e-over and e-nearly out
bet you didn't want your shoes to squeak
too loud case they thought you'd cramp
their style
bet you didn't want them to know
you were going to a poetry show
bet you ran the risk
of a crumpled shirt
spitting knuckle-fist
them thinking - he's a man of letters
filing pages for the courthouse
anticipating
pontificating
procrastinating
implicating
says here, right here on the page
ooh! he's a dude, baby!
cool as night air
one of them paper rappas
night alley cat
put it there man
in the midst of my forgiveness
here take a dollar
we thought you was a lawyer!
Helen Hagemann
>Puttin' In Work For National Poetry Month
>
>April 29th
>Tale end of the Cruelest Month
>
>Got a reading at 5 O Clock
>
>Wasn't gonna be no money in it
>Wasn't gonna be no crowd at it
>Wasn't gonna be no glory for it
>
>But a poet gotta put in work
>For his set
>
>Set
>Put in work
>Gangsta words
>Later on would prove most apropos
>
>Nice sunny Sunday afternoon
>Thought I'd walk
>
>Chose my route
>
>Beware
>
>Gotta mind the turfs
>Crip Killas Blood Killas Vice Lord Killas BGD Killas
>Unafilliated Crazy Freelance Civilian Killas
>
>Cut through Fairgrounds Park
>Folks mostly chillin
>Horseshoes softball playin fishin
>
>3800 Block of Lee
>People barbecuin'
>On the porch laughin talkin
>
>2 guys under their hoods workin
>Millers drinkin
>I passed so close
>I could have had a sip
>
>Not 20 minutes after I strolled through
>2 guys in black bandanas
>Rolled up and sprayed 'em
>Don't know their offense
>Bet they wasn't no bystanders innocent
>
>Gangland dirt
>Not only poets puttin in work
>
>I did'nt find out about it 'til late that night
>
>My reading went great
>Had a good time
>
>Chris Hayden
>
>
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