Remembering my friend Patrick Porter
It took me most of this month to write a proper tribute to my old friend Patrick Porter.
He was truly a creative force. Not only a multi-talented artist but also a great soul to sit down with and connect at a deeper level. I credit him with introducing me to much of my favorite music to this day.
The truth is, Porter was intently focused on his creativity outliving him. He was no stranger to the subject of death. He also trusted me with digital backups of much of his work, so I will now feel a sense of responsibility to show his talent.
During his time in Albany he let me into his life and served as a muse for my early documentary photography. I brought Albany Proper (which was named after Porter and his favorite phrase) out of retirement to try and do my part.
Watch a music video we made together here:
Read one of his poems here:
After a while
It loses its luster
It loses its nerve
It's not as fun anymore
After a while
You have to sit up
You have to move on and away from it
You have to admit
Some time goes by
And it's time to stand up
It's time to give up
It's time to walk off
Things that hold you up now
Will someday be erased
The termites will find it
And cancer it into toothpicks
Everything now
Will not be here forever
You already know this
But you don't really know it
Don't ask
Turn the card over to the other side
The side you can't use
To win quarters and pretzel sticks
On a rainy Sunday afternoon
"Loser" By Patrick Porter, from The Intrusive Ache of Morning (The Press of the Third Mind: Chicago, 2000)