OPEN MIC ENCORE May

OPEN MIC ENCORE - Part I
May, 2002

Friday

Britney Joanou

I found out on Friday

My heart was shot

I didn't make it

I wasn't good enough.

Everyone put me down

like a dog being put to sleep.

Friday was the day I cried and weeped.

Everyday I think, can Monday never come?

When I have to face everyone.

I found out on Friday I did not,

no I did not make the next year Cheer Squad.

~!~

I got drunk in St. Louis

My stark insanity worn like a Monday man’s tie

I saw my pale bones in the broken cracks of sidewalks time

I yelled for you Ginsburg

But you did not come to your super market in America

Walt Whitman was in the produce section

And Ferlinghetti might have been in dairy

Ginsburg, Ginsburg I was drunk for you

I was drunk for you in St. Louis

Ginsburg, Ginsburg

Why didn’t you come with Neal Cassidy?

That quill on my abdomen was your beacon

You did not heed, you did not heed

I declared my love for you in the sounds of nothing, the light of nothing, in everything’s nothing

Ginsburg I did not bleed for you, I mutilated

But you were with some boy in Tangiers while basking in the rays of a sunflower

Kuerac couldn’t make it for me

He was on the road again lost in Denver looking for wild eyes and his friend Sal

You did not here my screaming whisper of triumph

The lost daughter of the beat

I found my talent again

At 1:35 am Tuesday

Under turquoise and pink gilded skies

I found the words that rang since my conception in a dark dank cup

While waiting to go home

I am a poet again

Ginsburg Ginsburg

I yelled for you

But you never came to your supermarket in America

Whitman was in produce

And Ferlinghetti might have been in dairy

Tina Hoffman

~!~

MAY THE IMAGE FOREVER HAUNT YOU
dianne sweetser

You saw me once

you saw me twice

you walked away once

you walked away twice

Your footsteps were heard once

then no more as

your footsteps were heard

walking out the door

You held me once

and then with no thought

you loosened your grasp

and let me go without a tear

And still

I think of you now and again

but the thoughts are soon forgotten

with memories of how

You saw me once

you saw me twice

you walked away once

you walked away twice

Dedicated to my mother I will never come to know

~!~

Recognize

Gabrielle McDaniel

Recognize all those people in your life who have made a difference.

Who raised you, bathed you, took care of you when you were sick?

Who loved you, hugged you, was always by your side?

Just take a little moment out of your busy life, to thank them.

Remember they've always been there

~!~

ONE AUTUMN DAY

by Emily Rose

I walked along the forest during one autumn day,

The trees were bare and the air was cold beneath a sky so gray.

I watched the gold and scarlet leaves dance along the wind;

So graceful, twirling around, as if they were at play.

The ground beneath the path I walked was frozen very hard,

It led me to a tall big tree, standing there on guard.

Its branches spread like tentacles, brittle and so dark.

I stared at patterns swirl around, quite interesting was its bark.

I continued my walk through and through till I came upon a pond,

Its beauty touched my very soul and at once my heart grew fond.

I longed to linger yet- alas! My beautiful journey was about to end,

for the bright golden sun was setting, just around the bend.

So off I went back down the lane that carried me away,

And as I left that wonderland I bowed my head to pray.

I prayed to God to thank him for the miracle he'd done,

For a little bit of heaven on earth is a perfect gift for one.

~!~

In The Winter
Matt Purland

I love her in the winter when the shops are laden

With special packages for Christmas tables

I love her in the evening when the dying embers

Light the corner of the room where my heart was mended

I love her in the morning when the post is brought

That summons me away to a far off calling

I love her in the spring when my tears have welled

And I struggle to remember what we did for love.

~!~

Procrastination
by jennifer miller

Like a puzzle you put aside,

To finish some rainy day

The closet you’ll clean,

At a later date

I'm feeling this is wrong.

Why do we always wait?

Everything in you,

Will do all these things...

...Someday

I can’t relate to later days.

Today is all we have,

Or all we will ever have,

At this very moment.

~!~

*Alone*

Jessica Fry

Alone in this world

fighting off the pain

Not knowing why; or

even what's to gain

Scared of the future

regrets of the past

Running forever

but not very fast

Wanting a way out

yet finding none

Lying in wait

for all to be done

Alone in this world

with nowhere to turn

Still to keep going

till there's nothing to learn.

