My name, chirot, in ancient Greek (pronounced ki-ro) means hand.
Hence chiropracter, chiromancy--and chirography: handwriting.
I am now making a series called chiroglyphs.
When I was attending the Visual Poettry Conference in Canada three
years ago, after the usual problems with entry, I went to chnage some
travlers cheques.
I was refused by the teller.
Your signature does not match the one on the cheque, he sd.
But I signed these yesterday in Milwaukee, I sd.
Someome else did he sd.
No, no--my handwriting often changes from time to time that I
write I sd.
Finally the manager was called.
I had to ask someone from the confeence to verify that I was me.
I was glad he did--he had never met me before nor seen my picture,
so I was not sure if he ws sure I was me either.
I told the bank I found this all very appropriate as my name as
chiro-graphy, means handwriting, and my talk was on handwritten visual
poetry by Alexei Kruchonhyk and Robert Grenier.
I had the impresion that they had little confidence in this talk
or handwritten visual poetry--as my own handwriting was so problematic.
Still, the did cash the cheque.
Last year, in jail, I had to be fingerprinted three times.
The third time was needed to release me--as the first two sets
hand not matched.
It was hoped that the third set wd at least be consistent with one
or the other of the first two.
It was not.
It was a different set.
There was no evidence to prove that I was not the same person
exiting as the one who had entered, yet here all the same was some doubt.
Not surprisingly, many of my problems with authorities in various
countries over the years have centered on suspicion of false identity,
suspicion of subversive actitivity, suspicion of stolen passport,
suspicion of terrorist or espionage activity or association.
I at times have wondered at the conspiratorial theories that
involve me--whoever I supposedly am.
This might truly mess up one's mind as they say--if one became as
suspicious as the authorities.
However thank goodness I have read Heralitus--and know I can not
sign the same paper the same way twice, nor my fingerprints now be the
same as then.
"I is an other"--Rimbaud
vive la difference!
--dbchirot
