Sunday, June 12, 2011




location ireland



cast iron nuggets



subject to the object
the matter in charge
whip of the backbone
teetering on the edge


how can one let go?
everything has an inner beauty

beauty
even in dying


and death
it is to be lived


alive among the decaying



time capsule
stillness surrounds
dripping memories
post-surgical stress

metal implants
relics remain
erratic features
impregnated terrain

organs scattered
discarded limbs
order
chaos
larger schemes





Wednesday, May 11, 2011




central park lungs of the city




here one can imagine nature taking back
the physical architecture - the processes of commerce
transforming the life of the city into a communion
with organic flows outside of productivity and performance
a simple enhancement of daily practice
where the trees are equals of intelligence we have yet to grasp
(we creeping vines that strangle through all-conquering desire)
a symbiosis of animal and plant cells engaging with mineral structures
oxygentank for natural charge
unkempt - unruly
wild entropy - ecstatic growth
life cycles of organic soup bubbling
fermenting amid the NY elite microwave





"they should be treating us like royalty"

here in this fantasy garden
a cultured wilderness maintained for the few
decorated horses pull carriages day-in day-out
unthankful burden of self important parades
animal rights protestors jeer and wave
disapproval at the equine lot

you...
look the other way
hide your frosty breath in fur and camel hair collars
make up will hide that fake regret
spray-on station maintains this life to be led
If only one would wake from one's walking sleep
raise the consciousness and live one's living dream





this could be an harmonic scene but the truth is;
it masks the monstro-city of that which lubricates the wheels of power
a pleasant screen field where we almost rub shoulders with that which we cannot

touch




valentine rejection subway 33

arms raised high
come gift crashing down
smashed smithereens skating
on time trodden tiles
black sharded shockwave
epicentre anguished youth

no consolation
at the inopportune moment
of no consent
to love lost in loss
a public performance
of the tragic hero
we cannot intervene
from the other side of the tracks

witnessing from within
personal bubbles of thought







Tuesday, April 12, 2011

corona park

we have overpassed the future




rarified gaseous envelope
of sun and other stars
made visible during solar eclipse
silver glowing dark moon disc
illuminated trace of energy release




space
race
mega relics
present overpassed
speak of
past futures
mass enthusiasm
of childhood dreams
appropriated surpassed
in
beautiful winter desolation
the aura of a future promise
all boarded up - broken glass
dripped stained - concrete flake
cracked - frayed edge entropy
of old brave new worlds
jetsons park benches
ancient curves
do not invite
respite
deep
in
ice-age thaw



is this how we are going to live
at this point in someone else's future
no more rain on skin
no more sun in eyes
our honeycomb skies
a membrane limit
on our capacity to survive

undercover
in geodesic ark
shelter shield
from poisoned winds

?






Saturday, March 19, 2011


the graveyard shift




starts before it begins
subway doowop gospel quartet
one dollar bonus ride
donkey jacket knuckle five
keeps a smile on your face
keeps your forehead wrinkle free
keeps your hair from being messed up
"Thanks everyone,
you just bought us
three packets
of oreo." ha ha
"By the end of the day,
we are goin' to be flyin'!"
subterranean high speed
whistle stop jammin
sweeping through
collecting loose
dollar
I am saved
rockin on down
under 25th




the graveyard shift:
the one who patrolled
the cemetery at night
to listen for the cries
of the resurrected
coma-people
buried before their time

to draw attention to
the re-awakened
state of death
please pull
a string tied
to your former deceased finger
passed through a hole in the casket
connected to a bell or flag

dead ringer saved by the bell





images:
sub-way
pyramid saves remains
wave to liberty





Thursday, March 10, 2011

Chapel of Sweet Dreams

Turn-Up, Tune-In, Turn-On, Echo-Echo
@ St. Paul's Chapel, Columbia University



Saturday, March 5, 2011



Coney Iceland



Coney Island is an isle not an island

a Russian enclave in the heart of US

ice and snow cover the sandy beach

countless, dormant seagulls squat

surf scavenging snowballs


the Brave put the brave face into weather vein

forever strolling on the boardwalk planks’ pain

puffed up quilted skydiving promenade

tears torn from too tender eyes

jaw face numbed to ice blasted skin



rides moan mournful - dirges to desolation

once bright - peeling paint - candy cannot lift

un - peopled, un - moving empty sensations

seafront saloons gone wild west ghost town

dodge city deserted SHOOT THE FREAK fun

abandoned, decaying, corroded, uncared-for

waiting for spring clean new investment to come


finding shelter reminds me of past days spent

at so many seaside towns of youth

seeking respite amid silent out of season concrete

hands shaking blue intensely to construct

gratefully received bites of brutish food

accepting grainy crunches of seasoning sand

with a hunger greater than hygene

or sophistication



Seagulls dance closer

performing for scraps

no time here for loitering

savouring the meal

whisk all back into the bag

dash off to find

the warmth of a cup of coffee


Walk down Brighton beach to the Russian zone, where the inhabitants live in the same giant apartment blocks as can be found in soviet monumental ‘new city’ housing projects.


