#tbstt

[thebirdssangthroughthem]

cottage vibes, 2015

[thebirdssangthroughthem]

tiny house ornament

[thebirdssangthroughthem]

After all of the darkness and sadness Soon comes happiness If I surround my self with positive things I'll gain prosperity

Survivor, Destiny’s Child

[thebirdssangthroughthem]

family portraits, 1922

[thebirdssangthroughthem]

arrowhead fig 1

[thebirdssangthroughthem]

coarse now, no tears came out sip wine, as if I can imagine the pain

hate the way these organs feel inside my body -raw burn in my abdomen -no reason apparently except scar tissue and who knows what endometriosis mess want no surgeries poking around in there again or in my ear violated (surgically) before I could understand the terms

sliced, a clench created don’t know what it’s like not to feel taut shoulders would astound you, knotted roots and rivers rocks stop complaining, remember your father’s hands warmed yours in the truck, dump and cemetery runs made him smile when I told him I remembered

his little dolly, earlier in the year

[thebirdssangthroughthem]

After tossing through an anxiety ridden sleepless night, I decide I am not going to New York in the morning. 5 a.m. take the cowardly way out, text message Sarah my decision: “Not coming. Sorry.” Relief is overwhelming and I resign myself to sleep at 5:15. An hour and twenty later my phone rings (seemed I forgot to switch it to silent mode). I wrestle with my sheets, reach for the phone. Not surprisingly it’s Sarah, calling to convince me to change me mind. I’m bitter. “Kelsey, you’re being ridiculous” she persists “just get ready and get on the train, I haven’t see you in two months.” “I don’t want to.” Groggily. “Kelsey, you have to come here it’s your last chance to see The Gates! You were so excited about seeing them.” She pleads. “I don’t care any more.” It’s a lie. “Alright, I can’t believe you’re making me do this but I guess I’m going to have to bust out the big guns.” She pauses dramatically and I wait. She inhales slow and heavy, lowers her voice to a whisper- “Listen, I know a restaurant here that serves the best cheeseburgers in the world.” She says it like she’s letting me in on a potentially lucrative, top-secret business venture. “Did you hear me? In the world Kelsey! We’re going to eat there. You can possibly resist the best cheeseburger in the world!” She quips, “So, I’ll see you in a few hours.” It isn’t a question but she waits for my response. Silence. “Kelsey, you better get here or I’m coming to Connecticut to kidnap you.” “Fine” I say dejectedly. Sigh. She gets me.

(excerpt from 2005)

[thebirdssangthroughthem]

bathroom, 2006