So I make myself a world
I make myself a border
I make myself a people
and become war
and become hate
and become oppression
and become a box
and become a wall
and—
Kadon comes over to me
wraps his arms around me
in a bear hug
Calm down, Young Basquiat
Calm the fuck down—
There are more walls here
We got nothing but fucking walls here—
Ib r e a k
They said my mural
was against the facility’s guidelines
No gang colors, signs, or symbols
and all I could do
was hold my head
in my hands
and whisper under my breath
Fuck you!
What the fuck were we
supposed to do with that paint then?
Draw more cartoons?
More smiling birds and a winking sun?
Paint more lies?