Raiin

“I'll let no man in, unless of course, he knocks.
Walk right in to my heart with a thousand locks.”
― Casey Renee Kiser, Swan Wreck

“A writer or any artist can’t expect to be embraced by the people. I've done records where it seemed like no one listened to them. You write poetry books that maybe 50 people read. And you just keep doing your work because you have to, because it’s your calling.

But it’s beautiful to be embraced by the people.

Some people have said to me, “Well, don’t you think that kind of success spoils one as an artist? If you’re a punk rocker, you don’t want to have a hit record…”

And I say to them, “Fuck you!”

One does their work for the people. And the more people you can touch, the more wonderful it is. You don’t do your work and say, “I only want the cool people to read it.” You want everyone to be transported, or hopefully inspired by it.

When I was really young, William Burroughs told me, “Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises. Don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful. Be concerned with doing good work. And make the right choices and protect your work. And if you can build a good name, eventually that name will be its own currency.”
― Patti Smith

“I won't sleep
if that's what it takes
to not wake up
as myself”
― Casey Renee Kiser, Hold Me Under: Poems to Drown to

“boys don't like
smart girls

they like

push-around-in-a-cart
kinda girls

target-for-their-dart
kinda girls

meat-for-their-shark
kinda girls”
― Casey Renee Kiser, Swan Wreck