Flores Rotas

Henri Martin, "Étude por 'La Moisson'" (1919)

I remember after people are gone thinking of things I should have said but didn't.

I remember having a casual chat with God every night and usually falling asleep before I said, "Amen".

I remember that my father's favorite movie star was Rita Hayworth.  

I remember buying things that were too expensive because I didn't like to ask the price of things. 

I remember trying to visualize what my insides looked like.

I remember bright orange light coming into rooms in the late afternoon. Horizontally.

I remember "sick" jokes.

I remember wondering why anyone would want to be a doctor, and I still do.

I remember thinking about whether or not one should kill flies.

Joe Brainard (1942-1994). I Remember. New York City: Granary Books, 2001.

2

Cornelis Van Poelenburch, "The Expulsion from Paradise" (after 1646)

I remember very old people when I was very young. Their houses smelled funny.

I remember a boy. He worked in a store. I spent a fortune buying things from him I didn't want. Then one day he wasn't there anymore.

I remember daydreams of dying and how unhappy everybody would be.

I remember that life was just as serious then as it is now.

I remember a girl in school one day who, just out of the blue, went into a long spiel all about how difficult it was to wash her brother's pants because he didn't wear underwear.

I remember saying "thank you" in reply to "thank you" and then the other person doesn't know what to say.

I remember that I never cried in front of other people.

I remember seeing colors and designs by closing my eyes very tightly. 

I remember monkeys who did modern paintings and won prizes.

I remember "I like to be able to tell what things are."

Joe Brainard (1942-1994). I Remember. New York City: Granary Books, 2001.

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, "Tavern" (1909)

I remember my first erections. I thought I had some terrible disease or something.

I remember how good a glass of water can taste after a dish of ice cream.

I remember when I went to a "come as your favorite person" party as Marilyn Monroe. 

I remember a dream I have had often of being able to fly. (Without an airplane.)

I remember when I worked in an antique-junk shop and I sold everything cheaper than I was supposed to.

I remember the clock from three to three-thirty.

I remember many Septembers. 

I remember when I thought that I was a great artist. 

Joe Brainard (1942-1994). I Remember. New York City: Granary Books, 2001.