The laundromat, January 24 (?)

I went into the laundromat a couple of days ago. Most of the notebook's pages were missing. At the top of one page, someone had written "Brazil." No poetry on the board...

Neighborhood Music School, January 22

Today, I went to Neighborhood Music School to change the pad and add markers. The display is sitting front and center in the waiting area (it was Saturday morning, and I was joined in my set-up by only one small child, who watched me curiously). I found that there had been more activity than I had expected. Most interestingly, several repeated word magnets had been crossed out with a pencil, and replaced with words that would better help make logical sentences:

safe --> to
job --> us
money -->it

I suppose this has something to do with the youth of participants. It's kind of heartening to see that they aren't cowed by rules and boundaries and instead insist on doing what works for their, er, creative processes.

I might bring some new, more diverse words the next time I can get out there. I got the message, kiddos.

I added to the prompt on the board: "Make a poem, a story, a song, anything!" - I think a little more prescriptive (but also saying "anything is OK, don't worry") might provide better direction for kids. The prompt on the pad says: "Copy your creation here! Illustrate it! Or create something of your own about your community!" Again, a little on the nose. Lots of exclamation points to excite children, as a third-grade teacher might.

The notebook had some child-like handwriting and some more mature writing. Here's what it said:

opportunity that make money

More money to coportion. [sic]

Why discover more ancient money?

Trust Black as white

I turn the heart black, But love is found beneath her trust

White day always beautiful
White covers, protects, beneath
Ask: why lock up the heart as money in a safe?
I take life
trust home
know love.

Ancient hero
mean(s) romance opportunity,
but loud crime
end(s) opportunity at community.

Discover black in the heart took but that life will always make a difference. So I know which opportunity to take. Ancient love on homes cover up crime. Romance sees opportunity as Beautiful. Beneath community is cooperation at end.

The phrases on the board are:

safe to

I know to always discover opportunity in

love cover take opportunity
beautiful life
protect heart

*Also, I stopped by Koffee and talked to a cashier about possibly putting the display there. The clientele is diverse (a lot of Neighborhood Music School families drop in, as evidenced by mini violins and such permeating the space). The ambiance of the shop reminds me of a living room -- in this atmosphere of leisure, creating poetry might be something one might feel impelled to do...?

The laundromat, January 21

My laundromat excursions feel increasingly awkward to me. Yesterday, I approached the counter to take pictures. Next to the display, Maria was speaking in Spanish with another employee. I pretended not to understand anything. I wondered if I should jump in with a little Spanish quip to prove that I wasn't a completely disconnected (white) Yale student operating on another plane but then thought perhaps that would just be condescending. I asked Maria how she was -- she looked sort of put upon as she said, "Fine." I thanked her again and ran away, feeling somewhat ashamed. I felt like everyone was watching me.

There were two new poems on the board and one written on the pad of paper.

The board says:

for difficult or cooperation
easy smell
him wisdom
could some black police
search home
do we trust they
never dream
first than
am safe
help me
say money
grow soon
enter here
I love you
lock white trust

A second poem:

over villain
these fear
did this job
between money
was home

The paper says (an sort of jumbled composite of the two - so maybe they are one):

I love you
enter there
grow soon
say money help me
am safe
first, then
never dream
do we trust they
search home
could some black
police as question
him wisdom
easy smell
was home
between money
did this jod [sic]
these fear

NMS/PPSE

Everything seems to be going well at Planned Parenthood. Deanna is continuing to document. She's excited about the project and really communicative.

Lisa tells me that Neighborhood Music School's display has had little activity. I bought markers and a bigger pad to replace the notebook; I'll also make a bigger sign/prompt. But as this is not an adult site of waiting like the other two (I thought there might be parents waiting but doesn't seem to be the case), I'm wondering if I should nix this place. I thought maybe kids would play with the words but perhaps it's not a kid-friendly activity. I might put the display in Koffee, which is next door, and attracts many of the families and kids. Lisa even suggested it.

A bus stop would be optimal but I can't imagine the display would last long. Still, it's on my mind.

The laundromat, January 14/17

I went into the laundromat on Friday but neglected to post what I found in the notebook. It's below. I had jumbled up the poetry the last time I'd gone in, to inspire someone to make order of it, but nothing had been done.

The notebook had no further additions when I went today. However, a single phrase was on the board.

I feel increasingly like an oppressive outsider when I come in to photograph the board. Customers stare at me when I waltz in, photograph, and leave within two minutes; I'm the only one who is not doing laundry. I'm also, when I go, the only white person in the laundromat. I feel perhaps that photographing the setup in front of the customers sends the message, "I'm experimenting on you." Maybe I should start doing my laundry there, so I am not someone observing the customers, but also one of them.

The board says:
She lock white trust


The notebook says: Dream for human love, trust, wisom, never fear protect help the community and home of crime.

The laundromat, January 11

I went into the laundromat this morning. Maria (the woman who is often working there) told me that I didn't need to attach a pen with a string to the notebook. She pointed to a cup of pens and pencils on the counter, saying that people had been taking writing utensils from there. She watched me take pictures of the display, somewhat amused but completely accepting of this bizarre project. She smiled a little at my visible joy that poems had been written/created. I was pleased enough that I forgot to ask why it had been moved from its original locale. It seems that this will work fine after all.




















Notebook:
Que no haiga [sic] mas guerra y no mas abusos y mejor ambiente
[That there be more more war and no more abuse and a better environment]

Help community
Job opportunity

I dream for opportunity, wisdom, money
We never fear or question human help
This community will grow soon
First love your home
Do they trust cooperation between community
Could difficult job search increase crime?
Did police protect him?
Keep me safe from villain
Lock money, trust some in your home

Magnetic poetry board (the last entry in the notebook appears to be a slightly revised version of this poem):

I dream for wisdom opportunity money we never fear
or question human help this community grow soon
first love you home do they trust cooperation between
community could difficult job search crime
did police protect him me safe
villain lock money trust some home
vivid as black white say over here
enter she smell these am ly thane was easy

Planned Parenthood/Neighborhood Music School

At Planned Parenthood, Deanna, the woman in Education who helped me set up the display and has the disposable camera to document poems, reports that all is going well. The set-up is on the counter by check-in. She has taken a photo of the poetry every 2-3 days and says that people have been writing in the notebook, a few lines apiece. I'm going to go check it out in the next week. I'll probably have to bring another disposable camera, too.

Apparently, there hasn't been much activity at Neighborhood Music School, according to Lisa, my point person there. The sign isn't big enough to attract attention, and the set-up is in a hallway where people tend to just pass through. I'm going to perhaps make a bigger sign, geared toward kids, and add crayons and larger sheets of paper. I am wondering if, as I saw at my first laundromat visit, maybe the poetry is just an excuse to have that pad of paper to let people write what they want?

The laundromat, January 9

Day 1: The display was moved already from the magazine area, where there was a table and chairs, to the cashier's counter...doesn't seem conducive to extended playing and musing. I should go back and ask why they did this. Also, the pen was gone - I have to go back and attach one to a piece of string and then to the notebook. I also think I might go make a poem myself on the board, as an example to inspire people.

The only cohesive phrase on the board was:

for they love

The notebook says:

I help the community
I have no money
I was human
I thank God that he is help me with my life [written in different color ink]