SOCCERS
2. Sons of Babble 3. On the Nose 4. Oh God, Tomorrow 5. The Fareman 6. Sticky 7. On Sixth and Green 8. Done Everywhere 9. Walter Ego 10. Babylon Afternoon 11. Earth Infinities 12. Shopper
DUSTER I am space dust leftover heavens spare pares for stars tracked by comets flying all around the cosmic household Now serving on fine China sitting on shelf tops sleeping under beds retiring in cracks and relaxing Until the housemaid comes along plucks me up in her duster and shakes me back outside r.f.Lee SONS OF BABBLE The people of earth speak now only in flat, parallel technologies. None can understand the other. specialists do not recognize other specialists. Soon power is gained by the sons of Babble. Information tracks are remixed one by one adding together as beams become a bridge. Techniques turn into understanding while a new language is spoken. As tubes are turned on specialists’ walls are crossed easily by everyone. Videokids create global electronic bridges between all the people of earth and themselves
ON THE NOSE Everything I see is Jello on the nose of a Joker who has missed his Dinner while waiting for a Train to Heaven where he can see without looking.
OH GOD, TOMORROW Friday night shadows on the windows haunt the train far away. Giggles echo through tower tree parks as midnight ramblers bring home the day just thinking longingly wishing they could make it last “Oh god, tomorrow” they’ll say. For the workers a waiting blues walks the aisles tonight. Friday’s check is due next week and till then there is nothing left but just thinking longingly wishing they could make it last. “Oh god, tomorrow” they’ll say. Last train now by this time running empty eats a spark for dinner. Leaning back and roaring easily ahead another mile while just thinking electronically it will never say “Oh god, tomorrow.”
THE FAREMAN
everyday with the fareman; whether beggar, worker, chief, fares come one by one surely wizardry or luck he shows there’s no hand here no tools there to make it all just fareman magic running tall humming now coming on across the day saying only pay the way only pay the way. All he knows no time to rest laboring to find his own settlement from out of the air to sleep awhile and call it home until the next one comes along a hand appears across the gate sinhce working hours have come so soon to start the craft and take the wheel all that must be done todayk if only one does pay the way only pay the way * * * He crosses rivers streams of time without a friend but copper coins riders’ toll for changing places having nothing much to do but come to give it all away give it all to pay the way only pay the way. Fareman simply stands aloof hand on head looking to the sky counting spinning ticket wheels many measures of his mind business of “give the business” grows in kind. Treasures made of travelers’ dust need a chest and lock to hold guarded by the outer heavens earning more than six percentage point that the Fareman saves himself the way fares come and go saying only pay the way only pay the way. r.f.Lee STICKY The truly poorest child has the biggest piece of bubble gum and can’t blow a bubble.
ON SIXTH AND GREEN Watching on the corner action easy bus and car kids of game vehicle parents go loop scooping tonight Corner deli closes early leaving eaters to the streets soaking like pickles in exhaust quarter beer runs ‘em pack after pack on summer nights No one talks to Bobber in his GTO who thought he could stop and take in all the sights all that fun for one Coming in late the nights have what you need until the light goes red down at the corner of Fifth and Green.
DONE EVERYWHERE Do everywhere do in the air floating between us walk and talk too words of we do dirty words of do’ers small and snickery nose tickling do’s Do in the air do it in pairs fornicating dew laid on the ground do under beds stuck into sweat old and well traveled get it on do Do a double dare do in a country fare fighting and huffing settling on losers do’s on the field dues of the players ready for action three out of five do Do that is there do that is rare secret and unseen yet waiting at night Do of old books do in test tubes not yet defined experimental doings Doing a prayer do never care wishing and hoping not left all alone Dreams of doing do for today always created everywhere done r.f.Lee BABYLON AFTERNOON The city shudders as engines cough and die using fantasy for fuel’ concrete and steel dreams eating breakfast made of soot try to move in the morning, gasping to make it on time. While reaching to the sky a lone pillar, silent and feeble, struggles in its stone mind to feel the breeze, to find the light heaven has sent, but ends up wondering just how. Cracks first begin before mortar has begun to set. Progress means to move along while upper stories build on voids fill up with air. As though time could be bent like plastic everywhere to cover up what stays behind directions, changes, losses counted then entered on the tally sheer grow impossible to keep in mind, slip past any understanding. * * * Scoreboard winners change every day but not every player wins. Future is the joker waiting on every card for gambles taken and taxed till one tomorrow then forever free. Silent dreams have always known while prophets smile to themselves showing all who learn they can tell the wind’s new direction circling the pillar, Babylon’s Tower till the last day arrives. Once a quiet sea gave birth to the land and to life and living now lost in the mazes of daily accounting, the counting and forgetting as if there is nothing lasting to know. The city shudders though no one may be afraid that the afternoon will look any different’ with certainty this season will pass. At the end of all this dreaming, feeling unfelt, sight unseen, the falling tower itself will warn us we will wake up too late. Then live. r.f.Lee EARTH INFINITIES While speaking of space But walking in lines We waste two dimensions. Sing a song of circles. Where is the conductor Who knows every score? Who can lead us all together While directing us alone? r.f.Lee SHOPPER Shopper Glides around the avenue Never looking left or right. She painted fine But over all the lines; Her face is Gone. Shopper Reads vacation newspapers Fore readers now read radios; Morning coffee grows to four, Dreams live in the bloodstream, Futures sell at pharmacies; Shoppers’ share is growing small. Shopper Turns around a corner- A foxy eye’s glitter Flies across the street; Looks very narrowly, Checks oh so carefully for “What You buy is what you be;” Except for one essential thing: The money is Gone. |