POEM & PHOTOGRAPHS: "MINNESOTA MOURNS" BY AJ DENT

(I am proud to have hosted work by my friend and colleague AJ Dent in the past, and am very excited to continue to feature her writing and photographs here on Popthomology as she continues her travels. Thank you, AJ. -- Marianne)

From June through September of this year, I am staying in my homeland of north central Minnesota. While I’ve been writing a bit about my current adventures over on AtelierAJ.org and DigitalAJ, the recent racism-fueled murders of black people across the country has taken precedence. Since the death of Philando Castile, Minnesota has experienced significant storms almost every single day, alongside protests all across the state. This poem, which touches on the tragedy of his death, is dedicated to him, all others wrongfully killed by police, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

CURIOUS FACIAL EXPRESSION CATEGORIES OF THRIFT STORE TOYS, ART, AND KNICK-KNACKS

As a regular stalker of thrift shops for the unusual and amusing, I have come to a conclusion: the expressions on many, if not most, animal, human, or inanimate object vintage knick-knacks, toys, and mass-market art are straight-up bizarre. I am fascinated by the original intent from whatever labor slave created them in some sad factory line...did they mean for them to look that way, or were they unskilled in facial representation art, or unaware or...? I don't know. I do know these make me laugh. I've grouped a few for you from my latest forays here in Washington State. Please to enjoy!

1. ANGRY

Grey cat is not having it from the Siamese. Not at all.