THERE IT WAS
READY FOR MY EARS
THE MUSIC ROLLING
IN FROM THE FESTIVAL
OF A LIFETIME
MONTEREY READY
TO CELEBRATE
ONCE MORE,
I CUED IT UP
AND LISTENED TO
SOME AMAZING
SOUNDS OF THAT
ERA,
WHERE JANIS SNAGGED
THE SPOTLIGHT
AND ERIC BURDON
SANG ABOUT ALL
THE BANDS
WHO TORE UP
THE BIG STAGE
AT THE FAIRGROUNDS:
BEFORE WOODSTOCK
BEFORE ANYONE HEARD
HENDRIX
THEY ALL CLIMBED
ABOARD,
AND I TURNED IT
UP TO FIFTY
BLASTING THE
WALLS AND BOOKS
THE MIRRORED DOOR
OF A HOUSE MOST
CERTAINLY AROUND
AT THAT TIME,
THE MUSIC
OF SAM COOKE
AND THE DEAD,
SHINING THROUGH
RASTY CHORDS
AND RESONATING
WITH CLAPTON
AND RUBBER LIPS,
KEITH AND THE BOYS,
“SOMETHIN HAPPENING
HERE”, BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD
SHINING FROM THE SHORES
OF BIG SUR,
THEY STARTED AT ALL
THE RIGHT PLACES
AND LANDED TOGETHER
IN THE HEARTS OF A
COUNTRY HUNGRY FOR
HOT LICKS
AND NAKED CHESTS
FLOWER POWER
MUSIC THAT
CUT THROUGH
THE CRAP AND
MADE YOU STAND
UP AND SCREAM,

HE BRINGS THE
PRARIE WIND
AND WRY HUMOR
ARRIVING WITH
TOOLS FOR REPAIRS
NO AIRS
ABOUT HIM,
MOSTLY BEARING
GIFTS
SOME OBVIOUS
SOME NOT
THE BOX IS FULL
OF IDEAS
AND SKILLS
ACCUMULATED
OVER THE YEARS
OF CHILDREN
AND MUSIC
CARRYING THE
POINTED ROOFS OF
TAHITI BACK
INTO THE STATES
ALONG WITH A LOVE
OF THE SOUTH
PACIFIC,
THE TRAVELER
HAS ALMOST
VANISHED
BUT I SEE HIM
HIDING THERE
BEHIND NEW SHADES
READY TO RIDE
THE HILLS OF MY
TOWN, RACING
ON PATHS I
HAVE NEVER SEEN
IT IS MORE HIS DREAM
AND REALITY
ALL THE SECRET
TRICKS
WITH WHICH HE
WILL SURPRISE
AND REPAIR,
FIX THE GATE
POWER UP THAT
MACHINE AND SAW
WHILE WE LISTEN
TO THE MUSIC
OF A GENIUS
WHO CARRIES
THE MELANCHOLY
AND DISTINCTIVE VOICE
INTO OUR SENSES
DECORATING DAYS
THAT HAVE COME
AFTER A LESSON FROM
GOD
SPEAKING THE TRUTH
OF THE NATURE
AND PLIGHT,

TODAY I AM THANKFUL:
SO FULL OF GRATITUDE
FOR MY LIFE
MY HOME
AND A NEW
ATTITUDE,
THE WARMTH OF
THE SUN AS IT
SHINES ON MY BACK
WALKING THE HILLS
AND FIELDS OF ATTACK,
WHILE TORRENTS OF
RAINWATER
GUSH ON BY
I AM SO THANKFUL
THAT TODAY IS DRY
WHILE THE
MOON’S WIDE EYE
GLOWS
IN THE DARKEST SKY
(LAST NIGHT)
WHAT A SIGHT:
STARS TWINKLING
AND THE MILKY WAY
SMILING AT ME
WHAT MORE CAN
I SAY
BEFORE I REALIZE
THESE ARE THE
GIFTS THAT CARRY
AND LIFT,
THE TREASURES
AND DREAMS
THE THINGS WITHOUT
MEASURE:
MY BROTHER
MY SISTER
THE HOURS OF
PLEASURE
WHILE
CREATING MY BOOKS
AND CASTING ASUNDER
UNBEARABLE STRANDS
THE JOY OF
GIFTING TO
OPEN HANDS
THAT UNDERSTAND
MY MEANING,
SO IF YOU ARE
LEANING
INTO THE DEPTHS
LOOK AROUND
AND SEE
WHAT LIFE CAN BE:

