Tracie Morris is a poet, vocalist and voice coach who works in multiple media. She has performed extensively around the world. Her sound installations have been presented at numerous institutions including The Museum of Modern Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and The Whitney Biennial. Morris is the recipient of awards, fellowships, and grants for poetry and performance, including New York Foundation for the Arts, Asian Cultural Council, Franklin Furnace and Creative Capital fellowships as well as residencies at Millay, Yaddo and MacDowell colonies. Tracie’s work has been extensively anthologized and recorded. Her most recent poetry collection, handholding:5 kinds, was published by Kore Press in 2016. Her upcoming book is Selected and New (in Translation) (joca seria 2017). She is co-editor of Best American Experimental Writing 2016 with Charles Bernstein, (Wesleyan University Press 2017). Tracie holds an MFA in poetry from Hunter College and a PhD in Performance Studies from New York University. She is a former fellow of Creative Writing at the University of Pennsylvania and a Cave Canem Fellow. Tracie is the founding Professor and Coordinator of Performance and Performance Studies at Pratt Institute, New York.
Listen to the audio work My Great Grand Aunt Meets a Bush Supporter in the Viewing Room
Wardens, close in, capture. Brothers put things where they belong.
The scariest people in the world are not Black The scariest people in the world are not Black The scariest people in the world are not Black The scariest people in the world are not Black The scariest people in the world are not Black
She slips on Black sometimes, then slips it off.
In high relief, Black is the background In high relief, Black is the background
White is at the forefront, couple letters, couple notes White is at the forefront, couple letters, couple notes White is at the forefront, couple letters, couple notes
Honey, get it together lets go: where’s the money?
“Isn’t it on the bedside table?”
“Now lissen”. Glissen lissen glissen lissen. “I know”
I don’t wash my hands first. Let’s be a little dirty I don’t wash my hands first. Let’s be a little dirty.
You look like a swan Leda, your hands aren’t clean. Afterthought splashing: Zeus detritus, Odin’s seed.
(Dry on blue. The driest blue.) “All right, all right” I’m ready.
A small man with money gets a tall woman A small man with money gets a tall woman
He stacks up and she lies down
What’s the name of the baby sitter baby? Where’s the baby? What’s the name of the baby sitter baby? Who’s the baby?
We’re rich enough to have a White one Rich enough to have a White one. Enough to have a White one.
You even know her “The Nutcracker” Know her, name her. No ‘er name ‘er noer namer noer namer noer namer noer namer A little late for that.
Wriggling fingers, a hand signal, a little girl. I see ya.
Walk down the runway. We’re the winners. Walk down the runway, we’re the winners.
Star celebrate: the holidays. What kind of star? What day is today?
Victor, victor. Trophy, trophy. Victor, victor trophy trophy. Yes he does. Red wearing wife knows what he loves.
I make a fist, I touch you.
(“I touch you”)
We’re close but not that close. Close but not that close. Closer, clothes. Closer clothes. The closers. White star trellis, electric flowers. White star trellis, electric flowers.
Harnessing the white their: contained and pretty. White ceilings and floors, lights and people. White ceilings and floors, Lights and people.
“Not a soul.”
“This is what you get”… this is what you get, is what you get.
Could it be more obvious than white keys? More obvious white keys? Overt white keys. Overwhite, a key.
Rich enough to have a white band. Band in white. “You see that guy?”
“Thank you.” … Bandy about white.
White couple splits. She says to W.C. W.C. W.C We’ll see, we’ll see.
Sipping more comfortable. Cover comfort, slipping.
Singer in the coal mine, Nightingale canary. Sounder in the coalmine, nightingale canary. “Oh my God, Bill. How long’s it been?”
No yellow feathers he’s plucked over. White feathers, white feathers, white feathers. Pointed, features.
I’m touching. You’re touching me. I’m touching you. You’re touching me.
“Not too bad.” ‘sup doc. You a pianist. “Well, my friends call me that.”
“I never did understand.” A lot less than you think.
No fraternizing artist, you’re the help. Nightingale. Help. The help. Canary. Help, help. Canary. Seeing you, seeing you the help. Seeing you seeing you help.
Touch me touching you touch me, man. My God. Surprise. Two Black bow ties, black exes, over whites of his eyes.
…
Turns from one to too. You. Thirsty. I want some. I want some. Nice glass. My glass. “I’m absolutely certain.” I swallow, birdie. Thirst My name is a snake, snack, snake – a snake. Good eve.
Tall man wants a small woman, can see down her front. Tall man wants a small woman, can see down her front. Apple breasts, lovely. Forgive me, if I’m blunt.
Eyes out. Eyes out.
Let’s talk costs baby. How much do you know? Let’s talk value honey, how much do you know? White noise, classy lady. Go baby go. Go baby, go!
Takes her for a test drive, a test drive, test. Testing. “What do you do?”Let’s get to the money. The money, the money.
I can get you some. I can get you, get you, get you. Sums. Sums.
Flowers under a tree with dark bark: Petals ‘round the décolletage. You know you know you know you know. I know you know…
How rings around the rosies go. Rings around the rosies go. Oooh Oh! Oooh oh uh oh. Oooh oh uh oh. Oooh oh uh oh:
(Alice is the rabbit hole.)
