Black Stripe 36″ x 36″

This is the beginning of the poem / text on this painting:

Black Stripe I painted a Black
Stripe on the flag
Held fast both sides
By two white ones

Painted black for Billy
Billy Nix
We worked together
in the 60’s & 70’s
On the inside crew
In the burial vault factory
This is all truth.

Oil, tar, grease, concrete
Air compressor slamming away
Powering the
Spray cans and portable
Pneumatic hammers
To an ear splitting noise

Days end wash our arms
with gasoline
Only way to
Get them clean

Old Billy Nix
I don’ know
I thought he’s my friend
Still think so
This is all truth.

Singing over the noise
Watchin’ the dirty clock
For days end

Downtown Bridgeport
Harral Avenue
The dance of
Cement dust, re-bar
wire and sand
Billy Nix
Born Alabama 1937