The Oasis

Lush and sunny after the storm,
Winn Park was empty.
Stunned me.
I felt free.
The park was mine,
But I chose not to sit.
I was afraid I’d corrupt it.

The Unbelievers

With all our trees,
You’d think our faith in God would grow.
But like them,
It dies more every year.

Not up to it

Our trees are magical but we aren’t.
We don’t have the confidence to be.
That’s why it’s awkward here.
All this beauty,
But we don’t feel free.

Astounded

37 years ago
Freight train rumbled through after storm
Snow piled on roofs
In wheel wells
Me wondering if anybody made it over
The story he would tell.

Faith and Courage

They say there’s an epidemic of porn.
But not in Sacramento,
Where men without money to attract a woman lust over trees,
In winter,
When they’re naked,
And the limbs look like thighs,
Crotches sprouting delicate green grass that blows softly in the wind,
And they stick their face in it.
Reminiscing.
Hoping.
Determined not to give up.

Shop Local

1980.
Store on J Street sold hardware and guns.
Gentry didn’t like the gun part.We believe in peace.
Got their revenge, but betrayed the neighborhood.
Bought their nuts and bolts in the burbs.
Store hung on as long as it could.
Stayed in business cuz cowboys rode in for peacemakers.

Suave, sophisticated, debonair

Try as Midtown does to be world class,
We’re still a cow town.
An expensive one.
Chic people.
Trendy art.
Trees dying a death as slow and heartbreaking as the nation’s.

Uptight

Not as many leaf blowers,
the silence isn’t golden.
It should have freed us,
we smile at almost no one.

Run along

Progressives relieved gun stores have left.
But if you stop to smell their roses,
Take a deep breath,
Their look might kill you.

Nice Place to Visit

Could you recommend Midtown?
What would you say?
There’s slobs here,
Cops there,
Fear and suspicion everywhere?