~!~

Listen to my actions

artistic depravent

guidelines fading slowly

less expensive to prevent

hollow sounds protruding

pierced eardrums somewhat bent

pillows bled through dreamscapes

purpose dismissed, not sent

thinking one four times three

bakers dozen represent

trap door stage abuse

stuck with rubber cement

ceiling holes beam sunlight

new hope for blessed event

dreams keep men from perishing

at least that I think he meant.

Andrew

~!~

DIFFICULT DECISIONS

Jerry Babbage

Caught between two worlds

Which one do I choose?

two deities might be a better description

Who do I serve?

both gave birth to me

When was I first conceived?

both have been a mother and father to me

How can this be so?

I can't make both happy

Who is more important?

I feel obligated to both

Why do I feel this way?

Caught between two loves

How do I decide which to

truly love when

I love both?

~!~

I think I’ll take a walk in the cold

My mind troubles me

I’m sick of this all, its getting old

I long for that which will set me free.

I think I’ll take a walk in the rain

Its been a bad day

I can barely control my pain

Maybe I should learn to pray

I think I’ll take a walk in the night

I don’t like this

The path I’ve taken doesn’t seem right

And I thought I couldn’t miss

I think I’ll take a walk with you

I don’t have anything figured out yet

No million dollar home

No flashy clothes

But this much you can bet

My life of walking alone is through

-Kevin Moriarty

~!~

FLOWER

Linda Dominique Grosvenor

Innocently I dangle in the breeze

that pulls back my petals

and exposes my nectar.

The sun confirms that

this is my season as the heat ripens me

and the skies quench my thirst.

I pose discretely

wanting to be admired

never plucked or uprooted.

You pass my way

filling your nostrils on

the sweetness of my being,

landing in my space

tempting me with the buzzing

of your wings --

and the melody of your song,

promising not to alter my essence,

vowing to never sting me.

~!~

PAIN
Written by Ebony b*k*a Ms. Boo Boo

The causes of pain and the wonderful night.

Why so undecided to the decisions that may cause trouble.

Tears of joy but they always seem to change.

Bored to the days instead it never pays.

Death and evil is what surround my well-being.

Not enough love and not enough life can make up for my pain and strife.

Wondering how to experience life without the pain and suffering.

My own identity questioned and I sometimes wonder who I am.

Crazy and devious but there is no clue, stabilizing myself to succeed through the day but all I can do is pray.

~!~

Maybe In a While
Lindsay L

Now don't take it too hard my friend

But I've been down this road again and

again, but this time I've had enough.

I will admit I've done some wrong

But this time I'm going to be strong

At first, you reached out with a hand

I felt so safe don't you understand.

Then you would make me cry and I felt like

I wanted to die.

The closeness that I offered belongs

to mighty few.

To many wounds upon my heart

So now I walk away

But for right now my wall stays high:

I hope you understand

But maybe in a while, time will mellow me

and you offer a hand.

I will let you back in to be my friend.

~!~

Exuberant Force
Michelle Dawkins

Sometimes i ascend slowly--like the tide creeping onto the shore in the early morning hours until suddenly there i am--full with the feeling of bliss, feeling like i am standing on the edge of a cliff--breathless, excited, frightened of the beauty i see and feel. Others, i am floating along through the water and suddenly--Full Force--i can't breathe, think of anything except the extremity of the situation. i am falling over the cliff, yet i am rising higher and higher as i fall. the feeling is so intense it is almost unbearable. how did i get here? where am i? --Breathe-Breathe-- i can't go any further or i fear i will lose myself...it is so wonderful, yet so frightening, this feeling of absolute joy. something alluded to when one mentions paradise or heaven...this is the energy i feel.

~!~

My Grandpa fought in World War II and so has yours too he was brave and not afraid he fought for our country so we could have all this that we have today and still the red white and blue stands, stands for our country which we are united still today.

Kevin Baskis

~!~

Battle Scars
Beverly A.Timmerman 8/98

Scarred from battles in my life

lost in pain and fear

always pushing you away

yearning for you near

I struggle each and everyday

to keep you by my side

war wounds deep not healing

causing me to hide

How long will I keep putting off

the things that need to be

the things that need to be worked out

so the you I see is me?

