The World on the Arm of a Skinny Person as interpreted by:

by Ivan Saldarriaga

This idea was detailed to me by a friend. this is meant to be a rough sketch of a rough draft. So by all means, don't think this is the final draft (oh no, we promise, we can draw better than 5 year olds, most of the time).

Brave new World

Life's Ambivalences

by Ivan Saldarriaga


Alright, alright, just line up against that wall there,
I haven't got all day.

the older gentlemen march in,
each resembling me to the point of eeriness,
they line up against the wall and jut out their chins bravely,
you can see all seven,
(how did it come down to you seven?)
the confident astronaut,
the major industry engineer,
the bitter copper,
author in shambles,
the timid photographer, still grasping his camera (Were you ever good with it? Not really, truth is, I'd just as soon quit)
the uptight librarian,
and the common thief, (how did you ever get caught up in this mix? Don't ask me, man, I'm just here to get my fix)
all resembling me to the point of eeriness.

Couldn't we talk about this for a second or two?
Do we really have to rush this so?
Just what did we do to even deserve this?

Quiet up now, what you did isn't on trial here! (But we didn't even get a fair trial!)
Now, stand tall, i'm about to choose my life! (Your life can be many things, though!)
The sooner this is over, the better! (There's no rush, this is your life we're talking about!)

raising my rifle to my shoulder, i set the sights on each along the wall,
stalling on one face and shuddering before i move to the next,
each looks so much like me,
i begin to lose stomach for this,

You don't have to do this you know!

Now, just be quiet!
Look around, every one else is almost done,
that guy next to me went at his options with a freakin machine gun,
no second thoughts,
no remorse!
just took out the ones he didn't want,
like pickin out skittles he didn't wanna eat.
I've already stalled much too long.

I lift the rifle back up to my shoulder,
muttering to myself,
Just choose a good life, just choose a good one damn it!
Their faces are too much like mine,
and none seem more content than the other.

Oh what the hell

I close my eyes,
i hear the loud gun roar six shots
I slowly open my eyes and try to brace myself for what I've chosen,

Are you done?

Did nobody get hit?

Na, you're pretty bad at this, you know. it's your fifth time lining us up and you've yet to take one of us out.

oh to hell with it, i can't make this choice, let's just go get something to drink

that's what we've been trying to tell your dumb ass

Just how the heck are you in this mix, again?

Dude, I'm still waiting for my fix.

Two Line Epic

by Ivan Saldarriaga

Every day we have our own epic battles to fight,
Like waking up and surrendering to the light.

Ablaze

by Ivan Saldarriaga

I feel your hand ontop of mine,
your smooth skin coolin' my warm body,
I let your soft hair fall on my cheek,
your weight on my chest,
yet I'm all alone


In my thoughts,
I yearn for more,
more life,
love,
acceptance,
but I only sigh,
realizing the little I will ever be allotted

My appetite for life never abates,
Hunger for it pursues me,
and ambushes even my most treasured moments
Never relenting,
Only expanding,
until...
all I have left...
is a blazing internal bonfire.