ON BEING SAFE His mantra starts out, “Warm, clean, comfortable.” He’s had his share of troubles — health, work, relationships. He’s never been consoled to hear, “Others have it so much worse.” Why would that make him feel better? How many people go hungry, combing dumpsters for food, or sleep in cardboard boxes in freezing weather? Others […]
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Destinations – By Gil Hoy A lizard crossed my path with no skin, Just armor for protection from car treads and sun tan lotion to keep the sun’s rays out. Its tongue had just scooped up an unsuspecting grasshopper who had hopped off a blade of glistening wet grass, not knowing what was coming— having just kissed the wife and […]
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NEVER KNOWING WHAT HIT (Based on the painting [above] by Danell Millsap of the Scotch Cap Tsunami at Unimak Island, Alaska, on the night of April 1, 1946, where all five Coast Guardsmen manning the lighthouse were killed [see www.semparpac.org/tsunami.jpg]) I ponder the Scotch Cap Tsunami And wonder just how it felt When impact dismembered your body From […]
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Flying a Sign – By Chrystal Berche Wild eyed woman, her hair a mess Shakes as she goes person to person begging for cigarettes A foot away an old man sleeps, his head pillowed on a graying jacket ‘Will work for food’ printed neatly on a sign tied to his chest What place is this where ‘flying a sign’ is […]
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NG NG21028982 – My National Guard Service Number 1967 I remember from an early age that when she wasn’t cursing, my mother chose NG – the car was NG, NG the refrigerator, my father, and me. And so in ’67, when fear and guilt masqueraded as angry conscience, and I managed to finagle my way out of the […]
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And Love Got Tired Of My Undecidedness Leah gave me head in a dark boulevard Followed me the whole twenty fucking yards She knows it’s a game And she came when I came. And left when I turned left. Fañ kissed my lips in an empty parking lot Begging for sex, he gave decency no thought I […]
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My Heart Waits… Feeling something within my grasp Yet, the moment never lasts Reaching up into the sky Like a bird I long to fly Beyond the stars and past the moon To where my heart waits for you…
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A Sisyphus Moment There’s a force that makes a boulder hard to push up a hill. And there’s always a boulder and always a hill when it comes to helping the poor find something to eat, somewhere to live, a job they can go to every day. Sometimes the boulder slips and rolls back downhill and Sisyphus jumps aside. Accidents happen. […]
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Walking in the Rain Walking in the rain I am a child again As raindrops fall upon my face and gently caress in warm embrace Bringing a smile, a playful laugh and For just awhile a memories past
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27TH HIGH WAY tonight, cobblestones have eaten into the earth, the potholes are gone; tender voids, noxious like hollows of black holes. the congestion twirls & begins to evaporate like smoke. automobiles compete with winds. & the beggar who sits with a dog, sniffing goodwill & coins. looks on, wishing the road remained shapeless, tainted with contours, like the […]
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