~!~

Family Portrait/Picture Perfect
Karen

Frozen in Time

A memory that never fades

Fake smiles to hide the pain

A Family Portrait

Picture Perfect

Some would say

But if you look through my eyes

It wouldn't be the same

Father

There's something you should know

No money, fake smile or hug

Could ever heal my soul

To me it's all a big show

Mom

A faded picture in a frame

Shows others we cared

But do they know my pain?

Do they know I cry at night?

Do they know my constant fight for sanity?

As I pour my heart on paper

I picture a family portrait

As tears filled my eyes

My heart slowly dies

I remember better times

As our family portrait comes to mind.

~!~

Time

Jaimie

Smiling times, crying times, laughing times

Life is like a roller coaster

But not only from emotions

>From the experiences that present themselves

Good times, bad times, sad times

All of these memories will live inside forever

And when added together the answer is clear

The product is life, and living

~!~

over my shoulder

a still bird

sings

michael rehling

~!~

Distant Lands
Alia El

In absolute wordlessness and blindness I contemplated.

Should I attempt to invade his earth?

Similarities are killing me softly...right down to the date of our birth.

I silently whispered to his spirit being...come to me,

His flesh wasn't aware that his mind would soon be with me.

I feel the necessity to be an element of his terrestrial sphere,

Shades of gray, visions of darkness and rejection I fear,

I felt an intimate chill journey down my spine (OH GOD) his spirit was near.

I conversed with him telepathically, although he didn't say much,

But I knew he was feeling me with out the slightest touch.

He made it apparent that he respects the love that I have for him and that it's not a lie.

But he doesn't quite understand it, so he asked me why?

I responded with an utterance that touched his soul,

Never question LOVE, "IT IS WHAT IT IS," my spirit craves for it like a thief in a temple who desires gold.

At this very moment, I'm scanning his mind; he's thinking; she's rash, she's irregular, she's outrageous, she's insightful, she's conscious, she's an investment, and she's wise,

He's thinking damn; I LOVE HER TOO! I'm not all surprised.

Last night, I took him to territories that he never knew existed.

Last night I took him to Distant Lands, a place that he'll often want to visit.

~!~

ILL TIDINGS

Andres M. Confesor Jr.

