Social Studies
School Board employs me
to substitute teach all
the pleasant teenagers
throughout this city,
kids who are multi pierced
and lipstick double dosed.
Weedheads and pill filled
delinquents.
How can I save them from
insanity?
How can I make them prone
to roam the streets of
America?
How can I make them
irresponsible and carefree?
I do the best.
I read to them poems
of Bukowski and I dismiss
them before the final bell,
allowing them to walk
the halls with noise
and laughter.
Days to come,
one of them might kill someone.
One of them might become president
of the United States.
All kinds of possibilities
in this school district.
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I was innocently bystanding when things all around me went crash
whiz went heat melting steel bullets. I was in a daze and didn’t like it. Legs felt weak. Presumed rocky road before me would not stop rocking. Smoke filled sky. Air I breathed was hot.
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‘67
I didn’t go war.
I could not believe, could not fumble with the blood.
In heady headache days with purple sky I choose peace. |
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Reggae Dog
I gave my dog the name “reggae” he’s a wise old dog I say stay
he stay
he’s a dreaddy dog he’s dread that way he barks roots rock reggae fleas don’t bite him because his skin’s too tough
bigger dogs don’t fight him because he fights real rough
he likes to drink stout and sniff my spliff he likes to listen to the music that makes him drift
all the cats in the neighborhood stay away and stay away they should
he walks the yard
he walks it hard
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From A Book
I like to
read it
from a book
I keep an
optimistic
outlook
in
my kitchen
I keep it hot
I like to cook
I call the cops
on a crook
shake a bottle
of juice,
juice shook
I feel cool
my hands
holding a book,
I like to
read it from
a page
you might think
it’s an outrage
I’m more than
50 years of age
brave enough
for a stage
reading what I
want from
the page
I’ve got a key
for your cage
I like to
read it
from a book
keep good stuff
that I took
playing with
king, queen
and rook.
Shouldn’t let
this upset you
what I do
is nothing new
it’s insight
keep it in view
you see me
with a book
I’ve told you
my kind of
outlook
you’re
realizing
it’s true
you can listen
weak or strong
what I’m saying
is like a
song
I like to
read it
from a book
you be the fish,
I be the hook.
all poems © 1999 by Yictove
