the news today
took my breath
away the public
secret man reaches
for my head
promises of peace
and wonder only
if i keep
my lips closed
shut and abort
my thoughts into
a holding cell
of never ending
purple walls dotted
with the fingers
of the poor
brave angels with
wings plucked by
the slumlords sticky
fly trap paper
we blow at the match head
like a dandelion against the wind
three strangers one and three quarters
working lips ashes on one finger tip
book bag full of notes to rockstar
fantasies who wont ever get to kiss me
a game of snakes around the bend
32 dollars in my hand Lou you the man
ladies and rainbows sinners and thieves
carnival of man meat eaters
newspapers of the week my tired head
they serve as sheets
ghosts of the shit alley Riviera
cigars cigarettes commercial children in rain
hypothetical American dreams
polityrant money greed my soul to feed
into rooms of mystique where all
who knew too much will seep
into tabloid sensationalism
but we as cobweb kids know better
car titty and payday organs i thought i heard myself think under the bridge with the tents mushroomed through it dry cheap malt liquor atomizer scent the Nordstroms lobby of the poor crosswalk to the weed supplier across the street the line begins on 18th opposite the Toyota parts dealer scooter boys and eyelash girls the latest in street fashion Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle dolls Scooby Doo blankets fixed on car windows for privacy from the bleeding hearts and muskers with their guns ready for the crop shadows greased upon the pavement from the Great Depression and the miscellaneous gruel penny coffee who knew multibillion dollar hook to look good and begging cups with a winking siren who can’t scream at the scandal of it all starvation degradation insinuation of a world gone sane cardboard living is very thrilling for those who afford expensive drywall hung by the nephews of Cuauhtemoc before the Spaniards took the gold that now sits in microwaves next to Nancy’s expensive chest filled with 38 exuberant flavors
revolutions will ultimately fail because we have an ego
for today’s lesson
look in the mirror
and praise your spirit
in math class figure out how many smiles it takes to get you through the day
in philosophy ask not where did our giants go wrong but how can we usher their wisdom to the promised land and have them witness you building their home
in logic it goes without saying fight for your right to think for yourself otherwise no one will ever be free
in ethics and religion agree to disagree knowing that there is no perfection in humanity
and in politics the new world order is to be debated and cut open so tell me what you really see can AI really be the savior that they say it is
and when you’ve reached your elective class use art to create the hate and pain away
and after all your work is done class will be dismissed
so run out to the playing field and level it out with love and lots of elbow grease
pewter
clouds above
five years ago
life was much different
trees lined the children’s laughter
cut
down
for
pricey
empty
unobtainable
homes
gold line passes through there
four tribes meet and they have been for longer than i can ever know
one Meso one Afro one Europe one Orient peoples beautiful all
same hearts one dream different strokes same same same
the bridge is there she lays on her mighty back we cross not just concrete slabs but worlds too
colors flavors scents labor dignity and the human ego of course
united by segregation of their color segregated from each other by being throw an occasional bone starving of their soul
but upon closer honest sober observation on days of rainbows i can see where the tears are stitched to form the Nation where i stand
we are Los Angeles
riots marches torn down houses strikes children centers Lakers unity churches merchants Mexican chop suey Columbian Korean fusion Woody’s ribs Lupe’s tacos Italian house Red Hot Chili Peppers surfers boarders models ballers
the four directions on the 4th street bridge and what it’s come to be and what we’ve become by it is the rainbow children of our Lady
so before the Hall keepers House gablers blues reds and judge and juries request your seats mind and remember
Porciuncula and her kids do lead and ever will this vast kaleidoscope table
the things that are not going anywhere in the tunnels of this life
hands tired how to explain the whys of it all
roads paved with loss hey not everything is a party take time feel her out look in eyes that have never cried for herself
what about the cramp in the gut are we starved disgusted crazy or lost
how did we get here were we tricked how in the name of freedom and doing good did i give up the bond to my soul in a most obscene way
how can i teach my brother to fish how can my brother relish what’s his if he is severely sick how can i teach my sister to fight and feel out her heart if we both have to be vetted and protected from each other
at the bench i think i’m sitting watching absent mindedly soaking in the flair and magic of the scene jesters and contortionists control the court in front of me cages of allegory truths and fantasies but lest we forget the straight up lies of the institutional do gooders is this it voice of reason hushed up forever when we beg with Coke and Starbucks paper cups where do the coins truly go when we need help and guidance in completely being our scared self why must we worship your flesh and bone pastor and why is it that only your bumper sticker matters i can think too and feel and love i understand that new deals of any color my Mother will not save unless we’re willing to streamline and electrify our own internal ways honoring self and brother truly from the heart giving to Her salvation and letting go the appropriation of who’s got the only righteous thoughts
words less spoken 