Author: ~Keith Alan Hamilton~ (~KAH~)

the snow covered limbs
of the tree in the backyard
as they droop
from the persistent weight  ~
as I notice
the feel
of a long held burden
overcomes me
unlike that tree
next to the block wall
I have the choice
whether to change
the normality of my life
or not
’cause
I have never
felt comfortable
with mere existence
the monotony
that comes
with everyday living
I have always had
this want to do more
give back
more than
I’ve taken

no need for a pat
on the back

and yet
even with such intentions
there are days I feel down
and as I look out
the window
to find
some
commonality
that provides
reassurance
for my
downtrodden mood

I must muster the strength
remind myself
who fuckin’ said
it’s gonna be easy

come on….
get up…….
move………….

Image & Words by   ~Keith Alan Hamilton~

through the days… nights and years
along the many roads I’ve traveled
the visual landscape  ~  captured
within my mind’s eye
has varied from the simple
to the complex
the common to the unique
never disappointing my imagination
or causing my curiosity to fade
where the voice in my head says  ~
did you just see
how the flowing water
has frozen still on the face
of that rock wall
sculptured by those
who cut
through the hills
while building the turnpike
as we approach that bridge
that still links
the lay of the land
symmetrically together

so cool……

Image & Words by  ~Keith Alan Hamilton~

broken and silent
no longer capable
of fulfilling
its purpose
where sweet notes
twanged
a country
song
while feet
swept gracefully
on a floor in dance

who will fix
the silence
mend
the broken body
bring to life
music again

’cause
I fondly
recall
as a youth
the spirit
of that banjo
in my
grandpa’s
hands
gently
coaxing
my feet
as I watched
my parents
move theirs
across
our
basement
floor

Image & Words by  ~Keith Alan Hamilton~

adjacent to the straight edge
of buildings near by
a curving form  ~  smooth
steal with a shine…. narrowing
as the eye moves along
its expanse
greenish tint
a contribution basking
its underside
from sidewalk umbrellas
circles as a line of markings
along what appears
to be sections  ~  sparking
the imagination… envisioning
vertebrae making up the tail
of a Tyrannosaurus rex

Image & Words by   ~Keith Alan Hamilton~

you turn
your back on me
ignore me
put me
out of your mind
judge me
as not fit
not worthy
of notice
or acceptance
why  ~

’cause I am different
I am not you
don’t think
or…..
act like you
don’t do as you say
nor hang with you
and your kind
to you
I’m intolerable

as I gaze out
on such
intolerance for me
and others….
as I take my stand
on acceptance
for all
by all  ~
as I work
for change
even when
your intolerance
tests my patience
l pray
I won’t
become as you

~the intolerant~

the bad example
for others
to exemplify

’cause
it seems
it feels at times
like forever
that it’s taking you
to accept me
and others
for who we are…

peace out

Image & Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
— at The Getty Museum, Los Angeles.

you fucked up
cow….. serving
doped up milk
to even minors
from your
erect
high as a kite
nipples

step up kids…..
to the Korova Milk Bar
I’ll pour you some  ~
vellocet
synthemesc
drencrom

it’ll make reality
appear as if…..
A Clockwork Orange

and you will yell  ~
‘Moloko Vellocet‘
gotta get a subculture

thank you
Anthony Burgess

thank you
Stanley Kubrick

groovy man…..

peace out

Image and Words by   ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
Stanley Kubrick exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

the weathering with age
season after season
gives further definition
to your lines of character
those marks ……
filled with the memory
of your day to day struggle
that bodily testament
of a life truly lived
in spite of the obstacles

as Gary Allan sings  ~
“It ain’t the whiskey.
It ain’t the cigarettes.
It ain’t the stuff I smoke.
It’s all these things I can’t forget.
It ain’t the hard times.
It ain’t the all nights.
It ain’t that easy,
It ain’t the whiskey that’s killin’ me.”

peace out……

Image & Words by   ~Keith Alan Hamillton~

almost haunting at times
to think back when
he magically
played
these instruments
of music…..
so naturally
simultaneously
with ease
the fiddle
and the mouth organ

today they sit
motionless
no sound from a bow’s
strong
downward
thrust
a new world
indicator
of
his Scot Irish roots
the reed plate silent
no longer stimulated
by the flow of his breath
and manipulated
by the cup of his hand

I often wonder
who will find the passion
to resurrect
these instruments
of music
from their place of rest  ~
maybe
just maybe
my grandpa’s
great… great
grandchildren

he’d listen if they did
and then
proudly smile

Image & Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~

on this Saturday
as I approach the corner
of 27th & 10 AV in NYC… heading
to the Ceres Gallery
where there is a reception…. starting
@ 3pm for artists….. including
the photography of my mentor
Regina Walker
I stop @ the light with Smartphone
in hand…. pausing to ponder
what angle
what subject
would Walker choose
to capture with her camera
if it was her….. standing here
@ this moment in time
I suddenly thought
~FROZEN~
as I took the shot
across the intersection
of the street  ~
the building and all else
straight ahead
I spontaneously chose
as relevant…..

Image & Words by  ~Keith Alan Hamilton~