We can always hear him talking to his phone. If they had not created what we call poetry, Jarred would have invented it.

First, he talks into the phone. Then, he writes the poem.

He usually rewrites that. All on the phone.

The toilet itself absorbs him.

He does the same thing in public toilets.

Everyone leaves (quickly) before Jarred gets to the writing and rewriting parts of his process.

That he’s odd is an idea that has never occurred to Jarred.

Sometimes all the poetry sounds like all the rest of the poetry.

Not repeating himself has become an awesome struggle. He has learned to listen to the voice.

Now, he has to learn how to translate to text and yet remain a voice worth listening to.

Jarred reminds me on a daily basis that there are some things worth fighting for when you are attempting to define exactly who and what you are. His disappearances into any bathroom is just his way of convincing himself that he is forever alone to create anything he wants to create without any disrupting interpretation from his peers.

Most of whom do, indeed, understand what he is attempting to do even if Jarred gives them no credit for it.

I removed the locks on doors a long time ago. Jarred can always leave his sanctuary, but the other boys do not mind peeing outside in the back yard.

https://tim-barrus.format.com/about