'24 sleep in, neighbor
let it steep, let me weep
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published[Scales I]
let it steep, let me weep
let me under
our birth swims creep
When the camphor tree spells
tells me <<we're home>>
When outside of therapy,
I still love me.
When standing, even alone,
I still have roots. They grow
When the horns become a ring
a big light monocle, I see.
When this baby calls out
the flight of the airplane
When the definition of moonfull
is the snow
When soil at the same time sings vetiver
straining credulity, springing too soon?,
straining seasons into new
expectation Which will confound you again.
Where I see strangers
She says ‘hey there neighbor!’
When I won’t wake, when i weep
from dreaming, the dream is decided
When your body is your mind,
So, move it, animal.
Orgiastic, his green branches
and his That Voice rutting with me
When we sang together feeling the swim
Coming for our bones, the hot dogs
of summer and the culling hounds
of winter. When the snow
returned to us for one—night of our first fire
borne sacral in our seasoned house,
the babe's a’rest at the top of the stairs.
Warm blanket, warm sun to rise in her corner.
[Scales II]
When you see me, cold
as stone, I'm still
your blood, now go on, go
Go ahead cry
with that lone eye
the other I plucked, trust
my warning was kind.
It's not for me to steal your losses.
When I run again.
My Hokas burning up
and my favorite music
when it's my pleasure, my strength
no escape.
[archival] for the curious, these diary entries (and jukebox time capsules) from the same time period in past years:
jukebox:
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On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell self-immolated outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. in protest of U.S. complicity in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians.
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![Picture of Aaron Bushnell self-immolating with the following text from the Economic Times article: Before his planned self-immolation, Bushnell reportedly sent a message to media outlets stating, “Today, I am planning to engage in an extreme act of protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people.” He also reportedly live-streamed the act on Twitch, which has since removed the video for guideline violations. “I will no longer be complicit in genocide. I’m about to engage in an extreme act of protest,” Bushnell repeated, as he walked towards the [Israeli] embassy, “but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it’s not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.” After dousing himself with liquid and reaching for his lighter, unidentified law enforcement or security officers could be heard asking off-screen, “can I help you?” After setting himself aflame, he repeatedly shouted, “Free Palestine.”](https://bardicbullion.com/content/images/2025/02/e7ee039d-5fcd-4b00-992b-2e03574689ae_1125x2000-jpeg.jpg)
I will no longer be complicit in genocide. I’m about to engage in an extreme act of protest. But compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it’s not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.
Video with segment of Bushnell’s livestreamed protest here; does not show the self-immolation.
I admire Aaron Bushnell's code of honor and personal integrity and bravery. Rest In paradise, dear soul.
With love,
Kate
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