IT HAPPENED THE
DAY WHEN
OTHER THINGS
WERE GOING ON,
BUT THIS EVENT
FAR OUTREACHED
THE GRAYHAIRED/
BLOND GUY
(WHALER BEACHED),
FOR THE POWER
OF THE FEMININE
THE GATHERING
OF WOMEN
ROSE UP IN ARMS
TRIPPING ALL THE
STRONG ALARMS:
WE ARE MARCHING
TO BE HEARD
SO LISTEN TO
OUR EVERY WORD
WE HAVE A LOT
TO SAY:
MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS
AUNTS, MARAUDERS,
BLACK AND WHITE
AND RED,
WE STORMED UPON
WASHINGTON
TO SHOW THE WORLD
WE ARE NOT GONE
OR EVEN QUIET
WE HAVE COME TO
CAUSE A RIOT
A DISTANCE BETWEEN
THE WILD AND
THE GREEN,
AND NONSENSE BETRAYED
WE ARE NOT AFRAID
TO STAND UP STRAIGHT
BECAUSE WE WILL NOT
HAVE TO WAIT
FOR LONG:
OUR SONG IS NOW,
TODAY, THIS MINUTE
COMING CLOSE TO
OUR FINAL LIMIT
YOU MUST NOT TAKE
OUR RIGHTS AWAY,
GIVEN ONCE
WE KNOW WE MAY
HAVE BOUNDARIES
BUT LISTEN CAREFULLY
TO OUR VOICE,
WE ARE SPEAKING
FOR THE COMMON
CHOICE,
THE GIRL
WHO IS YOUNG
AND JUST BEGUN,
AND THE WOMAN
WITH LITTLE TO SHOW
FOR YEARS OF OPPRESSION
FROM ABOVE AND
BELOW,
TO THE IMMIGRANT
FEMS AND THE MIRACLE
GEMS WHO FOUND
THEIR FREEDOM
BEHIND THE STATUE
OF LIBERTY,
UNAFRAID, BOLD AND
RARELY SOLD
SUCH A BILL
OF GOODS AS THESE,

AMIDST ROASTING ALMONDS
AND PACKAGES DELIVERED
LIGHTS WENT UP
AND BRANCHES QUIVERED
AS OUR TREE BLINKED WILD
T’WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS
FOR A HAPPY CHILD,
MY FRIENDS CRACKED CRAB
IN THE HOUSE OF TESTOSTERONE:
A FLOURISHING LOVING
PARTY TO OWN,
BUT FIRST CAME THE BOOKS:
THE LONG SIDEWAYS LOOKS
A BIT OF DESPAIR
WE HAD TO MAKE SURE
THEY WERE PACKED
AND ALL THERE,
AND SOON THEY ARRIVED
IN A PAIR OF TRUCKS
EACH ONE MORE SHINY
AND BEARING GOOD LUCK,
THE BEDLAM BEGAN
IN A STUDIOUS WAY
LIKE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL
AND READY TO PLAY,
LIFTING AND CARTING
ALWAYS OUTSMARTING
THE VERY NEXT ACT,
THEY WOULD SURELY
BE BACK,
SO AFTER TWO DAYS
OF HAULING THE TOMES
WE FINALLY GOT THEM
ALL SET UP AT HOME,
AND CHRISTMAS BEGAN
IN A MOST PROPER WAY
BAKING THE COOKIES
FOR LATER THAT DAY,
MOULDING AND SHAPING
THE NEW RECIPE
IT WAS REALLY GOOD FUN,
AND SOMETHING
TO SEE,
WE WENT TO JOSE’S
FOR THE MEXICAN SPICE,
WITH SNAZZY FISH TACOS
FRESH BEANS AND RICE,
MAKING A LIST
TO BE SURE OF OURSELVES
WE ENTERED THE SPACE
OF THE QUIRKY OLD ELFS,

