EPTimes Interviews FHS, C.N. included

Dear readers, the following is a link to a formal interview:

click link! --> El Paso Times Interview for Slam Offs & Poemic

Following, is are exerpts from the article.

{The best of El Paso's slam poets will gather for the Free Holé Slam Off at 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Percolator, 217 N. Stanton. Thirty poets will compete for a chance to represent El Paso at the Individual World Poetry Slam in Cleveland. The top four poets will win a spot on the El Paso Poetry Slam Team, which will compete at the National Poetry Slam in Boston in August.

Poets will have three minutes to read their work and are then judged. The slam has three rounds: Poets

with the top scores move into the next round until the final four are left standing.

Karla Nabil, another poet, began writing basic prose and short stories when she was 16.

"I really didn't have an aim in my early 20s, but once I got back to El Paso after serving time in the Navy, I was introduced to the poet scene," said Nabil, now 32. "Once I started with the Free Holé Slam, I started to get more involved in the workshops and I noticed I was becoming not only a better writer, but a better performer."

Nabil said that once she sits down to create her poetry, it's as if a spirit takes over her body.

"I write down the first thing that comes to my mind," she said. "And when I'm done, it's like, OK, that's it. Somehow I've been able to write three-minute pieces in a span of about 15 minutes and I'm ready to perform it. It's just a part of me." }

...>

{"Slam poetry is made up of your delivery, your presence and your words," said Salas, who will be one of the competitors Tuesday. "When you write something and you want someone to feel it, it's your job to deliver it them, to open their mind and make your presence felt."

The Free Holé Slam Poets is an offshoot of several El Paso poetry groups. It was formed by local poets Jen Shugert, Ray Ramos, Leon de la Rosa and Darlina Magallanes.

"Originally there were five of us (the other poet was Herminia Escajeda), and we called ourselves Four Beans and a Cracker," Ramos said. "But Jen left, so we called ourselves the Four Beans. From there it went to Four Frijoles and evolved into Free Holé Slam."

"We had all seen other slams, and we wanted to bring that back to El Paso and see if it could work here," said Shugert, who left for college and returned to El Paso about two years ago. "I had gone to Boston slams, to Austin slams, and I spent a lot of time at the Hollywood slams, which many people consider to be one of the meccas of slam."

Shugert, Ramos, de la Rosa and Tabitha Harkness represented El Paso at last year's National Poetry Slam in St. Paul, Minn.

The group has poetry slams once a month at The Percolator. These are not your typical poetry readings.

Some poets use traditional theatric devices, such as shifting voices and tones, to get their points across. Some use tap-dancing or beatboxing or choreographed movements to add flair to their words.

"There are some people in academia who are very turned off by us," Shugert said. "They think we are a fad based on outrageous language and screaming. It's not a fad -- the first slam nationals started in 1985, so we have been around."

As proof that slam poetry is here to stay, Shugert points to the number of teams from around the world that make an annual trip to the United States to participate in the championship.

"As far as slam being outrageous, it's a claim based on the fact that we have no censorship," she said. "You can curse, you can say whatever you want and it tends to be accepted by the slam audience. That doesn't mean it's outrageous; it means that it's honest."

The beauty of slam poetry is the diversity of the participants. }

"Coveting Lo Ajeno" - Slam Performance

December 21, 2010

Free Hole Slam competition @ The Percolator cafe.

El Paso, TX

Poets in this video: Leon de la Rosa & Karla reading for Chevalterre Nabil

Please leave comments, all expressions are welcome - Enjoy!

P.I.B., Feb 2008

written for Paulo Orlando in Lisbon, someone I never met in 2000.

---

"Portuguese Internet Boyfriend"

by KLRabstracts, before Chevalterre Nabil
7 February 2008

-----

He was the only choice
from my detailed search:

..... Age 35,

.....Brunette,

.....Light complection,

.....Catholic.

-

Even my shipmate, Becker,

Thought I have good taste.

He was reading over my shoulder.

-

A Sailor girl

Touring Asia

Could only fantasize

On the possibility

Of hitting port

In Lisbon, Portugal

To meet the banker.

His cover-up job...

He disclosed,

His true occupation

Is to protest.

-

We'd write

Long-detailed e-mails

About our turn-ons

And music.

