When Did We Stop Being Cute?

A mixed-race child of the 1980s, Martin Wiley came of age in the New Jersey suburbs. His poetry is inspired both by the music he grew up with (from Public Enemy and Run DMC to Blondie and The Bangles) and the racial and personal politics of the world around him. He lives and teaches in Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

Part One: The minute they see me, fear me

Prologue: Early evening at the abandoned school
We can’t afford to be innocent
There ain’t no need for ya
Peace is a dream (Kids in America pt. 1)
All alone with you makes the butterflies in me arise
Kind hearts don’t make a news story (KiA pt. 2)
Something like a phenomenon
Forever’s gonna start tonight (KiA pt.3)
Jimmy Got Nothing made himself a name (KiA pt. 4)
If I could find a souvenir just to prove the world was here (KiA pt. 5)
After: math


Part Two: Hey kid walk straight, master your high

Prologue: Late night at the abandoned school
Look right through me, look right through me
Glory days, or The true story of two guys coming down a mountain
And we mean to go on and on and on
Past the days of yes y’allin’
We’re all ice cream castles in the summer time
A self-made monster
Yeah yeah they do it all the time
Unruly boys who will not grow up
After: shock


Part Three: But life is just a party & parties weren’t meant to last

Prologue: Early morning at the abandoned school
The world is collapsing around our ears
Subtle innuendo follows
(And so, by the way, I thank you)
When they reminisce over you
A white hot spotlight
You, you said you’d wait until the end of the world
We still play our little games


Epilogue: I thought we'd get to see forever...

Excuse me for a moment, I’m in another world
You don’t have to worry about me
After: all

Acknowledgements