Around Coming Around

Around Coming Around - a performance

Marty Pottenger

I WAS SIXTEEN
WAS I A CHILD?
I WAS SIXTEEN
I CAN'T REMEMBER
I CAN'T REMEMBER
WAS I A CHILD?
I WAS SIXTEEN
MY FATHER AND I
WERE DRIVING HOME
AFTER VISITING A COLLEGE
AFTER DRIVING ALL DAY
WE STOPPED AT A MOTEL
THE WALLS WERE GREEN
THAT TERRIBLE LIGHT GREEN
USED IN MOTELS
THE DESK CLERK SMIRKED
AND I WAS EMBARRASSED
I DIDN'T KNOW WHY
I WAS SIXTEEN
WAS I A CHILD?
I CAN'T REMEMBER
THE DESK CLERK ASKED
DO YOU WANT SINGLE
OR DOUBLE BEDS, SIR?
AND I SAID
TWO BEDS TWO BEDS
TWO SINGLE BEDS
WAS I A CHILD?
THE CLERK SMIRKED
MY FATHER SAID
IT DOESN'T MATTER
AND I SAID INSIDE
BUT IT DOES MATTER
IT DOES MATTER
I WAS SIXTEEN
I WAS A CHILD
AND WE WENT
TO THE ROOM
WITH THE TWO SINGLE BEDS
I WENT INTO THE BATHROOM
TO PUT ON MY NIGHTGOWN
A SHORT NIGHTGOWN
WITH GREEN AND BLUE FLOWERS
I CAN'T REMEMBER
AND I GOT INTO BED
THE BED BY THE BATHROOM
AND SAT ON MY BED BEFORE
WAS I A CHILD?
AND HE WAS IN THE BATHROOM
A LONG TIME
HE CAME OUT
AND SAT
I CANT REMEMBER
ON MY BED
AND PUT HIS HAND
ON MY KNEE
AND I LAY THERE
AND DID NOT MOVE
HE TOUCHED MY BREAST
I CAN'T REMEMBER
STROKING MY BREASTS
ON TOP OF MY NIGHTGOWN
AND HE CAME DOWN
ON TOP OF ME
IWAS SIXTEEN
WAS I A CHILD?
I CAN'T REMEMBER
I CAN'T REMEMBER
HE LAY THERE
I DID NOT MOVE
THE BLANKET BETWEEN US
I WAS SIXTEEN
HE STROKED MY BREASTS
BREATHING IN MY FACE
AND ASKED ME
ICAN'T REMEMBER
IF I LIKED IT
AND I
AND I
AND I CAN'T REMEMBER
INSIDE I SAID NO
INSIDE I SAID NO
I CAN'T REMEMBER
AND HE STAYED THERE
ON TOP OF ME
MOVING AROUND
TOUCHING MY BREASTS
TOUCHING MY NECK
AND HE ASKED ME
IF I LIKED IT
AND I SAID NO
AND HE GOT UP
AND HE GOT OFF
AND THE WHOLE NIGHT
I STAYED AWAKE
WAITING
I CAN'T REMEMBER
AND THE NEXT MORNING
WE GOT UP
WE HAD BREAKFAST
AND WE DROVE
THE REST OF THE WAY
HOME

mime

open blade pause
take small knife out of pocket
hold knife in right hand
turn left forearm palm up
cut lightly/carefully 3 times
holding left arm still
put knife away closing
blade against right thigh
turn cut wrist over
catch blood in right hand
when hand almost full
pour blood from right hand
into left hand
apply pressure/release
pressure/release
with right fingers
upon left wrist
stopping flow of blood
eyes focus always on action
take two right fingers
and dip in blood
look up as if in the mind's
mirror and slowly paint lines
down right cheek
repeat and paint left cheek
repeat and draw a line
across forehead
repeat and place both fingers
on chin
drop hands and stare
at own reflection

one for me. one for you. one for me. (dealing
imaginary cards) one for you. one for me. one
for you. one for me. let's see what you got?
MONEY .... ULCERS ... and a PENIS. how 'bout that—
i got LESBIAN... LOVE.. and uh...A TERRIBLE FEAR
i tell you what, i'll trade you some of my fear
for some of your—no? so ok. we stick with what
we got.
(photo: Libby Turnock)