As Is What Was is a collection of poems created with no thought at all. None. There is no control over grammar, sound, rhythm, idea, or anything really. Why? I thought it would be fun. Is it insane? Absolutely.
I never painted cities
The same way that they did
I was a slow runner for the most part
And happened to prefer stopping
To peak down alleyways and into emptied cafés
And restaurants with just the two solitary figures left
And at the graffiti on unscrubbed walls
And electric cars on cobbled roads
And from time to time the older girls smoking outside of bars
And how they dealt with men with practised grace
Before saying – with their eyes – to their friends “get a load of that guy”
And I just wondered if they’d ever welcome me
Maybe they would if I told them
They looked like they’d stepped out of an Edward Hopper painting
So by the time I’d reach the party
And the others asked me
All splattered in red and beer
Why I always take my sweet time
I’ll just tell them it’s just ‘cause
It’s sweet time