WE TRAVELED
BY RAIL
A SLINKY CAT’S
TAIL OF A TRAIN:
FLASHING THROUGH
STREETS AT FAIRLY
HIGH PACE,
STOPPING FOR
MORE TO JOIN IN
THE RACE
IT IS MEANT TO
PURLOIN THE
THE COSTLY CAR
TRIP, AND GIVE
YOU A SEAT
OR STANDING GRIP,
THE COPPERS
SLINK BY
IN THE WINK
OF AN EYE,
BOARDING TO
CHECK US OUT/
NO DOUBT
AND GIVE DIRECTIONS
WITH CONCISE PERFECTION
AS WE REACH OUR
DESTINATION
THE FAMOUS 8TH STREET
STATION:
THE GOLDEN LINE
SO PURE AND FINE
IT’S THE ENTRANCE
TO A NEW PLACE
WITH A CAPITOL
SHINE:
THE LOOMING ARENA
ALL FRESHLY BUILT
DESIGNED TO IMPRESS
DIG INTO THE HILT,
AS WE FALL INTO LINE
WITH THE HOVERING
MASSES
EVERYONE SCRAMBLES
FOR TICKETS AND
PASSES,
FOR SECURITY WAITS
AT THREE JAM
PACKED GATES
AND FUNNEL
THE CROWD
A TUNNEL SO LOUD
WITH COWBELLS
AND BANNERS
LOTS OF SWEET FACES
WITH VERY FEW
MANNERS,
WE CRUNCH DOWN
TO ONE AND PASS
THROUGH
THEN COME OUT
INTO THE QUEUE
WHERE SPOTLIGHTS
ABOUND,

POOR MR. GILMORE
WHO IS KNOWN
BY HIS FRIENDS
AS THE AVID READER
WITH THE POISON PEN,
SPEWING
AND STEWING
RAKING AND FAKING,
HE HASN’T GOT
LAID
IN AT LEAST
TWO DECADES,
BUT TROWLS
ABOUT
WITH HIS SNIPPY
BIG SNOUT
PUSHED AGAINST
WINDOWS OF SIN,
(HE JUST
DOESN’T KNOW
WHERE TO BEGIN)
GRITTING AND
GRINDING HIS
OLD YELLOW TEETH
HE REACHES FOR
ANYTHING
AND GETS HIS
RELIEF
BY SLAMMING
AND BAMMING
THE PAGES OF LORE
NO MATTER OR
MIND
OF WHAT GOES
BEFORE,
HOPING HIS SINEWY
CRABBED
LITTLE HANDS
WILL PUT FORTH
THE POISON
ALL CRITICS
DEMAND,
AND UPON
DISCOVERY
WITH A MAJOR
RECOVERY
I LAUGHED UNTIL
I COULD NOT,
BUT WONDERING
EXACTLY
WHAT WAS HIS
PLOT,
A FAILED YOUNG
WRITER,
OR REJECTED
OVERNIGHTER,
WHAT CAUSES
THIS NASTY
SICK SPEW,
HE WANTS TO
REMAIN
AT THE TOP
OF HIS GAME,
CRUCIFY
ME AND YOU,

HA, THIS IS
NOT A PLAY ON WORDS
ALTHOUGH THEY MAY
BE DEFINED ABSURD,
OR A TRITE MESSAGE
ABOUT SUPERHEROS
OR METEORS OR BLASTS
WITH A ZILLION ZEROS,
BUT MORE LIKE
THE NEW WAY
TO TRAVEL AND
THRIVE
ON A SLICK SILVER KEY
CALLED THE
FLASH DRIVE,
THE BEEHIVE
OF COOL TECH
A SHINY LOGO
SO CIRCUMSPECT:
THEY DO AMAZING
THINGS
WITH A SMALL
LITTLE RING
OR A KEY
OR A SPHERE,
LOOK AT HERE:
WE CAN ENGRAVE
OR PAINT
MOST ANYTHING
QUAINT
(OR NOT)
YET IT WILL
BE HOT,
MOST LIKELY
YOU’LL FIND
A QUERY IN
MIND
WHEN OPENING
UP THE FOLDER,
WE ARE SENDING
THE GOODS
A LITTLE BIT BOLDER:
JUST PUSH INTO
A CONNECTION
OF VERY SWEET
TECH PERFECTION,
IT LOADS IN A
SECOND
FLASHING ONTO
YOUR SCREEN,
(TINY OR MEAN)
WITH THE DATA
MEANT TO
EXPRESS YOUR
SCHEMES
THE OBVIOUS
FIRE OF A
TV SHOW
DESIGNED
TO INSPIRE
DESIRE,

