Poetry
Image and Imagination
Ben Clarke, Editor; Photographer, Dorothea LangeWriter-in-residence at the Oakland Museum of California and the Oakland Public Library, Ben Clarke, re-examines Dorothea Lange's photographs along with collaborating artists including: A.K. Black, Scott Braley, Lucha Corpi, Kitty Costello, Maketa Groves, Richard Oyama, Margot Pepper, Eric Robertson, Clifton Ross, Abena Songbird, and Rhett Stuart. Using poetry, personal essay, rap and contemporary photography the artists explore the intersection between Lange's documentary photography and current realities.
Aprons
Eric Robertson
Grandma had three kitchen drawers full of folded aprons
pinks, light blues, spring greens, yellow,
gold, polka-dotted, striped, square-cut and scalloped
Aprons to cook in and clean
and for my sister and me
aprons to tie on like capes and run
batman and robin-style
through the house screaming
bada dada dada dada BATMAN!
Joining ranks at every carpeted corner
Freezing and splitting off again with
dramatic orders--You go that way
Grandma took the aprons off the laundry line
pinks, light blues, spring greens, yellow,
gold, polka-dotted, striped, square-cut and scalloped
Aprons to cook in and clean
and for my sister and me
aprons to tie on like capes and run
batman and robin-style
through the house screaming
bada dada dada dada BATMAN!
Joining ranks at every carpeted corner
Freezing and splitting off again with
dramatic orders--You go that way
Grandma took the aprons off the laundry line
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I had my doubts about her,
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