Dig this---
heres a guy who doesnt want to be labeled
yet he wants to be on a label

so dont mind the label, embrace it even (if you can
but know you cant put your arms around a memory

Im takin my time this time, aint gonna rush it
out or off
its not so perishable
and dont have to go stale

Hey Dave Gowans, lets float through the industry
as we float through the song trance
often not completely submerged

like farming,
husbandry
the field doesnt mind
if youre not really watching it
most of the time
at least in the expensive fertile lands
where the weather suits our clothes

but heres this guy and when he sees a sign that says todays special
well, you just know his first thoughts gonna be no, its not
and he knows hes so clever, knows hes so special
in kneejerk cynicism

but it is, of course, or can be
especially when
you got nothing to do
but winding down
---oh thats right
they call it vacation
but it doesnt come on schedule
might only last one day this time

but strangely getting more done

no feeling of need to write
a song as some kind of proof of existence

those already happened
and most people havent even heard em yet
but the chair cared

for the snake to sell the dead skin
that others find beautiful
he needs mortal man
if not me
I aint buyin
Im pure snake

not endless writhing venom slither
but mellow snake chillin on a pier
knowing it can slowly
detox from yesterdays
coffee & too much food

daydreaming way too many
album title possibilities

(the word inefficiency
doesnt even begin
to tell lifes stories)

Oh Damn, Chris (he allows
himself to laugh with the obvious
summary for a second
like an Abbott & Costello weekly service ritual)

you just started this album marketing notebook
and now this
thing youre writing
might be closer to a poem
(you thought you could leave us behind,
youre more one of us than ever.)

And what about your advice column?
Pages of unanswered letters and email printouts
on your desk, the floor, under your futon

Heres a postcard:
Dear Chris: Do you really think Earth Fart is a better name than Lard?
Your urgent reply requested, Jello Biafra

Heres an email printout:
Dear Chris: Why should I get a Myspace account?? I interviewed Snoop Doggy Dogg!!!!
(and, no, Chris, its not Snoopy Dogg Dogg), oh, and Chris, Doot Doot A Doot Doot.
Dear Nard Wuar: Doot, Doot.

Im an honorable man, but see how tedious!

The snake had to knot all up to write it
He wants to lie at attention!
Hes gonna stretch out again

But the workaholic is a passionate force as well
And he needs a little closure
So, yes, dash off a quick reply to the kid who asked if
Born To Crack was a good album title
tell him we all crack, for better or worse,
and ultimately more better than worse

(though who are you to speak of ultimates
todays special
--but yesterday and probably tomorrow
you pay).
Tell him its a better title than
Todays Special
but maybe not as good as Karaoke From Muskogee

and then ask him if you can use it for your album

If he says no, then you know its good.for him..

And sometimes you just go on your nerve
But other times you could call it float
(though cool to float sounds like a muzak
built to spill)

Chris Stroffolino 8-06