courtesy of friday 5 at poefusion….
“aint no such thing
as the calm of the evenin’
an that quiet you hear
is a trick..”
as the words disappear
and the sirens set to screamin’
they splinter the silence
right quick..
on the corner, the new crop
the young ‘gits is slangin’
they dope or they bitches
or both..
as they mamas light votive’s
and pray the gods have forgiven
their freshly dead son’s
bloody oath..
as neighborhoods molder
under trash and addiction
punctuated by a bullets
loud pop..
we busy ourselves
with designer distractions
going green,, and how local
we shop….
photo:
http://mchasesteely.deviantart.com/art/Resident-of-the-3rd-Ward-2-61961954
April 24th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
paisley,
Perfection!
Both the 5 words and
the capture of the neighborhood dynamics.
rel
April 24th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
wow that is perfect, you can really get into character when you write.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Very edgy. And you’re right - we are distracting ourselves from the real issues by our focus on the consumer culture and yes, I hate to admit it, to a certain extent the green movement. Even in Australia we are losing an entire generation to a life of crime and disenchantment. When is it going to become fashionable to take up their cause?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:49 am
Yes! Designer choices are far more attractive than the indecencies of war. How easy it is to be an ego-hyped emu with its head in the sand.
Great write!
Gemma
April 25th, 2008 at 4:11 am
I just love the social commitment in your poetry. Great use of the prompts.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:47 am
smacks with truth & power
April 25th, 2008 at 5:30 am
A burst of reality, wanted or not
April 25th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Oh, how true! You have such talent for putting your pen on the exact place that needs air. Wonderful!
April 25th, 2008 at 8:23 am
i guess there is no slang for sustainablility
April 25th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Excellent, Jodi.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:46 am
you are such a bad ass… I love it
April 25th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Wow…not that i’ve spent that much time in w. oakland or richmond, but somehow they come to mind here….your words offer so much that i can picture and feel
April 25th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
paisley, this is some deep sh** here! I like your style and your ability to move from one character/voice to another with seemingly easy grace. i came here to leave a comment for you after you said something about my poem being a ‘theme’ for many women (ie: the promised phone call that never comes). Well, i responded to you on my blog that it was my husband’s call i was waiting for…but that was because my mother and husband all visit my blog; in reality, it was a different scenario but now that they read my blog on and off i can’t write anything without worrying that they’ll read it. why i shared it with them in the first place is a mystery to me…i wasn’t thinking that there would be the need to express any ‘real feelings’ through my poetry. you know, like ‘real’ feelings: not the kind your husband or mother can see. so, there’s more to that than i let on–soi thought i’d share that with you. and, thank you for your comment.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
A bold and honest poem Paisley, excellent insight and writing.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Amazing, as usual Paisley. You are so talented and versatile in your writing. Love to stop in for the newest offering. G
April 25th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
My first thought was “Can you guys tell me exactly where the crack whores hang around here?”
You’re good.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I’m surprised I overlooked it.
This is fucking awesome. I love angry gangsta nigga rap*, so I like this.
(I think that’s the technical term. I didn’t mean to offend anyone, but that’s how it’s usually referred to.)
April 26th, 2008 at 1:23 am
When we have a world where we’re ripped from the local, and everything is ’sorted’ by symbol and soundbite, things disintigrate.
You capture the times perfectly.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
There are so many causes we should be focused on. Very well put Pais!
April 28th, 2008 at 9:52 am
now thaz an awesome statement p…. remindz me of LA… just came back a few daz ago… it was an trip on a bus watchin life go by… excellent use of the fridayfiveprompt…!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
In milwaukee when something is hot, fresh, cool, good…. We say murder. Example: A tricked out car going past will get ooohs and ahhs anywhere but in Milwaukee they’ll just say “murder” meaning you kilt em. So with that said Miss P I say to you “Murder” because you killed this poem. Nice as always. Your ghetto Friend.