oakland

dragon on fire, breathing
smog. bejeweled in refuse
strewn. the city. its cement
beard trailing, eyes of steel.
car-clogged arteries. hardened.

represent, represent.

this land of worthwhile
representation. graffiti
history, jazzed murals
frame backdrops. black blood
drops. a struggled past,
a confusion present. un
certain some future. rituals
of blood sacrifice, beats
sensational. hearts
defy concrete barriers.

still. the people make
their way. whether crazed
or sane. they must
make their way.
this world, full of children
grown up too fast.
coming of age. garbage
heaps of city streets
their jungle testing ground.
losing their innocence
just around the corner.

a woman begs change,
none forthcoming. (is it
shiny coin change, or
should we talk about,
you know, real change)
some man babbles his
nonsense, battles his
mental enemies.
young blood nods my way,
fist bump of respect.
flowers bloom bright.
a dusty landscape. here,
even the crows speak
like concrete. the gulls
cry like tired water.

my children, unaccustomed,
look for bird nests.