Grinding Nuts - collage by douglas brent smith, 1978
she sits writing
notations thoughts reflections
in her journal and
i am filled with stillness she
is really here and
happy
quietly unassuming
as traffic on parkway pours
by with a steady flow
and she goes on
radiant, content, perfect.
-- douglas brent smith
small wrinkles you get
from sleeping on one side
when you are young
they fade away
and later on
they are here to stay.
-- douglas brent smith
stealing's a way of life
in the city
if you've got it hold on
someone else wants it
and will take it
looking or not you'll lose it
classic redistribution of
property (not Marx but marks)
here and gone drug money means
no limits no fear no more here
here
and hey
robin hood you ain't, and
neither am i rockefeller
fella.
-- douglas brent smith, May 1978
seriously she said do you know
that some people are so poor they
have to watch black and white TV?
as if evidence enough of suffering
and i replied (later to the clown
who stretched my hoops to balance
the laughs) hell
there are people who would
eat a black and white TV
if they had one.
-- douglas brent smith, 1978
we split
totally quit
took off took a cab went
to lunch
detours paramours (here no more)
we're gone (so long)
other places golden traces burned
by the self-appointed authoritative
church
(who's church not mayan)
snuck off cleared out no trumpets
shout no plain fair
(fairly drawn
we're gone)
take it, embrace it, grab your maze
crazy whites
tonight's our flight
(alright a flash
no sight)
cashed in, to the wind
where we've been
will not be where we'll be
see?
-- douglas brent smith
night visions deep flights
dark nights lit thru flickers
flights of flame
refections of flowing
and knowing the change
futures far ahead revealing
brisk touches from today
this moment alive this
moment here,
grasping those finger tip stars
like diamonds, long brilliant
lasting longer
long longed for
here
at
last.
-- douglas brent smith
"i saw your sister down at the Wayside cutting
chances into glances like she was the original
midnight dancer, understand?"
"that may be true but she ain't been seen
with you..."
"my choice fella gotta whole lotta other
visions on my mind this rocky eve, if you
know what i mean..."
"no kidding, i'm skidding on outta here
before those two a.m. mayhem stratagems
force their fire down my throat but catch
this Mr. Bliss -- you keep your face away
from my sister, mister..."
"oh now, just ain't you too baaaaaaad?"
-- douglas brent smith