Time withers hope

As it does a hapless sprout

Without a glimpse of warm sunshine

Or a soft nudge of gentle rain

Time takes life

As it does a desperate robin

Now a cold carcass beneath the baleful cries

Of its famished young

Time imprisons love

As it does a staggering soldier

Once mighty and brave

Her fair face he shall never again see

As light shall touch his lost sight

~!~

Harsh Reality
Dave Simpson

Cries of pain coming form within

Pleas of help silenced from the tears

A regular life invaded by deadly fears

All the pain hidden inside

All the fears outright and plain

Feeling as your a stain

Everything seems wrong

Nothing can go right

It seems no one understands or cares

As you look down the stairs

You decide to fall

As your life flashes before your eyes

You decide not to fall

But you're already falling

Every stair you hit you hear a sickening crack

Bones breaking, skin tearing

As you lay lifeless on the floor

Depression quickly overcomes you

Wishing it didn't happen

Wanting to go back in time

Live all over again

Looking at the ceiling

Staring into space

Wanting to get up and walk around

Wanting to be back to normal

Day fades to night as finally someone comes home

Finally the pain goes away

But only little by little

Trying with all your might to stay alive

Trying to keep to your heart beating

The light fades as your eye sight leaves you

You go deaf and a loud ringing fills your ears

Everything going black, breathes getting shorter

Life leaving your body

Losing all feeling

Losing your sense of awareness

Life is going away

Everything starts to come back at an incredible pace

You wake up sweating profusely

As you look around and at yourself

You realize it was only a dream

Walking out of the room, everything is quiet and calm

Looking down the stairs

You fall to your knees

Seeing your dead, lifeless body at the bottom

~!~

JESUS SAVES

MICHAEL LOREN DONALDSON

MY SOUL THE SWORD

GOD PLACED IN THIS SHEATH

MY FEET STUCK IN A GRAVE

JESUS SAVES

U.S. BOLOGNA EATERS

PROCESSED PROJECTS

PROCESSED CHEMICALS

THE DROOL BESIDE THE SPOON

CAREFULLY LIFTING OUR HEADS

NOT TO SLIP NOT TO SPILL

MY DREAMS IN A BAG

GOD PLACED IN FRONT OF ME

JESUS SAVES THE LAST HIT FOR YOU

~!~

MY LIFE
AMANDA FRANKFORD

MY MOTHER AND I

DON'T GET ALONG

BUT THOUGH I TRY

I STILL BELIEVE I DON'T BELONG

SHE SAYS IT'S BECAUSE IM CRAZY

BUT THAT'S NOT HOW I SEE ME

I GUESS EVERYTHING IS JUST TOO HAZY

FOR HER TO REALIZE WHAT I NEED

ALL I NEED IS ACCEPTANCE

FROM BOTH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

I AM SO OVERWHELMED

WITH ALL THE DRUGS AND TRENDS

I FEEL LIKE A STEP-CHILD

IN MY OWN HOUSE

BUT ALL I CAN DO IS SMILE

AND CRAWL UP LIKE A MOUSE

MY LIFE IS A DISASTER

I DON'T EVEN KNOW MY FATHER

IM TRYING TO MASTER

HOW TO BE A GOOD DAUGHTER

I TRY TO HIDE MYSELF

BEHIND A MASK OF HAPPINESS AND LAUGHTER

BUT ALL I KNOW IS

THERE WILL BE A DAY TO BE RECOGNIZED

I GO TO SCHOOL TO RELIEVE MY STRESS

THAT IS SO HIGH AT HOME

BUT JUST GUESS

I HAVE ONLY TWO MORE YEARS TO GO

THEN ILL BE FREE

FREE FROM MY WORRIES, FEARS, AND

MOST OF ALL

THE FEAR OF BEING ME

THE OVERWEIGHT, LOUD, SOCIAL BUG, GIRL

THAT GUYS ONLY WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH.

~!~

THE FIGHT
Assana Kirby

He shouts, she screams

Their mouths contort in wide open anger

The little boy sits there

Huddled, un-noticed

He scolds her,' Stupid ,useless bitch!'

She shrieks back,' Cruel heartless bum!', weeping.

The words swirl around him like a river

Drowning him

Each word washes a part of him away

Pounds him like a waterfall

He can take it no more

He shouts.'SHUT UP!'

Silence, absolute stillness

Unbearable, suffocating void.

Hands reach out

And he is bundled of to bed

With hugs, kisses, soothing words.

Then out they go

To continue their fight behind closed doors.

~!~

A MILLION PIECES

By Torrie Cain

I lay on my stomach with my head in my hands.

The background fills with the tune of my favorite band.

Thoughts of you loop arond in my head;

Like a broken record, your voice plays back again and again,

Being filled with only sorrow and pain.

I take one step into the dark and

Touch your hand to find you all alone again.

You still haven't seen the sun,

But in your life, there is none.

You look ahead at life in doubt.

I grab on in a death-grip embrace, to get you out.

I will hold on forever,

So I can show you something better.

You are such a delicate one.

I can't deny you; I must be strong.

I'll do whatever it takes

To stop all the bleeding that makes

Your world so red.

I could break into a million pieces.

You mean everything to me.

I will be the one to die just to hear you breathe.

You mean everything to me.

~!~

PEASANT LESSON

By Vershima Orvell - Dio

I strolled six miles

This dewish morning

To see a prosperous peasant

And get lessoned from him

The tricks of existence

Unambitious he is,

Yet self sufficient

For about his hut

Were two pepper bushes and cocoyams

I saw some small shells

Which had provided meat

And there must be more

Around the banana forest.

There were some great goats

That shall live eternally.

The car or bus are nothing to him

To him, television is a novel concept

And what seemed a telephone

Was the crafty net work of the genius; spider

The radio was a box that provides asylum

For some lazy, lousy brats

The newspaper, a good material to toilet with.

