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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