How Songs Become Old Friends

Some tracks just resonate with you. These are the ones that get stuck in your head, or you find yourself quoting lyrics from them, or — the most telling tale — you keep playing them over and over again because they move and inspire, as Landmark Education would describe this feeling. That’s why I make [...]

20-20

I. There was a woman Who I loved with all my heart. It’s the only way I know how to love. The problem I have With falling in love Is that I just keep falling And falling on through. It’s a perpetual autumn; Storming leaves of memories, Possibilities, Skeletal trees. And turning my collar up [...]

The Further Adventures of Camel Jack

So the track’s float-flowin’ like the brew from the tap, street-lethal cracka comin’ straight steppin’ attack. I’m through messin’ with the system, gonna go my own route, off-road past the Sphinx, Pyramids and I’m out. There’s nothin’ but sand dunes as far as I can see; no water or camel, the crazy diamond’s with me. [...]

Something I Haven’t Quite Finished Yet

To the hip-hop rhythm of my break-beat bounce I sing sun stars surf stoopid something amounts To a funky fresh freestyle flowing fast and far from the breakers to the speakers in the trunk of your car. I get a little sparkle like the wind in my eye When the sun is shining steady from [...]

Son of the Untitled Dickwad Poem

Love is the drug that opiates me nowadays to fend through this morass of doing what’s to do. Love and Nicotine, not pen and paper, heart and dreams laid out, a mindsong to read. a cling-to-my-sanity Love, no Woodstock peace and fuck-your-neighbor crap. “She’s an Angel of the first degree…” And while I grip my [...]

One Two, One Two!

You wanna know what? You wanna know what? You look mighty stupid with my foot in your butt. I cut like X-acto and I’m stronger than stone and you’re the fucking chicken from Aames Home Loan; always being rescued, always being bailed out, but no amount of money gives you my type of clout. You’re [...]

Meatgrinder (Version 2)

I get wicked like the wickedest man alive. I stick your head in my window, roll it up and I drive your ass around your own block so you all know; I’ll stick your face to the wall like a gecko. You’re always trying to come off like you’re hard, son, but you start from [...]

Check This Out, Y’all

I So I’m rolling down the ave in the afternoon, Nissan truck and I’m stuck on a funky Zapp tune. Nigh wreck my shit as I’m scoping some leg and it’s Julie and Mark, they’re cold chillin’ a keg. I’m never one to pass up on a cup of the brew, so I called up [...]

Santa Claus

Between the Devil and the deep blue sea there is me and a bottle of Smirnoff™ Vodka destined to drown me in Davy Jones’ Locker. The pursuit of happiness, wine, women, and song goes on like the road that never ends, so long that it sends itself laughing away ‘till you’re lost lonely and livid [...]

Meatgrinder (Version 1)

I get wicked like the wickedest man alive. I stick your head in my window, roll it up and I drive your ass around your own block so y’all know: I’ll stick your face to the wall like a gecko, huh. You always try to come off like your hard, son, but every rhyme that [...]

Foaming at the Mouth about Myself

I write poems that nobody hears [yet] silent songs of ink and paper; meaningful scrawls, ideas I jot down. they’re testimonials to me living. I write these things down because I don’t have a camera or anything more high-tech. I write because my memory can fail me. And when I get older, I will look [...]

Simple Things

so we’re not seeing eye to eye I think I’ll go splash around in the tide. you are so beautiful when you’re upset, it always comes to me as a surprise. I’ll watch your face turn red and green and I will listen to what you’re screaming and when you’re done crying and bitching, I’ll [...]

Rain Song

I I pray for rain nowadays when I see Those dark clouds splayed above me, threatening. I can’t always tell what rain will fall Or what tears you’re crying to comfort me. When the sunset’s burning and crowded for space In the sky with your pain so apparent, Your heart is tearing apart with these [...]

Another Song for a Cure

when the sun sets and the lights come out in the beachfront homes I walk alone to clear my head and cut the sting of the thoughts the end of the day brings they swim alongside my walk, my pace a school of dolphins who splash my face; I don’t always enjoy what they do [...]

Song for a Bedsheet

I am really wondering if I’m lying to myself – you see I’m good at what I do and that’s lying to myself. Oh I hurt and I’m torn and don’t know what to I can do I need to talk-to-a-certain-someone and that one is myself when does it end? all the questions and waiting [...]

Yelling and Screaming About How Good I Am in Bed

I I am the poet that you long for. I have powers seething in my pen, Poems and poems as a storm-whipped sea, Songs that make you forget to breathe. This is the something to love, not fall for; Pedestalled I glitter but don’t grow. You don’t want to watch, you want to know How [...]

To be a DJ

the DJ comes with a lot of power: the President, me (the good one) surprises and pleases eliciting happy yells smiles and sighs from the crowd; it is all for me. I see faces light up as they soak with sweat dripping shaking moving all around, recognition of another song loud and in your ears [...]

Imitation of Jazzie B from Soul II Soul

check this out: I keep on moving don’t stop the clock I can’t keep on without the tick-tock so I I walk on, rock on, keeping my shoes on I hear you sigh and sing the blues on the corner by the storefront windows. I stop and I listen. I remember us doing some kissin’ [...]

He Stood Like a Tree

he stood like a tree on the edge of a cliff before the sea and raised his arms as if wearing a cloak, as if they were wings. his voice flew to the clouds in the sky calling them to fly for him. the breathing of the wind hummed in his ears, the earth fell [...]

$ympathy

so nothing happened between us. is that what you believe? is it easy to forget me? is it easy just to leave? I don’t want your sympathy. I don’t know if you lie when you tell me that you really love me. what do I believe? I don’t want your sympathy. don’t stay if you [...]

Pop Song #1

if you come to me, I will be whatever you need. I will kiss your tears, I will be your strength, you just need to call on me. I can’t tell you what the answers will be, but I’ll hold you tight against all your fears, you just need to call on me.

Tu Eres Mi Solana

tu eres mi solana. tu eres mi bonita calabasa. tu eres mi solana, y tu solamente tu eres de mio. yo necesito su cuerpo en mi cama, yo quiero todo su voz en mi vida. yo te amo, te amo, te amo, te amo, te amo. sin tu, yo voy a matarme. (chorus) tu eres [...]

Untitled Poem #10

Little bird sitting on the windowsill Why is it that you look so ill? What is the matter? What is wrong? You no longer brighten the day with song. Your eyes are sad, your feathers ruffled With what unwholesome beast have you scuffled? Your spirit is broken, like your bent wing The clear notes of [...]

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide, Nitrous Oxide N2O, N2O Great hallucinogenic, great hallucinogenic Fry brain cells Fry brain cells [sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques”]