-

From what little he knew

About me, he determined

What song he'd dedicate to me...

-

Me,

The insipid, virgin-minded Sailor

I didn't dream of Port-lovers

Just the Portuguese Internet Boyfriend

-

As for the song,

He chose:

"Aja Que Houver"

by Madredeus

-

Though in Dili, East Timor

Kids' arms were getting

chopped off

In religious protest

-

This Portuguese banker/

Undercover protestor

Knew something...

Predicted one of my ports.

-

He'd asked for

My mailing address

To send the CD with my song.

I sent him

The one in El Paso...

-

Romantic I was

Naive I was not!

He'd insist on how

WE should do something

About our U.S. President

Clinton at the time was

certainly not on Bush's plan.

-

Portuguese Internet Boyfriend...

What were you up to?

-

He warned

That his internet

Was being disconnected,

And my ship's address

Was our last chance.

-

What a silly, passionate fool!

If the ship's Cap'n were royalty

He'd chop off your head.

-

.....What did he plan?

.....What did he scheme?

.....What was the protest,

.....That I did not dream?

-

He claimed

That fleet should

Do something

About Timor.

-

I drew a blank.

The excite.com singles feature

I did not worry about.

Just gettng mail

for Christmas...

-

Mom's care packages

of pecans

My nieces' drawings.

-

Three months later,

We were not hitting port;

We anchored out,

And prepared

For terrorists.

-

While those who were

Stronger and equipped to

Land by barge,

The rest of us became

Tour guides in relief

For Australian troops.

-

As we dined,

Celebrating

African-American Heritage:

I told the Aussies

About great foods:

Hush puppies,

Okra, and gravy.

-

Departing four days later, I

Checked for e-mail

Wondering what...

What did this

Portuguese Internet Boyfriend

Know about

The U.S., Australians, and East Timor?

-

The song says,

"Aja que houver,

espero por ti"

(Come what may, I wait for you."

-

I did not wait for this

And the new

Humanitarian Service Medal

was Awarded.

-

Still, Clinton's

peace time

ran short.

Jester's Magic Box

She was born in a tomb
her pseudo life destined
to be controlled by monsters.



She, dark gypsy princess
sequestered into solitude
sheltered from the sunlight



Goblins built her a mock house
locked up, she was left
only to sweep -
cooking air

Watching grapes
become raisins

...Transferred into
the cell
a lesser hell
where she could
cleanse
her outer shell



... Watching her
fingers,
lips,
and toes
become raisins

She'd sleep
to be chased
by the big bad wolf
under the full moon

As she hid
in the tall grass
it went away

... By morning
her eyes sealed shut
she'd cry for help!

The Spanish-Indo queen
would cast a magic spell
for her to see
a life in pink!

Wandering sly, minion king
He'd sing and paint
to the gypsy girl
tall tales
night after night



They'd dump her
between two trolls
with nasty
mulf and gump puppets
turning her into
their marionette!



... She was an eaglette
wings trimmed
brief of flight



Without a wind to motion
over the vastly, glittered ocean
for a notion
of what life was
truly meant to be.



One day
she met
an Arab prince
of long, dark locks
piercing jade eyes
who would give her
a map...
without a path
without a key

It may have set her free

He'd see her in her somber
serenading with electric vibes

She'd sing
a song
to sooth
his troubled soul



He sought
to escape
his darkened past

Embracing warmth...
Ecstacy!





In a magic box
she gave him her heart
slipping it into
his saddlebag



He did not see
that evening
he took her out

... Magic carpet ride

They could only travel
so far
she was trapped
in that realm

... As he flew away
into the next one --

He begged
he pleaded

For her to remain
young,
sweet,
and pure.



She prayed
for him
to find
his beautiful queen

If she'd ever see him again
she would have to
seduce a soldier
slipping a magic
sleeping potion
disguising herself
in its armor

Snuck into a witch's cave
peering into the caldron
watching the prince
become a king -
his bride, breathtaking
became his queen



Thousands of fae
surrounding -
protect
their angelic princess babe.

Gypsy girl
was soon caught!
Detained!



She struggled
She fought!



Outcast
further
from this morbid society

Declared dead
to the world...

