Street Prose
This section is dedicated to the poets wandering the streets of the world. For instance, on a recent series of Trade Show tours, I chanced to run into a young fellow supporting himself by selling his poetry. Rather than a direct solicitation for money, this creative fellow had a product to sell, and even was more than willing to quote a price.
You get what you pay for so I gave him a buck for each piece, shelling out all of $3.00 for my donation of poetry on the streets. If you like what you see, simply note the city, state, and location in order to find the poet in question.
It was much different in Washington, D.C. When approached by a likely pan handler, I listened intently (while still moving at a good clip to my destination and safety of the Washington Convention Center). At the end of the litany which included a pill bottle flashed with AZT (or whatever) and a sorrowful case study in AIDS on the streets and the needs of this particular guy, I asked for poetry.
"Poetry? Man you want Congress, down the street here and turn right. Or is that bullshit, I don't remember."
That was the answer, sweet and simple. Well can't do much better than that I guess, especially in our nation's capital.
In any case, if you have someone's street poetry to submit, obviously you'll need to take the time and effort to garner at least the above info.
Ricki Teague: On 5th Street, just south of Market, dated 1/6/96, received 2/14/96
The cover within
candlestick of the light
And his estimate mystery
upward taking of the cover
To cover of the blue sky
There of the water still
The lamp of life
which is the sun to shine
and to enter of time
You are a lamp of the flesh
how great you are
I am falling angel who fell from
the reflection of my forefathers
and now I am here in a world sin.
I looked into a puddle of water and
what do I see worldly things of me
Where is he that is cool like ice
that is wet and moist
that blows within the wind
that has it own warmth
that makes me grit my teeth
that blows air through my nose
that gives me a life of my own
Don't let my heart be troubled
because I found my creator through
meditation and prayer.
Who is he that I think of
Oh I know because he gives me
a mind of my own
That is what makes me a human being
thinking of worldly things
Love have been
Rest and torn
Trying to release the mind
Placing the life of nature
around you
Embrace pleasure between the kiss
of the air in mind that
slip by to retrieve
The thoughts of
your smile within
the sunlight
that brings the light
of humanity.
writers@mcint.com
Last Updated: Feb 20, 1996