Bodies

Mama Said Knock You Out

Sits In the corner If it’s free The sofa With no one else on it The empty spot In the least crowded space Somewhere he can simply and quietly be Safely Be Safely be.

He smiles More often than not In his space Safely being Exudes Warmth, kindness, generosity A spirit of friendship Love Like Pooh Bear Or Kung Fu Panda Safely being Everyone’s great pal Everyone’s hug.

And yet. And yet. And yet.

And motherfucking yet

In that space And in his peace and his love In his every smile Laugh Gentle hand and sparkling eye In every gesture There is weight Weight of his years His history His life Weight of his heart Mind Spirit Soul Weight of trauma pain rage. Trauma Pain Rage Weight And in that weight There is violence Brutal straightforward aggressive deliberate shameless violence.

So many things exist Beyond words Love God Truth Fear Whatever we have Doesn’t get close And so The wise and the gifted and the beautiful and the foolhardy Seek other methods Gestures Sound Movement Paint And from the many things that exist Beyond Comes comes comes.

Sweet Man Kind Man Beautiful Man Brutal straightforward aggressive deliberate shameless violent Man Love God Truth Fear Violence Heart Mind Spirit Soul Violence.

James Frey, written for the exhibition, 2025. Read it on the gallery’s page