Nothing

"It's nothing, but you're terrified of losing it.
Then it's time to take a pill.
"These useless details," Peter used to say, 
"they're only useless until you connect them all together."
Peter used to say, "Everything is nothing by itself.""


"Because everything is important. Every detail. We just don't know why yet. Everything is a self-portrait. A diary. Your whole drug history in your strand of hair. Your finger nails. The forensic details. The lining of your stomach is a document. The calculus on your hands tells all your secrets. Your teeth give you away. Your accent. The wrinkles around your mouth and eyes. Everything you do shows your hand. Peter used to say an artist's job is to pay attention, collect, organize, archive, preserve, then write a report. Document. Make your presentation. The job of an artist is just not to forget."