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Dreamtime and the 101
just past the 405 going south
a neo dharma bum stickered
hybrid SUV passes us
last night I dream of Rick
in the upstairs room on the left
a hidden room always there
passing Vivid, the Ford Theater
I saw the Pogues there
graphitti crosses knocked down road signs
in this dream, Rick is leaving
I gather up what is needed
our paths are so close
a convergence of brothers
we cross into Hollywood
the Knickerbocker the Beatle’s capitol
more crosses the Shangri Lodge Destiny Inn
the crush of downtown
we are on parallel paths
like moving sidewalks drawn close
we touch then drift a part
Gronk and Spring Street
J-Town Aztlan
Brew 102 and beautiful bridges
Rick , Rampart and Tommy’s
I wave
the car hurtles down past
the 605 South Whittier
and on
Rick is absorbed and distant
he waves back
goodbye
The Satyr Sleeps in Light Raining
—Perseid meteor showers
He drives Old Woman Springs Road looking
for a place free of man’s light
once the satyr floated on his back
in a Palm Springs pool
Perseid rained light in water
salt buoyant like
a dream it quiets him
he remembers Perseus from back then
the man was angry violent
the satyr was probably drunk
that was millennia ago
they changed they grew up
he’s taking time off work driving
the Mojave Lucerne Valley Landers
a dirt road aims right out past
past it all
he parks carries an old canvas cot
camp chair six pack of beer
climbs a small rise sets camp
thinks about humans growing up
he is supine canvas stretches
and he encounters star dust burning
occasional coyotes howl and of course gun shots
always gun shots
She is sitting
on the sidewalk
collapsed into stucco
wall of a bike shop she
says hi when we pass
sweet voice red hair
a woman passed her
before us
eyes concerned
looked back
the girl tilts her head up
smiles scabs freckles
cover her face
she’s new the homeless tan
hasn’t darkened
toughened her skin
red shirt bicycle patrol calling
for help? calling
the police?
the girl lifts up
off the sidewalk
straightens
gathers her stuff
walks on
she’s maybe 16
Teacher
—Poetry Out Loud—2017
Zayan says she was detained at airport security on the flight
from LA to Sacramento
she is here to recite poems in our state capital I am her teacher
this is the last day of competition she’s ready to go I ask
how often are you searched about every time
patted down waiting hands dusted for explosives this is travel
for this small 17 year old girl brown skin a hijab pulls you out
of line about every time
first poem flawless then intermission
time for last words this is the poem she came for a song
a prayer for America
what about the poem? she says pride where is the poem
my heart I offer betrayal is here too let’s hear it one last time
I return to the gallery Zayan the Senate floor waiting her turn
she places herself in front of the mic and starts she is
pitch perfect the poem rolls through the Senate tears roll
down her cheeks tears fall through out the chamber
after the show the crowd approach her parents with
compliments glowing Zayan finds her way through the crowd
stopped and stopped and stopped
she did it and now is off to the airport with her family
into the arms of the TSA Homeland Security America
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