Occasional old folk occupy benches

white knuckled hands hold

pocket radios to ears

catch scratch crackled chattering ether

Russian tin can broadcast

through white noise wind



no day to be at the beach

no expectancy in the crude and rude amusements

shut-down shuttering resigned to knowing

there will be no punters today

nothing to animate the inanimate

except flapping plastic bags

clinging to lightbulbs and lampposts

spectral sand shapes whisking about

expansive vacant shores

in vain searches

only to fall away...


Chilled to the bone head emptied

eyes wet made red make for train

without even desire for souveneir

Passing monumental tribute

to world hotdog eating championships

reflecting the level popular culture has attained here







Wednesday, February 23, 2011





Coffee Bar in Bay Ridge





Here is a slice of down-home-town americana
no trendy types here
ex-servicemen and their wives
fried breakfasts
talking 'bout the movies
eggs and sausages sizzle...


"never saw Sam that man."

"Sammy?"

"They caught him in the act."

"This is not an asylum."

"Are you sure?"

"They're gonna give you a number
You gotta write the number down."




"Sad about Tommy wasn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Y'know, he used to come in here three or so times a week,
have his omelete, read the newspaper..."

"Yeah?"

"In fact he always sat just where you are sitting."

"I'd better move then."

"Ha ha!"

"No, you're ok. It doesn't matter where you're sittin'.
When your time is up, you gonna go."

"He he"

"Yeah"









SoundWave @ Death By Audio



Space run as feminist collective. Living accomodation and adjacent performance venue in post industrial landscape (could miss the doorway hidden as it is among many doors of the same appearance). They maintain a full calendar of events including poetry readings, theatre, live music productions and art events almost every night of the week.




Inside, the walls are covered with bright coloured murals cartoon aesthetic and photocopy posterizing, flying angel mice with heart shaped faces play harps, while gruesome slime beasts smile appealingly. Painterly conversion into psychedelic grotto cake sale, zine/information stand beer stall art intervention. The venue is organised and manned by a dedicated new wave of young feminist activists of all genders seeking to continue the work of previous generations. Who, from their own experiences percieve that much still needs to be done to overcome prejudice and abuse.

Poets are up first exhibiting different styles; one speaks of failed relationships and victim abuse – highly personal accounts of pillowtalk and acts you may not be aware of; the second delivers hard hitting blows conscious experience of being both abused and abuser, appealing to our sense that the world changes with an awareness and ability to change oneself.



Live bands featured include a ukulele playing songstress and a well rehearsed poppy combo. The highlight for this participant was noon:30; a young black female three piece outfit who begin amongst sparse guitar and fluctuating frequency feedback modulations, incoming deep fuzz bass drives simple rhythm space chimes then from nowhere an angelic voice seeps into and over the sound and lifts the drone into another dimension. Sharp sonic blasts of cut and stitched tv radio broadcasts pierce ears carried by enduring trance state. The tempo is up and we are dancing and out comes the megaphone and she’s screaming her passion, commitment, defiance jumping into the audience this is now rockin drum driven guitar chandeliers.



A great night, and more power.


Images: Poster graffiti, Bedford Avenue

SoundWave activity @ Death by Audio

noon:30 megaphone and noon:30 Space Call



Thursday, February 17, 2011

Dim Sum &
The Chinese New Year of The Rabbit





Meeting with friends at the House of The Golden Unicorn, I have to squeeze my way through crowded hallway all heaving with chatter and anticipation. Chinatown ways, we hold our number 25 and listen for the call to Dim Sum. When our turn arrives we ascend the stairs and enter in a large banqueting room filled with round tables where groups are talking over steaming plates. We are ushered by men in suits to a table which we share with others. Chinese women with trolleys in constant circulation offer and distribute tea and dumplings, noodles and black mushrooms, bock choi and rice communal portions lively chopstick rituals start a golden day.






Interestingly the parade in Chinatown begins with Americana spectacle of 1940's glamour girls riding in tow of open top car. They are dressed in bright coloured military uniforms kitsch nostalgic theatrical throwback a gloss red lipstick liberating force. As the main procession approaches from in the distance thousands wait popping occasional firecrackers launching confetti into the sky ringing the ears and myriad paper strips curl twist in winter sunlight street plumes glittering clouds sign the parade's progress



speak sparks of gold red black
fur lined silver threaded
writhing turning loop careering
martial art movements
balance lift hold
snaking dragons
lingering lions
elate the crowd in tinsel showers
popping and sparking
firework cracking
gold coin rain
parachuting prayers
gifts of good fortune
children jump to catch
other out-stretched hands
in silent camera clicking
intermittent interruption
in the flow of our perception







The colour proceeds against a backdrop that is China. Happy wishes. The year of the Rabbit has meaning for rabbits and we rabbits, we'll look for the positives. Walking back through the milling spectators side streets deep with purple and pink confetti not yet trodden and grim. Amongst the debris I find a red ribbon prayer good luck of a blessing retrieved and received. Just like me finding good fortune among the lost and discarded.