Money & marriage: m&m make the deal. Make the deal, make the deal. Make the deal — as good as that.
…
Me & you and her are cute. Me & you and her are cute. Me & you and her on cue. On cue. A spelled name, a spell.
Let’s broach the subject of your sex. Segue to sex. Snake. Broaching her draped on his lapel.
Work the knowledge work the knowledge.
Too hard? Harder, harder I bet, I know.
Exactly. Exactly.
Let’s find out. What you know, doc. (A lot less than you think.)
…
The top of the staircase has a dead chick. The top of the staircase has a dead chick.
And a man with suspenders putting in his dick. And a man in suspenders putting in his dick.
Chick behind him and a chick in front. Chick behind him and a chick in front.
You know what I can rhyme here. (You know I won’t.)
Move your head, Mandy. Can you move your head? That’s right.
Open your eyes. Open your eyes. You’re ice.
Look at me, Mandy. I’m a man. Mandy. I’m a man. Look when I say, dammit. I’m a man. Good. Good.
…
Baby let’s make it quick. Let’s go up. Chill around the statues, cold as fuck.
…
The bathroom again, big as my house. Blue, feral drying mess. Dead water mouse.
You know that. You know that. I know. I know. You.
Victor the victor, wants to take out the trash. Wins, wants to take out trash. Can’t ruin the party for a little snatch. Helluva party in a little snatch.
Snatch her snatch snack. Snatch her snatch back.
Two men talk about man things. Two men talk about man things. Both of them know how the dick swings. Both of them know which way the dick swings.
…
Star bright life of the party, lampshade halo I think I have to go now. Go baby go! Go baby go!
Of course you will…
Yes. I do. No I won’t.
Drunk but not that drunk. Feelin’ lucky punk? Keeps his hands on, jerky with his spunk.
…
Look in the looking glass. Nods to herself. Looks in the mirror nods to herself. Sees another world, puts glasses on the shelf. Open eyes on a shelf.
Look into the mirror sneaking tongues. Speaking tongues. They’re speaking tongues. “Alright. I’m ready.”
…
Steel accordion elevator smug man comes out Steel accordion elevator smug man comes out
Bright day ahead. Is there ever any doubt? Smiles and orders. Never done, without.
Nice being a housewife, house like that Spices in the background, cartoon living with a rugrat
…
Chin up son, you’ll be just like me Chin up. We’re what they want. Watch tv?
…
Not a drop of fat on her ‘cept in the right places Long legs like that she’s ready for the races Philly like that, goes through the paces.
…
Another leg up, Another White male says yeah. Doc’s takes care of him, he’s taking care.
…
Both getting ready, pheromones are important Both getting ready, pheromones are important Van Gogh in perfect present, wrapping’s not distorted Lovingly contorted.
Girl starting early, takes years to get ready Start early kid, takes years to get ready. Just like momma by the time you’re going steady Prep to get the guy. It gets Heady.
…
Sticking to the niceties is how you keep your business Sticking to the niceties is how you keep your business It’s “what you get.”
How do you feel? How do you feel? About wrapping? Rapping? Telling.
I look. I look. I see what’s here, what’s coming. Band-aid. Let’s fix this thing. Fix is in. Fixin’ in.
…
Tell me some thing. some thing. (deep weeds) Those two: thing one, thing two.
Did you did you? Happen to? What are you?
I’m talking. I’m talking.
I wasn’t hitting. I wasn’t on.
Oh.
the models. new models? the (old one) models.
that man. what did he want? what did he want? what did he want.
then and there?
that was. that was. That’s all. That’s right.
Woah. Woah. What you’re saying? What men are alike?
There are exceptions. what makes you What makes me. What makes you
I happen to be. I happen to be. Exceptional. *married*.
(Well you know why people get married, said the snake to Eve. Snakeven. Shaken. Victor’s married.)
I’m not arguing. I’m just trying to find out. Let’s find out.
Sex is the last thing. The last thing on.
She’s afraid. Afraid of what I might…
Women don’t… think like that. Women don’t… think (like that?)
***Right! Right?
Alice says to Cheshire. You are very very sure. You are very very sure. You are very very sure sure of sure of you.
If you only knew.
Funny. Fucking … fit. Funny. Fucking
Fit fit fit.
Alice turns him out. Turn about, turned out, he’s tuned out.
[don’t be so sure, bill.]
bell, bill. bell, bill. bell, bill.
ding!
He was checking in.
Ding!
The elevator.
Ding!
You have his attention Alice.
If he wanted me… I was ready. “I’m ready.” Ready for me. Ready me. Steady glance, Steadicam.
My fucking future. weird, weird, weird, dear.
tender. mercy. Attender. Tend tend tend her.
sad. mercy.
slept. My love for you slept.
Even if it was only for one night Even if it was only for one night Even if it was only for one night
My love. My love. My love. My love.
I barely. Bare.
Might still be there. He might still.
I was. IwasIwasIwas. I-I-I
Relieved. [sighs.]
[timely: phone rings]
When did it happen.
Click here to visit Kore press’s website and purchase the full book, which comes with an accompanying sound file.
from handholding: 5 kinds, Tracie Morris, Kore Press 2016. All rights reserved.
Used with permission from the author.