She lingers
around...
Forever -
a mere jester
entertaining
the underworld.





27 Jan 2011
C.N. via KLRabstracts

Love

Talk to Me

Leo

where are you?

how have you been?

I wish I could

meet

see

your twin girls

they've grown so much

as shown

in your facebook albums

please call me

this is my number

why don't you bug me?

reminisce

back when you'd

give me a sprite

out of your pocket

friendship at first smile

I was just a meek Sailor girl

baking the breakfast doughnuts

washing dishpans

serving coffee to officers

officers who's files

you and I would manage

with our asses
in utilities
in utility!

how'd we manage

to still be friends?

13 years now

you should be my "gordo"

I dunno, heh!

thinking about you

every now

and again

It's nice

sweet was your skin

across my flesh

that t-shirt in the Korean market

read "merge"

I have it in storage

those cool Japanese breezes
our messing around
by Mikasa park

3 a.m.

love at first fondle

you did it right

you were my friend first

you took your time

you rocked my boat

we fucking rocked the boat!

Heavy Hong Kong waves!!!

walking on bulkheads

dancing on non-skid

polite glances

on the smoke deck

in our hotel rooms
in your quarters

we glided

freshly showered

white and dark Mexican Americans

making sweet Japanese love

9-11 attack
you and I were together
you and I were together

YOU AND I

WERE

TOGETHER!

anywho...

I have to gather

my files

medical

start filing

a claim
visit the VA

I'm old

not so tired

love being alive

I love you, too.

I'm tired of being stereotyped

in my favor

because I look Mexican

so Indian

get called "Señora"

by the Sun Metro drivers

as if

I were confused

diffused

by the fronchih feds
pushin 'em to migrate north
can't blame the señoras
for not wanting to change their ways
they're whiter than ME
yet

we all ride

the same journey

cleaning houses

carrying

bright blue

Wally World bags

I get paid well to clean houses

because of my prior experience

and because of how I look...

I stereotype myself

" : " + " ( " = frown
(colon plus open parenthis)

almost got run over

last week

and wrote about it

I found my old quals
paperwork
it made me look good

for advancement

they triggered

a time travel

to the days

of when I was more agile than agile

thought I was brighter than bright

and more loving than love could be

living abroad

I felt so free

so I assumed

life would continue to be

I was cheated and robbed

hated just to be hated

slapped against the head

my Military name

erased each day

from the office white board roster

I filled in the blank

"wallflower"

they hated me more

for not acting like a hoe

for trying to be such a clean pro

the rebel foe

friend to those who love

We'd bust our asses

bust our asses

bust asses

bust our brains

bust brains

rack our brains

get brain racked in our racks

rocked to sleep in our racks

my brain is racked...

the shakes returned

60-hour anxiety

gradually attacking

my system

slowing me down

I slowly reach

to pull the lever

to return to this year

this day...

open a cabinet

and take some vitamins

C... multi... E

anything healthy

to ease the cerebral noise

I done better

I have been better

I'm supposed to be passed this shit

closure was reached

but the stitches came undone

I had to go out dancing
one last time
May 15 2002
in Roppongi

after my bottom left wisdom tooth

and I felt the threads

slowly stretching

they came undone

I've come undone

I want no more

I've redone myself

renewed myself

revived myself

yet the shit still stinks

embedded

too vividly

in my grey matter

wrinkles

neurons shock

ears ring

ears hiss

ears ring

I want to hear a ring

the ring of my phone

call me

Please

Talk to me

I.D.W.M.M.

Note to anyone reading:

** Always research thoroughly before creating.

*We all deserve to live well and be well...


" I Don't Wear MAC Makeup"
by KLR/Chevalterre Nabil

Mujer fronteriza
Las Hnas. Mulleavy
con su linea cosmetica Rodarte
al juntarse con la Co. MAC
quisieron recordarte
que siempre hay
quienes quieren matarte

and they say they are sorry
they are so fucking sorry...

This might be how it went...

"Oye Kate...
Si Laura?
no te gusta SoCal?
Ay si mucho...

Vamos al cine.
Okay, sister!

Ay... la J-Lo
looks so hot
in this movie - Bordertown...

J-Lo's Latina?
Mexicana?
Ay, who cares...
Estoy inspirada!

