under the influence
Don’t tell me you aren’t influenced
influence happens
you’ve got your mother’s accent
influence is supposed to happen
good and bad
i’m influenced by the way Action Bronson raps
and rolls joints
i’m influenced by Anthony Bourdain
standing behind a knife in the kitchen
by Hunter S. Thompson's inclination to take chances
and substances
I’m influenced by Charles Bukowski’s poetry
John Fante’s simplicity
By vehicles with manual transmission
no power steering
the ability to choose
and fuckup royally
I’m influenced by the way Cuban people cook
I’m influenced by Colombian dance
I’m influenced by black coffee’s effectiveness
By the power of solitude
It can drive you crazy
or bring you back
I’m influenced by my woman’s hips
when she stomps on a cockroach
I’m influenced by an unapologetic smile
full of crooked teeth
I’m influenced by dirty fingernails
in the best way
I’m influenced by rain
and the second snow of the season
because the second one means business
I’m influenced by big trees that die and fall
I’m influenced by bic pens that write black ink
nothing fancy about them
tactical
I’m influenced by trousers that don’t tear in the crotch
by women with wild hair
by wrinkles around the eyes
from laughter
I’m influenced by fire
in a pit
or at the end of a matchstick
I’m influenced by the moon
in all its shapes
the full moon because it lights the night
the crescent moon because it looks like a stain from a coffee mug
i’m influenced by courage
people who take a stance
and keep it
until proven wrong
I’m influenced by learners
I’m influenced by people who speak one language
and dream in another
I’m influenced by succulents that don’t require much of anything
by bees that sting despite the penalty of death
I’m influenced by commitment
I’m influenced by love
unconditional
and temporary
I’m influenced by forgiveness
mercy
struggle
I’m influenced by callused hands
by endurance
by heart
soul
funkiness
I’m influenced by the willingness
and the ability
to fight to the death