14/15/16 September08
Crisscrossed the equator...draftydraft
Went to meet her, Mid summer,
Crisscrossed the equator with a cargo of books,
Found her sat in line in Central Park
Next to Wall, Chink, Bottom, Hamlet, Quince,
Titania, and a bunch of punch drunk fairies singing her song.
"Hello"- "Hi. You been here long?" *Queue Joke:
"As long as since just before you arrived.."
I smiled. Reality is all a buzz – this is no dream,
Saxophone man, pink silk shirt, cream jeans,
Scuttles his music stand along the verge:
Long Beautiful Hair...beep-beep, striking flares,
No Max Roach – for this score's 'Hair'.
Speak easy, screech; sweet - don't you just know it?
Another Life Coach and a Here and There Poet,
Rasta, Pasta, Basta, take in the scene:
La Vista Baby – direction unknown.
Dylan plays Brooklyn, Fire with Fire at the beach,
Leaves blowing in the wind around our feet.
Democratic Convention, The American Dream.
Hey Sinnerman, where you going to run to?
Chomsky, honky, narcotic neurotics,
Colonics, organics, macrobiotics,
Quakers, film makers, cup-shakers, pimps,
Breakers, espresso makers, shrinks, pinks.
Take a stroll down Christopher Street,
Decade's revival, survival, fly a flag a minute.
Downtown train- Tom Waits to Greenwich Village,
Liberty, what a liberty – bye bye Baby – Baby
Bye-bye..........Went to meet her, Mid Spring,
Crisscrossed the equator with a cargo of books,
Almonds, albums, Indian silver butterfly hooks,
Wheely-bags stuffed to their splitting seams,
Packages of little things, paper ream dreams,
Miniature bottles, waffles, and Chicago's markers,
To find her with a Doctor in the sick heart of Sao Paulo
Back to the Wall, chink, zombies, ice, crack, stink,
Maria, and a bunch of fat-cat flatulent politicians, police, priests.
"Hello"- "Hi" Jesus Saves screechers preaching demons in the streets,
I cried, reality is all a buzz - this is no dream,
Under stand-up-alone blankets "untouchable" children sleep.
America, America, where you going to run to?
Republican Convention, lipstick, tension, heroes, pigs,
Hey Sinnerman, who you going to vote for?
Holy Wars, inquisitions, acquisitions, glitz -
Dear God – don't talk to me about the missionary position,
The streets are not safe for those trying to make a living,
Politicians – where you going to run to?
Globalisation, deforestation, rivers breached or disappearing,
"Health care for all"? Women's rights, minority rights, equality farce,
Wake up to global warming, acclimatisation my arse...
Dear God, culture shock, reality is all a buzz – this is no dream,
America, America, went to meet her, crisscrossed the equator,
Split at the seams...
Comments
Silver Spun Sand | September 20, 2008 - 15:25
Hi there,ld. As I was reading this, I found I was doing so in a kind of 'rap' rhythm. Not sure if I was meant to, but I'm sure you'll put me right;-)
However long did this take you to compose? Much work has gone into it, that is obvious.
"Another Life Coach and a Here and There Poet,
Rasta, Pasta, Basta, take in the scene: ..."
and
"Chomsky, honky, narcotic neurotics,
Colonics, organics, macrobiotics,..."
and even
'"Health care for all"? Women's rights, minority rights, equality farce,
Wake up to global warming, acclimatisation my arse...'
...some of my favourite lines. The title of the piece I really like as well, by the way. It's really catchy.
Tina:-)xx
littleditty | September 21, 2008 - 02:43
Thanks Tina, twas a speed write tho, i fiddled a bit after -but it was a fast culture shocked write - talk a lot of *rap a lot of knuckles when mad, love, Hulketta, Hong Kong Phooey, and the Mild Mannered Librarian! xx:Oo
capoeiragem | September 28, 2008 - 20:43
MC Ditty, well who'd have thunk it...In all seriousness though this is a great poem, the free-wheeling, spontaneous prose style is simply breath-taking, while the clever use of repetition prevents the piece from ever spinning out of control, simultaneously reinforcing the political message made explicit in the last few lines. Thoroughly enjoyed this one, thanks!
littleditty | September 28, 2008 - 23:16
You liked? well...this is what happens when a sandy beachbum lands in city center Sao Paulo and :Oo instead of spinning completely out of control, i ran like a bat, ranting, South -d'you know Curitiba? Umbanda poem next unless the spirits say otherwise! Thanks capoeiragem, glad you enjoyed xx