Nosotras decender del Zacate...
No hermana...
El Abuelo decirnos que Zacatecas!

Y le llamamos a MAC!
oh, what fun!!"

... but The Frisky bloggers
figured you out
ratted you out
Rodarte -
par de mensas

And Thank You,
Teresa Puente
for your powerful
Chicanisima blog
on ChicagoNow.com

The recalled items...
Nail Polishes
Blushes
and Lip Sticks

in the ugliest colors
with the worst titles:
- Ghost Town
- Juarez
- Factory
- Del Norte
- Borderlands
- Border Town
- Sleepwalker...

Glamorizing violence (2x)

don't get it yet?

te digo mujer...
Las Mulleavy-Rodarte
quieren recordarte
que hay todavia
quienes quieren
y pueden matarte

te vas a dejar? (2x)
y las vas a dejar?

No compres MAC makeup...
si no dejaras a su sistema ganar

Don't let 'em win...

capitalizing
and promoting War (2x)

their colors of War.

They tried to claim proceeds went to charity
They're not right here
en la frontera
to see with clarity

Kate et Laura...
Ferme sa bouche
et la boutique
tu est beauf
stupid Rodarte line

Ferme sa bouche
et la boutique
tu est beauf
stupid MAC makeup

ooh...
pique toi
MAC makeup (2x)

And we women of the US-Mexico border
Reside in Juaritos
Reside in El Chuco!
We Survive
We're Strong
Strive
Again, We are Alive!

Yeah, call me a freak bitch, baby...
I don't wear Rodarte/MAC makeup.

Day of the Dead

Chevalterre Nabil (Karla)
Reading with Rincon Bohemio...








the poem performed by Chevalterre Nabil is titled "Prayer to Lord Yama"
I truly hope that anyone reading gets a better understanding of the Holiday known as Dia de los Muertos.

The Monster Love of My Life

written at Tumblewords Project
by Chevalterre Nabil 2 Oct 2010

(--\../--)

\..\/../

\..../

V

presentation by Robin Scofield
Robin notes:
"Away of writing:
Writing is one of the free ways of human activities"

To love him would be stupid

I love him
yet I forgive him (5x)

... because I hate him...

No I love him.
He's still human,
after all his evil
demonic-animal ways

To love him would be stupid

His disfunctional brain
he's still a human.
- cruel intentions
he's still human

Though he's violated
me in every way possible...

To love him would be stupid.

a forced kiss on the lips
- I was 5
a fondle
- I was 9
he locked me in my own playhouse
- I was 8
he'd pushed me to the ground
- I was 6
he bragged to his friends
about how good I was to my boyfriend
- I was 14
he abandoned me on a Juarez ruta-bus
- I was 15

To love him would be stupid.

He'd targeted
and hated me (5x)

all my life
Yet I've been through worse shit
than his shit

fie years ago
he'd stolen my identity
- I received a bill
about a phone line
in Colorado where
he'd resided for ten years

As soon as I reported him
He packed his bags
and moved into our mother's house.

Yes... (2x)

To love him would be stupid.

My brother
my own flesh and blood
and dare I blog
and publish this story
it documents
all the turmoil
he's caused in my life...

but even after the 1980's molestation...
I forgave him...

He thought he'd controlled me (3x)

He thought he'd controlled his:
ex-wife
our mother
our grandmother
our bloodline
his girlfriend...
... curse Her witchcraft,
and they lie calling themselves
Christians-uh!

To love him would be stupid.

To love him would mean
he gets away with his crimes.

I forgive him...
because he has seen
he cannot break me.
he has seen
how Family fortifies and bonds
he has seen that
should he keep ACTING
he gains more
positive support
attention and love
from us all...

I warn to our Madre...
cuidado -
To love him would be stupid
- cuidado
because I love him too.

Yet I forgive him...
He will pay his own debts.

Love Sick, Sick Love

Written 16 Oct 2010, at Tumblewords Project
by Chevalterre Nabil

presentation theme: Morrissey State of Mind
discussion: Steven Patrick Morrissey as the writer and poet/lyricist vs. the musician.

Notes: And the day's weathers have been wonderful all day.

