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?

The Future

We need more people in Midtown.
So many we love to make eye contact.
Lost in the rush,
Not afraid to trust.

Old Church

Women would love to pay a visit, light a candle, pray in the dark.
But they’re leery. Who’s lurking?
So they don’t come. Or not as much.

Men would love to pay a visit, sit in the dark, admire the beauty.
But they are afraid.
Who’s watching me? Who doesn’t trust me?
They don’t feel safe even here.

Not so great

How many people walking slowly in the dark,
Loving our trees, our magic,
Have been attacked, their faith shattered?

Trees no longer sacred but hiding places,
Midtown no longer magical but scary?

City-Sponsored

Parking lots under freeway great places for boxing match,
Tapping the violence waiting to erupt,
Bringing it into the open –
The homeless seeing fighters do to each other
what they would love to do to an ex-boss,
ex-wife, the cops,
Shouting, drinking, smoking, having somewhere to pee.
Finally feeling freed.