SHE APPEARED SEVERAL TIMES
AT A SLIGHT DISTANCE
TAKING TINY STEPS
WITH CAREFUL RESISTANCE,
QUITE A SIGHT
ON SUCH
ROCKY TERRAIN,
UNLIKELY TO BE THERE
I WONDERED JUST HOW AND
FROM WHERE SHE CAME,
BUT THIS IS A TIME
WHERE UNUSUAL CRIMES
AND ANTICS ARE PRIME,
I CONTINUED,
NOT QUESTIONING
OR TALKING
OR GESTURING,
JUST CLIMBING
EXPLORING A PLACE
NEW AND FREE
OLD WORLD HOUSES
AND HISTORY,
THEN CAME THE DAY
WHEN THE WIND AND
THE RAIN
WERE MISTING AROUND
AND THE STREETS
WITHOUT SOUNDS
GAVE FORTH
THIS LADY,
CLOSER AND SHADY,
SHE WAS COVERED
FROM HEAD TO TOE,
WITH A HUGE
UMBRELLA HAT:
IMAGINE THAT,
HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE,
AS I APPROACHED
SHE STOPPED AND WAITED
AND SPEAKING CLEARLY
HER WORDS WERE DEARLY
AND ALMOST NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE YET SWEET:
“BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL
AND SO BRAVE”
IT WAS QUITE A STRANGE
THING AND WAY TO BEHAVE,
I SMILED AND WALKED ON
SLOGGING ALONG
AS IF AN ANGEL APPEARED,
IT WAS TOTALLY WEIRD,
BUT SHE WAS NOT DONE
WHEN THE TIME HAD COME
TO MEET ME AGAIN,
AND CONTINUE HER WHIMS,
SPEAKING HER MANTRA
AGAIN AND AGAIN:
“BEAUTIFUL” SHE SAID,
YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL”,
I THANKED HER
LIKE A CHILDISH TOOL,
AND WONDERED WHERE
SHE LIVED, WALKING AROUND
IN SATIN SLIPPERS
AND SHINY COATS
WITH A LOT OF ZIPPERS,

IT WAS A DAY
TO REMEMBER
KNEW IT WOULD BE
HOW COULD IT NOT
A DREAM FROM
YEARS AGO, COME
TRUE,
PERFECT WEATHER
COOL COMPANY
GREAT CREW
JUST ME
AND YOU,
PLUS SOME
CARROT BOMBS
DIVINE ROASTED ALMONDS
COOL TECHNICIANS
THE FAMOUS VIRGIN
COCKTAILS
ENJOYED ON THE SAME
PORCH WHERE HE
HIMSELF SAT DURING
MANY SOIRIEES
I’M GUESSING,
THE MASTER WITH
HIS DOG AND MASSIVE
STATURE LEADING
THE CHARGE,
HENRY WOULD HAVE
ENJOYED THE
BACK AND FORTH
THE TALES OF
INDECENT ACTIVITIES
IN THE OLDEN DAYS
OF THE BIG SUR
LEGEND, MOSTLY
PROBABLY REPEATED
A MILLION TIMES,
BUT IT IS TRUE
THAT THE BAD BOY
OF LITERATURE,
WAS A MAN WHO TOLD
IT LIKE IT WAS
AND IS,
UNAFRAID OF NAYSAYERS
OR ANYTHING
AGAINST HIS
RADICAL TALENT,