And I love them

then I hate them

I love them

they hate me

They love me mad

They love me madly

They love me dearly mad

and madly

Their dreadful love

I too - do love

My unconditional love

Their morbid love

filled with conditions

ammunitions

aimed at me

at each other

conditioned ammo

fire away!

They shoot loving

deadly words

past their lips

lying...

I don't say it to hurt you.

Their mouths of machine guns

repeating those hurtful words

- Take them like salt

it stings.

- Take them like sugar

it corrodes.

- Take them like fried rice

it fattens

oh, little fattie:

You're too dark.

Change your hair.

Get married already

or get two boyfriends...

I control you

control you...

and like their eldest offspring...

Me being the youngest...

My twin born five years before me

... slick back our hair

Remove my feminine makeup...

we each look the same

since our births.

Always quiet...

loners?

But when our physical creators

are out hunting each other

down

down

down

all over town

My healthy sibling and I

at different ends...

control our child-like bloodline...

Raise an eye-brow...

No fighting

No cursing

No pushing

No shoving...

Absolutely no abuse allowed!

Treat the monsters sweetly...

They forget their invisible worries...

Color their world pleasently...

And we can sit in Mother's garden

in the family picnic.

Always being aware...

for when there's an offset

one, two, or all three of them explode...

Meanwhile...

live the unrealistic fantasy out

for each of them...

While they still think they're controlling you,

themselves,

and each other.

Uncesored Friendship (anecdote)

Cinnamon/Canela

This was originally a signature I used to use on my hotmail e-mails.

Originally written in 2001, while I was in the U. S. Navy.

**

Happy Labor Day!!

**

Cinnamon...

Add it to your java

It makes you warm like lava

And as you take a swallow

It fills you not to hollow.

**

===========

**

Canela...

Agregale a tu java

Te calienta como lava

Y cuando des un trago

Te llena como un profundo lago.

**

=====

**

===

Crush on the English Teacher

This is a memoir...Though the thought and feeling does not apply, as I'd reunited with Mr. Herrera from my Jr. High school two years ago, I still dedicate this to him... And it is because of him that I am a writer!

-- 12 Aug. 2005, by KLR before Chevalterre Nabil

**

**

I have a crush on my English teacher

**

All the others hate him

because he's such a preacher

**

Discipline in writing

is what he asked for

**

The 'A' plus on my paper

is what I'm glad...

**

For,

I have a crush

on my English instructor

**

Each day I attend class

music inside me is played

by the chore conductor.

**

**

..... pop quiz: after having read this poem, leave the answer in the comments.

The question is: what is the "chore conductor"

Clue 1: referred from the title
Clue 2: it's an organ

Bus/Ruta- un petit poem

Un petit poem de KLR avant Chevalterre Nabil

12 Aug 2005

**

..._=-`\/'-=_...

**

I Missed the Bus

-----

Sitting & waiting

After two hours

It's late.

**

Looking & asking

Oh!

On the opposite side?

I missed my date!

**

..._=-`\/'-=_...

**

Se Paso la Ruta

-----

Sentada, esperando

Se hace tarde

Despues de dos horas

**

Busco, preguntando

?Paso del otro lado?

!Mejor ni me enfado!

**

..._=-`\/'-=_...

Rain :: Lluvia

Pour KLR et Chevalterre Nabil
C'est un petit poem q'el s'appelle:

RAIN
------
Rain
It drips
**
Rain
It pours
**
A kiss
from your lips
**
And my heart
is yours.
-----
<'^~-_____-->+<--_____-~^'>
-----
LLUVIA
---------
Lluvia
chorrea
**
Lluvia
gotea
**
Atas mi corazon
como una correa
**
Porque tu beso
me tontea
-----
Original illustration by "AutomaticStream"
rendering via Photobucket.com

**

RED ... parts I & II

complete piece written in July of 2005

by KLRabstracts before Chevalterre Nabil

-----

---

-----

Red it bleeds

Red it drips

**

I wipe away at my nose

with my fingertips

**

The concrete

as I knelt

**

strangely, no cut

I felt

**

As I rose

to stand erect

**

That bright red

was quite direct

**

A child I was

sad and sobbing

**

The hot red

pressure throbbing

**

Chasing a boy

while riding a bike

**

Falling to my knee

the red did like

**

Through tiny pores

like little ants

**

Yellow they turned

infected under my pants

**

The stinging stain

embarrassed me

**

In summer school,

figured out its chemistry

**

The red

during puberty

**

Did not infect

my purity.