Soon shall I revert to such life

Of cave dwelling

Like my peasant friend

~!~

OUTSIDE OF EDEN

Debra Almeida

In shame I stood there

Pleading to deaf ears

I now knew sorrow

And endless tomorrows

Behind me, wilderness

Cold and forbidding

Shivering with fright

At the coming night

No where to lay blame

Except at our own feet

It’s so hard to bear

We walk in despair

She weeps, and clings

Too tired, too hungry

From his wrath we have fled

No place to lay our heads

Forgive us, our children

For our inane arrogance

For we were not unaware

When we took the snake’s dare

~!~

I sit in one spot staring straight ahead. For a moment it seems as if I'm dead. Am I a shadow unseen among the dark. Watching all these people playing in the park. No one seems to see me though I sit right here. Not a person looks my way Could that be out of fear. I'll admit I look a fright, I'm quite gentle towards all. But they can't see that in me because they don't know me at all. No one takes notice of me, they just go about their day. My presence must not bother them, as they continue to play. I believe someone over there just shot me a glance. He looked away just as quick and disappeared behind some plants. He's the only one today who has acknowledged I exist. But maybe he didn't see me through this thin grey morning mist.

Brandon Gunn

~!~

ACROSTIC POEM

IN THE RAIN AGAIN
suzanna harati

I'm in the rain again

Not sane again

The water trickles down my cheek

Help me from this leek

Elsewhere it does not rain

Rough on me, it stays the same

And still i sit and wonder why

I'm never ever ever dry

Now under this cloud i sit and stare

At the dripping of water that falls on my hair

Get me out of this cloud

At which i shout out loud

I want to be saved from my gray troubles

Not in the rain where there is always puddles

~!~

TEARING MY SELF APART
Marvin Perez

i look into my hands,

how dare i am,

hating my self like if there was no tomorrow.

stare into space,

wish i was there,

tearing my self apart,

make people stare.

i slice my skin and make it bleed,

fresh wounds is what i need.

i stare at god which he laughs at me,

and all of the angels says fuck you to me.

i sit alone in the dark,

with a hard bed like a rock,

tearing my self apart,

does anybody care?

and im the one that would be dared.

now i see the gun,

knowing that im done.

~!~

The border line

between dark

and white,

between the rational,

and the irrational

becomes thin

when sound becomes silence

and movement turns

a reverberating stasis,

as though you look

into the impenetrable

wilderness of

the vacant hours.

And you were glued

to a single object

that threatens to morph

into an iridescent

correlative.

Rao KR

~!~

Lost
Jillian Munos

The mind is dangerous

Shadowed in the light of the eyes

Looking but yet seeing nothing

The normal life is now unfamiliar

The spoken words are unknown to me

When will I be found?

The light fights

Shimmers coming through the darkness

Yet I still find nothing

Wondering my heart goes

Beating like the rabbit runs

Still searching. . .

But still here

In the Darkness

Without light

Forever Lost. . .

~!~

Foetus Bucket
Daniel Gilbert

An impressive and corrupt doctor

Leads her into the cell

She hastily removes her clothes

She is bare, perfection.

With the speed of a seasoned professional,

The doctor performs his task.

The killing of what is yet to be,

A mere ghost of a human chance.

And what becomes of the non-child,

A premature mass grave

It joins the rest in their timeless orgy

And festers in a grey bucket

Soon to be removed as biological waste,

A waste of the human kind.

~!~

HORRORS
David Cannons

I hide in the dark,

waiting to see,

the horrors that happen before me,

i've seen it all,

from death to rape,

please make it stop for heavens sake,

the crime,

the killing,

all the hate,

make it stop,

get away,

the scream,

the sights,

just go away,

I hide in the dark,

waiting to see,

the horror to go away from me.

~!~

Circles
Jay Morgan

Circles, loops, and driving

Repeat again over

Once more, twice more, forever

On and on, over and over

Forever

Circles

A tangent off the ordinary

a path not beaten

Exodus' of sorts

Breaking the cycle of repedity

A cycle of; forever

Drive to the end of it

Forever running; to the end

In the end

To stop

Smell the breeze

The salt in the air

Oceans of thoughts

Mimicing the circles

~!~

MY TWIN
Carole Ritchie

My sister is the twin of me

Our souls connect and we are free

To tell our thoughts, our hopes, and dreams

Held in our hearts, and yet it seems

There's more than that, which binds our souls

For we have played so many roles

Throughout our lives, it seems to me

We share one heart, one mind but see

Something, sometime in different light

But always a feeling that feels so right

For my dear sister, is the twin of me

Whatever may happen, that's the way it will be

Until the Lord takes one of us

She's my heart, my soul, I will forever trust

Her with my life, as long as I live

She is my twin, that God did give

~!~

The Daffodil
Hazel Garvey

They stand so tall,

just to be kicked down by the idiot child running over the hill.

