Poetry
• Los Angeles - Brittany
Oates
• The Process - Joanna
Silva
• Venice Beach - Gerard
Kuc
• Know ye not that ye are gods -
Swami X
LOS
ANGELES
By Brittany Oates
ALL THE SIRENS IN THE
STREET
ARE SO PLEASANT TO
ME
THEY UNCOVER THE DARKNESS SO DEEP THAT
RESIDES WITHIN ME
AND TO THINK ALL THOSE THAT
LIVED AND DIED ON THESE STREETS
CAME WITH JOY
AND LEFT WITH PAIN
JUST LIKE
ME
CRIPS AT THE BEACH, BLOODS IN THE
WOOD
HATED RACES AND CULTURES SO
MISUNDERSTOOD
SMILES ON THE OUTSIDE WHEN
BENEATH SO MUCH PAIN
PRETENDING THERE IS
SUNSHINE IN THE MIDST OF SO MUCH RAIN
CHEERS
IN THE STREET OF FALSE PROPHECIES
EVERY ONE
LOOKING FOR THEMSELVES
WHAT TO DO, WHO TO
BE,
BUT UNSATISFIED IS WHAT THEY WILL ALWAYS
BE
FANTASIES LEFT
UNFULFILLED
PEOPLE NO LONGER STRONG
WILLED
THEY GET CHILLS WHEN FACED WITH
REALITY
TRUTH IS THEIR
FATALITY
HONESTY, THEIR CALAMITY
IT'S SAD TO SEE EVERY ONE AS DEATH
SURROUNDING ME
AND WHEN IT SEEMS AS THINGS
CAN'T GET ANY WORSE
I BEGIN TO SEE MYSELF IN
THE BACK OF A HEARSE
MAYBE I'M A CURSE, MAYBE
I SHOULD FLEE
THERE IS NO ONE WHO CAN SEE THE
THINGS THAT I SEE
SO MUCH FALSEHOOD IN THE
PEOPLE I MEET
SO MUCH POISON IN THE FOOD THAT
I EAT
SO MANY SMILES WITHIN SO MANY
TEARS
SO MUCH ANGER, SO MUCH
FEAR
SO MUCH LOVE LOST, SO MUCH HATE
GAINED
FELLS LIKE THE WORLD IS TRYING TO
DRIVE ME INSANE
OR IS IT JUST THIS CITY FULL
OF PROMISES SO EMPTY
SO LITTLE GOOD TO HELP
ME, SO MUCH EVIL TO TEMPT ME
A CITY OF ANGELS
IS WHAT THEY CLAIM TO BE
BUT A DESERT OF
DEMONS IS ALL I SEE
LOS ANGELES, WHAT IS IT
TO ME
A PLACE OF SEX, MONEY, DRUGS, AND
DECEIT
AND TO THINK OF ALL THE HOPE FLOATING
IN THIS CITY
ALL I CAN DO IS HANG MY HEAD IN
PITY
LOS ANGELES, WHAT A SAD SAD
CITY
LOS ANGELES, WHAT A SAD SAD
CITY
------------
The
Process
By Joanna
Silva
So many fists -
punching
mine -
swinging
breaking through
glass
windows - or through my
skull?
So many screams -
voices
words - naming
-
only in my own mind - or can you
hear?
My angry acts - artful
voice
my desire -
outbursts
slamming but never
shattering the
glass
the crash
stops
in my head - or do you
see?
--------------
Venice
Beach
by Gerard
Kuc
Walking in the shadow of the Lizard
King
can make one's life a nefarious
thing
but that the day destroys the
shadow
is no truer here than at Venice
Beach
where the sun shines through
tomorrow
color and beauty are within
reach
Ocean Front is where the actions
at
during the stroll, gulls spy
overhead
along the sidewalk the vendors
sat
artists continue being
fed
Bicycles breeze as panhandlers
sweat
What's this? A roller-girl I
bet
in perfect form, a sight to
see
to wander my mind from
chastity
Lunch at the kitchen of
Mao
the waitress more edible than the
dish
clothes barely cover her
tattoos-wow
violet hair, skull-studded
belt-
Mine! (I
wish.)
A walk through inland
canals
the mallards quack me
goodbye
so long Venice
Beach
one last coffee, and look, I
sigh
HEY! dig this hip
cat...
--------------
Know
ye not that ye are gods, was told to
you
by someone who
knew
That ye are gods is geneologically
true
Never mind being egotistically superior
with
the red, white and
blue
and forget about getting illusory
rich
by finding someone to marry -- or
sue
It's really very simple; you are what you
do
If thine eye be single, thy whole body
shall be full
of
light
God is light -- How's that for a
clue
Those who love unconditionally, these
are your
mystical minority, the fulfilled
few
Happiness sharing, joyously creating,
ecstatically
mating -- is the Cosmic
Glue
– Swami X
Posted: Wed - June 1, 2005 at 07:48 AM