**

*<..._____-----...<*>...-----_____...>*

**

True heartache,

open wounds

**

Empty flesh hollows

Red-covered tombs

**

In shock I was

the period seized

**

The red not coming

I was not pleased

**

Heart and knuckles

in red are tarred

**

Forever

they are scarred

**

On the job

grey dust turns red

**

Through my respirator,

dizziness in my head

**

I pray at church

they serve me red

**

I eat my dumplings

they serve me red

**

I can breathe

but red comes out

**

Plasma, blood clots

I curse and shout

**

My paranoia

lurks and hides

**

For thirty days

red spills from all sides

**

Deep breathing

Deep meditation

**

Controlling the bleeding

no slack or hesitation

**

The red flows

as it is meant to be

**

Distastefully,

it is a curse to me

**

the Red

inside me boils

**

All the clothing

it soils

**

I cannot continue

eve or day

**

Without some red

spilling away

**

I fear

when in private

**

If you see it

I want to hide it

**

You ask me why

I fear the Red

**

It is a danger

inside my head

**

Like a trigger

for a bull

**

Red restrains me

into a lull.

**

Bonita Little Cockatiel

A memoir written by KLRabstracts before Chevalterre Nabil, in 28 July 2005.

This poem is dedicated to "Bonita", the family's pet bird. She'd passed on at 0630 on 27 July 2005.

**

----------

**

Our little bird

Our little friend

You were with us

until the end

**

You befriended us

distracting my mother

from her garden

**

I met you while

atop the kitchen table

you were hoppin'

**

We fed you bread crumbs

until you pooped

**

My mother's linens

stained and gooped

**

You needed a home

Grandpa got you a cage

**

We gave you accomodations

You sure didn't smell like sage

**

We called you "bonito"

(sometimes pajilolo)

We thought you were pretty

and a male too

**

We were so ignorant

after seeing

you could lay an egg

...ooh!

**

You were my best friend

for only with me

you'd chirp and dance

**

Whenever I'd pass

you'd caw and prance

**

You wanted to fly

we'd drprived you

of space

**

And trusting me

you perched on my hand

with such grace

**

Clicking and knocking for snacks

Tortillas and pancakes

with you we shared

**

And the doggie just waiting

as your snacks fell

to eat them, he dared!!

**

So much love was shared

I am sure you left

**

But now bits of our hearts

will melt

**

No longer will you

whistle along with the sirens

bark with the dog

**

nor will you

chatter with the crowd

or climb up on your log

**

Remember when

you'd caw the syllables

of my name

**

Each morning

you'd play that

cute little game

**

Blaming the dog

for your mess of bird feed

"wow-wow-wow-wow-wow!"

**

Now he looks for you

wondering,

"She's gone? but how?"

**

We shall solemnly miss

your spunky plumage

and lush, red cheeks

**

And when dad whistles

I'll remember how you'd

sing along with sweet peeps

**

Fairwell our feathered friend

**

Aurevoir my petite and pretty bird

**

Where another cockatiel calls

**

Yours will certainly be heard.

**

**

**

Unsettled Heart

by KLR before Chevalterre Nabil

28 June 2005

**

I don't know what to say

I don't know what to do

I feel like a mess

I feel like a fool

*

So many men with whom I'd lay

So many men that I would do

An easy way of relieving stress

That sleasy joy filling my pool

*

If only it were yesterday

When i still had you

Before I met sex

Our dreams we'd thread into a spool

*

We said we would stay

You said you'd write too

Our paths became so complex

My anxiety and impatience began to rule

*

I'm not yet old nor grey

Longer than a decade, since I saw you

The spool has not unraveled

I long to be in your arms

*

We've headed towards each other's way

Holding me, you missed me too

But our hearts have been graveled

And useless are my charms

*

Please don't let me become astray

I only want to be with you

All these men, they have me mangled

The curse on me must be lifted

*

Send me a sign for me to stay

Do not let me say "adieu"

This anxiety and impatience get me strangled

I'm reaching out for help, to be lifted.

