I have a beer belly. Not just a ponch,
this sucker hangs over my belt.

But, I didn't acquire it from alchohol,
I haven't drank in twenty seven years.

This came from food. Cheeseburgers,

the boy dragged
the long bag along
his hands gingerly
picking at bushes
a white softness
belied by hard husk
tears his tender skin
until it bleeds
looking to his
father for comfort

over in Shafter
that little farm town
all the Julios drink cerveza
with mucho gusto
the air always wet with
the smell of insecticide
most people know that
it's eating them up

early summer still a chill
morning dew crystal
sun crests mountain
birds begin to sing
many a song
air alive fresh
awake at last I am......

Patrick loved his family
before them he was in prison
in and out again and again
drugs and crime his story
a road headed nowhere
but he finally found love
a wife he could brag on

Song-a-ri is a little village
South Korea is its home
G.I. recreation center
frequent soldier host
built before any hooches
went there one day
to phone across the
big water to my girl

the little box radio
sat atop the tall dresser
I could only see
a small part of it
music played in familiar tones
Mama went about her chores
she cleaned and cooked
humming her favorite ones

in the field
where once I explored
a strip mall
blights the view
the large house
with the tall bamboo fence
that my brothers and I
walked past on the way
to the public pool

reflection of a reflection
that's what I have become
following in the footsteps
of he who I reflect

the first time I heard it
I couldn't accept the words
me like him I think not

running down the hall
I encounter a creature
who looks like John Madden
in combat armor
I shoot him with
the chaingun and he
explodes in little pieces
behind where he was
is the red key

open for me
as a flower
the soft petals
of your womanhood
wide in the
morning sun
touch my stamen
to your pistil
intertwine these
vines of passion
in the fragrant
musk of sin

when the house lights dim
through the strobe flash
their faces seem comical
like a vintage movie scene

I try to watch my fingers
skittering the fret board
but only see
every other chord

two in a month
friends gone forever
one week apart
today I heard
that she passed
cancer the horror
tears came to me
doctors said four
to six months
but didn't last a week

she sits astride me
hair grazing my face sweet scent
that which is soft about her
touching my chest tintillating
she rocks me gently then wild
her face contorts in ecstatic grimace

when I was fifteen
I learned to play guitar

I joined a band
two brothers a girl on keyboards
a drummer and me

they replaced the girl
with a concert pianist
but the sound wasn't right