for?
blackened rings
the asphalt road
bares our mark
…
our seconds
minutes and hours
for trying, learning,
and starting something
as a complete beginner
until one day
we become the master
choose wisely
How do you reduce the paradox of choice?
flash, snatch, drop
loaves of sourdough
in the shopping cart
…
shopping smarter
could prove to be difficult
when we are presented
with too many options
for what kind of bread
we want to enjoy eating
when we make toast
never been done
How do you approach making something new?
vertical farm
flowering strawberries
among honeybees
…
doesn’t mean we aren’t
anxious or afraid of failing
but embracing these emotions
can help us understand
why these new paths we pave
for others to walk on
are needed and appreciated
etch a sketch
What in your life is permanent but temporary?
the red box shakes
skyscrapers disappear
into white space
…
whether or not
the displays we create
will last forever or pop-up
for a limited time
shouldn’t take away
from how their stories
will make people feel
street signs
Where is your favorite place to travel?
a changing circle
colors come and go
traffic circle
…
can indicate
our general location
but what really
stands out
is what we
plan to do
in the area