*

Military Drug

by Karla/KLRabstracts before Chevalterre Nabil

20 June 2005

*previous publication on Virgogray Press' "Valium" Anthology

and June 2009 issue of Fever News - El Paso, TX' first gay magazine/newspaper.

14

JOINED THE ROTTEN OL' TIN CANS

a. k. a. R. O. T. C.

drills & drills 7 the comaraderie.

I love it

Do I get enough of it?

I'm failing Pre-Cal & Chemistry

So's I quit & keep the chloroforms.

19 1/2

RECRUITED MYSELF INTO THE NAVY

they call me a squid

a shellback I'll become

I love it

Goin' from green to blue

I'm losin' weight, keepin' in shape

2 to 3 hours a day to skip the lunch plate.

19 3/4

GET FLOWN TO THE GREAT MISTAKES

a.k.a. Illinois' Great Lakes

cold & windy

I love it

El Paso my home? What's that?

Service week in the galley washin' dishes & racks

A L. A. chola didn't watch my back

So's I broke my back. Can I make it?

almost 20

GOIN' ACROSS THE STREET TO N.T.C.

finally graduated B.T.C.

I'm completely lost

I love it!

So's I make out by the lake

& freestyle dance with a date.

20

EARNED A 2-WEEK BREAT & VISIT THE FAMILY

they told me they were improving?

I hate it!

they just keep on fighting

So's I party

'till my next duty station

still @ 20

FLOWN TO JAPAN, LAND OF MACROSS & SAILORMOON

nothing but colorful manga & anime

I love it!

because I can drink

KAMPAI!

So's I learned in Yokosuka

there's no concept of zero.

21

I'VE BEEN TO RUSSIA, CHINA, KOREA,

Singapore, Bali, Guam, Australia

I love it!

can't get enough of it, love.

So's I shop & drink & dance my liberty away

bust my arse 'till I hurt my back again.

22

I'M NOT THIN ANYMORE

the pounds I've gained -- galore!

I've been pushin' the Xenedrine!

gettin' my Anthrax & Percocet!

So's I shake in my sleep

Motrin's tasteless candy &

Black gum has Nicotine?

I used to not smoke!

22 1/2

SURVIVED SEEIN' WRITE & JOHNSON'S

live amputation...

because of 2, 4, 6, 8 -

thousand mistakes

We don't appreciate.

So's I shake in my sleep & dream of healing

I loved those guys

& hate that they're gone.

23

ONCE A MONTH, LEARNIN' TO DANCE SEXY SALSA

sleepin' with nice rich European men

I love it

get too much of it

So's I wanna find love

in the land of the crimson sun.

24

MY EX-BOYFRIENDS WANT ME BACK

I feel so outta wack!

I loath it!

Cannot stand it! ...

They can't love me...

So's I get peshed off my wankin' knickers...

So's I go ride horses cause they're

such good kickers -- Wooh!

24 3/4

SINKIN' LIKE ARSE

have no privacy? no liberty!

Everyone wants a piece of me...

I HATE IT

GONNA LOSE IT!

So's I stop:

... I forgot to jump overboard

I have 3 months left...

there is life after death.

25

BEEN BACK HOME

"Hell Paso" they call it.

I love it.

I missed it

So's I get some jobs

pay the bills.

26

WORKIN' FOR THE MINIMUM

these easy skate jobs & teenagers

call 'em careers?!

I'm bored

needing a challenge

So's I sign up for the Guard -- HOOAH!

26 1/2

LOSIN' WEIGHT, KEEPIN' IN SHAPE

It's too damn easy!

... but wait!!

I just turned 27

I'm in Kentucky's Ft. Knox

can't even go to the 7-11

I could run in El Paso

My body's in shock

I feel like a fatso

Recruiters & MEPS deprived me of training

I am in numbing pain

Pills & drugs come pouring down like raining

Lord Almighty

what have I done?

A WAR inside me

has begun!

Green to Blue

Blue to Green

there are some differences

I have seen.

Only one thing

just won't change:

That "Military Drug"

YOU LOVE IT

YOU WANT IT?

I won't be a hypocrite

tell you to not join

this is only

a fraction of my story

So's all I can say is,

"Getcha Some!"