Occasionally, someone leaves some kind of "art" on the men's room wall. Nothing vulgar, mind you, but usually small and somewhat odd. Once there was a black marker drawing of a crow on a tree branch. The management simply touched up the paint and the crow had flown.
Last week, a new piece of men's room art appeared. Also in black marker on the deep red wall was the outline of a face with the word "happy" stylized beside it. I couldn't resist taking a photo with my cell phone.
I was struck by the expression of the face next to that word. Who was the artist? What was his intent? His background? So many questions we can ask after a trip to the men's room!
But the image stayed with me and I couldn't help but write about it. With recent stories about a particular internet provider confronting issues of censorship on the other side of the world, I couldn't help but read more into the image than probably exists. I doubt that graffiti drawing will be there when I next visit, but the image remains on my cell phone.
And in my imagination.
Rick Baker
March 31, 2010
Rochester, NY
little red book
on doors of toilets
and ally walls they've
graffitied your profile
in black and named you
"yellow peril" and "red".
through chapters of history
your colors coursed as
blood through fields.
dragooned, you bowed
to masters near and far
and now your masters near
declare you leader and
decider of your collective
fate;
proclaim you happy
behind walls built
to protect you
from your
freedom.
Poem © 2010 by R. Burnett Baker
Photo © 2010 by R. Burnett Baker
Photo of graffiti drawing taken March 2010 by R. Baker in Java's coffee shop, Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY
