Graffiti 164: Denver

Although there were some sanctioned murals and train tags there was an astounding lack of graffiti in Denver. This is the only thing I spotted during our visit.

"Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that." -George Carlin

"Why hurry over beautiful things? Why not linger and enjoy them?" -Clara Schumann

"I just think it's silly to be stingy with compliments. If you see someone and they strike you as beautiful in any way, why not let them know?" -Jill Scott

"You cannot run away from weakness; you must some time fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand?" -Robert Louis Stevenson

To The Old Man Who Budged At Voodoo Donuts

I curse you.
Upon the consumption
 of your Captain Crunch donut
 your bowels will seize up.
From then on all you'll be able to pass
 will be small unsatisfying
 rabbit pellets.
Every car you drive will break down
 the orange check engine light
 will haunt you whichever wheel you are behind.
All of your socks will have holes
 all your shoes will stink
 all your shirts will have pit stains.
Your business will wither
 employees and co-workers will see you
 as the infant you are and desert you.
Your wife will discover you a budger
 you will never sense anything amiss
 but forever she will nurse a quiet contempt.
Your children will realize the ideal of fairness
 you attempted to instill
 was but vacant posturing.
And at the moment of your death
 like a thunderclap
 you will know yourself a coward.

Donuts & Golden

This morning we went to Voodoo Donuts which recently opened up a store in Denver. Unbeknownst to us it was national donut day so the line was extra long, Took us about on hour to get the sweet treats. After we headed to Golden, walked around, and did some shopping.

 There were a lot of cast iron statues around.

Golden is the home of the Coors plant. Bizarrely enough Coors was signifcantly more expensive there according to Adam.

 This statue was right up the river from the plant. Strange.

There's been a lot of storms recently and the river was very high and rushing. Powerful.

Since we got here a series of thunderstorms have been rolling through. It'll be clear and sunny for a couple hours then a violent storm then clear again. It has put a bit of a damper on our outside activities but it has been nice to relax and have a relatively empty dance card.

Tonight we went to see Mad Max. We use to go to the movies a lot and its been years since we've been able to catch one the three of us. It's been great to spend some quality time with two of my best and oldest friends. To find our connection undeteriorated and, in fact, enriched by time and big life changes.

Mountain Walk

 My favorite part about going to Denver is how close the mountains and amazing hiking trails are. I've always felt an affinity to mountains. At home traveling through the forested hills and cliffs of stone.

 We hiked for three hours or so. It was serene, cool, and invigorating.

Denver Visit

Adam and I are out in Denver visiting Beanpole. They are my two oldest friends, we met in high school and have been close ever since. The last time we made the trip was back in 2010. A lot has happened in the past five years. Adam's gotten married and had a kid, I've gotten sober. We just found out Beanpole's wife Jen is pregnant so the timing was great to be able to spend some time with them before the baby comes. 

 Today we took it pretty easy, walked around downtown Denver and did some window shopping.

 Union Station downtown.

It's a train station and hotel with four bars.

 The city was very clean and beautiful with lots of public art.

The only odd thing was there was hardly any graffiti. No stickers, no tags, no nothing. I understand a city wanting to keep its streets clean but a city the size of Denver with as many artist as it has should be allowed to have a little more personality.

Old Friends

There is an ease
and a short hand
with my two oldest friends.
Years of inside jokes
drunken mistakes
and ill conceived romances.
They have seen me
through so much
from self destructive egoism
to incessant partying
and unflinching bossiness
to some semblance of adulthood
which I was the last to join.
We have seen many birthdays, moves,
weddings, one birth,
now a long sought after pregnancy.
Under our casual camaraderie
there is an ocean of
shared experience. And Time.
Miles we traveled together
and years we've spent entwined.
Now, reunited, I know these men are mine.

The Norns

I have a grandmother, a mother, and a sister.
As do we all.
One who spins, one who measures, and one who cuts.
Who weave the threads of fate.
Three arcane women behind the curtain.
They see far, hear much, and say little.
Some say they determine.
Others, they simply know.
Nonetheless they are always lurking.
The maiden, the matron, and the crone.