They are a strange not quite yellow colour, not white, and never described as orange.

I wish I was a Daffodil.

My main purpose to survive the Gremlin child.

I could do it.

I would do it.

I can save my species, and one day,

I WILL!

~!~

My Mind

By G.T. Burnett

My chaotic silence, burns unborn dreams,

darkness whispers silently.

Words without meaning wonder aimlessly.

Sinking desires lost in unthinkable surroundings,

flames of despair rage deep within, consuming

any glimmer of hope, thought to be there.

The flames burn hot as my dreams turn for not,

I'm hopelessly lost in this world, called my mind.

~!~

DAVID

Tari Quentaro

Lady Fortune grins her silver smile

As six thousand four hundred seventy-two

Roman slaves are crucified by the side

Of the road

But still

A Spartacan doom is read in the cards

The downtrodden, the enslaved freemen

Shout with those in bondage

Discontent and pain

Screamed from the cat-eyed gladiator

As agony rips through his mind

The full of rebellion

As bits and pieces of gore

Speed down the straight-edged roads

Caught up in a river of blood

~!~

Stepping-stones
Lynn Blizzard

To be born

Cry before you can talk

Crawl before you walk

Learn to sit before you can stand

Walk first then you run

Young and carefree

No need to worry or fret

Only making a childish bet

A little older but still unwise

Amazed and full of surprise

Thinking it is all sorted out

Wondering what it ‘s really about

Mature as can be

It is still a big mystery

Worries come like never before

Lessons to learn

Goals to be

Money to earn

The story I learned

Life’s stepping-stones have to be earned.

~!~

PROGRESS

Dara McGee

This was the place where the freaks met

with their faded denim and tie-dyed shirts

long hair shining

or not--

"Hey man, far out..."

"Hey man, you holding?"

"Groovy..."

"I think we can change the world."

"Man, just dig on those clouds for awhile...."

"Yeah, we can change the world...."

"Keep on truckin, man..."

"We want the world and we want it (when?) NOW!!!!

"Gonna end the war..."

"Gonna change the world!"

Now it's a Walmart

~!~

SAM'S FIRST TANKA

(heatherleigh)

Two playground swings sway

from a gust of God's breath, child-

less. I thought our ghosts

would play together nice, but

your ghosts try to beat me up.

~!~

The Resurrection

In a woodland pond heralding

the first day of Spring,

ecstatic to be resurrected

from their icy tomb,

with utter abandon

a cacophony of frogs

"make a joyful noise

unto the Lord!"

~!~

King Cowboy is a young fellow, only 17. His bright eyes filled with love, even while he grazes. His dark red hair, freshly groomed, shines as bright, as a moon lit field. Every morning comes he patiently waits, for me bring him his grain and hay and of course a special treat.

He sees me in the afternoon, expecting a grooming. I pile up the grooming tools, and talk to him as I brush. His mane and tail so beautiful, that's why I fell in love with him. I tease him about his beauty, as he nudges me softly.

His ride is so smooth, his canter fast as breeze. His ears go back towards me, waiting for words to please. My horse is my friend, my companion, one who will never tell my secrets, I'm so glad I have him, my special gentleman.

When riding with others, I can see King Cowboy's disappointment, as he only wants, just him and I to share the ride together. He must be in the lead, to show off his rider, because he is proud to have me as his partner.

Today he leaves me, so sad, but it's true. He threw me off to protect me, as he falls to his death. I rub his poor face, as he takes his last breaths. Tears fall as he looks at me while I hold his heavy head. My heart is so broken, my friend is now gone.

I walk to the paddock, remembering his eyes, full of life. He is waiting to greet me an of course for his treat. All I have left is an empty space, a bag full of apple treats, and his brushes and combs.

To my sweet King Cowboy this is for you, you will always be remembered in my broken heart of mine. You were truly a gentle horse, and my very special friend.

Dena Hunt - May 8, 2002

~!~

THE BROKEN HORSE