Laramie Legend and Brain Sweat’s Nick McDill

If you don’t know Nick from his countless alter-egos and endless multimedia projects (like the one where he pretended to work at Ridley’s for a really long time and then they actually hired him; or that one time when he was always reading Herman Hesse and talking about glass beads; or that one time where he stole my girlfriend; or when he bought all of those kids snow cones for NO REASON AT ALL; or most importantly – his BADASS band, Brain Sweat) do I have a treat for you today. Often blurring the lines of reality and performance, Nick lives his art. He is cold blooded with his art and Nick has been kind enough to offer up some of his words and poetry to the High Horse…

Please enjoy and pass along. He is a serious poet with depth and experience. And if you get a chance to check out his band, Brain Sweat, do yourself a favor and ENJOY. They put on a hell of a show.


Milk Legs

We never really knew
If he was fucking with us
Or was just lost
To the daze
As one does
Especially in those days
Who knows how long 
until he left that roof
Running
From imaginary cops
I still don’t know
What that shit
We were smoking was
Lost in the Grey haze legal loopholes
Of the time
It was carried
On an apothecary’s
Wish list
Of plants
They want to exist
I do know 
what we were told
But never trust a junky
In a monkey suite

The rails had razor blades
Painted into the banisters
Hasty upkeep clawing
The company kept
Egregious and cloying
And lost
Still on that roof

The descent was two half staircases 
And a year disappeared
Past the pantry
Made bedroom
Past the empty
Bourbon gurgled handles
To where the violated light
No longer sleeps

That’s where 
the catnip smoker lurks
Sticky with rust and a lust 
For your iron lungs
A man cannot live 
on smoke alone
And he’ll take the rest
From you

You’ll lose your legs
As helping hands
Hold you down
Before the debauched bacchanal
Can begin again
More tinder 
For the fire
Tinkerers
Toying with the tools
Of the trade
Tinfoil
And duct tape

Where the door is always open
To whomever
Come
Who may
Who comes to play
We can use the company
And everything else 
That misery loves

Restless

I should probably pack
Or sleep
Or rest a weary mind
I wonder 
how many dogs 
have bitten off their own tails
Instead

Stray

Tried to buy happiness from a box
And I wanted my money back
The shops locked up
They sold their stock
I thought maybe the ground 
Would go better
But it’s closed for construction
Couldn’t possibly take another
The pollen park
Says no pets
So i pissed on it
And left
Time to see if the video is game
To soothe an anxious brain

Before the after

Sometimes she sleeps
Sometimes she is still
She only cries behind her eyes now
As she tries to sing
Hope to sleep
To stay

Restless no. 3

It is both a triumph
And a deep sorrow
To watch your name
Fade from my most contacted list


Split

Look at the stars
All the stars
She exclaimed
To me
And the mountain night
           I tried to catch them
           Just for you
As you sung
Their drunk, inspiring
Shadows into the sky
             I never did catch a one though
Or quite heed your call
The glory of the world
               Instead
               I fell
Finding solace
In return tales
Of adventure
Met at the family gatherings
                 Not much to show
                 Save
                 Tales
Sacrilege and sorrow
Mixed successes in uncaring nights
Drug addled or sex drunk
Bleeding heads 
with numb gums
               And gifts from your time
               With the foot sniffer
                In felony flats
               Where they never asked your name
                And cashed the rent checks
                All the same
Gunshots through clouds
Of intoxication
For step daughter
Friendly fraternization
              And artists met and read
              Enough to make a soul soar
              And feet so very weary
Dear sister
I wish i could touch 
The wonder
That you unwound
That night

Nick McDill has been writing poetry for about as long as he's been able to write. He was born and raised in Casper, WY and currently lives in Laramie- where he continues to contribute to the local arts community in whatever way he can. He is also a musician and an actor. He can be seen doing a little bit of both with his band, Brain Sweat (playing TONIGHT at THE LAIR in LARAMIE, WYOMING) 

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