California State University (CSU): Open Journal Systems

Svoboda, Jeannette

English

Untitled

Coleman, Richard

A Taut R iver 
Richard Coleman 
we spoke of gales, torrents, the careening 
nature of romantic interests 
pine resin scents heavy and weighted above 
the s loped couch 
the h i l ls ide above the sea. 
in couples we exchanged 
how to love and win 
and win 
never los ing one's gr ip on what was 
tactical, strategic 
adept at the h idden hand 
the s un 
one observer among others 
the jackal 
poised above the bared peak 
cal ling out to the maimed h unt 
and we 
eyeing one another through the brazier' s  
spitting coal 
for wounds, rap id pulse 
faint heart. 
the mistress pu l l ing the anenome close to her breast 
her whose hands were always open 
speaking in tongues 
with no mention of the sting 
its poisoned grasp 
the mind less feed ing, she saying 
that it is  only a flower 
harmless against f lesh 
in which the river runs its course 
its white eyes chanting 
the racing thrust of water, the heave 
of water, the deep pool. 
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A Taut River

Lawrence, Doug

Grandma\u27s Purse

Comenas, Cathy

J an e n e  S ixtee n 
Cathy Comenas 
The two o f  us off 
the s ide of the road 
marina del rays rocky coast l ine 
The first m inutes of  s i lence 
then crash ing of champagne 
against our brains 
We talk about our l ives 
Janene s ixteen wanting to be 
twenty five 
eyes meet, l i ps l i nger tast ing 
of ocean and champagne 
I l i ke men too 
she tel ls  me 
my hand barely holds me up 
men are fleas that bite me 
when I l ie on the sand 
We giggle as we leave love in mid air 
The bottle of champagne comfortab le 
in her hand 
I watch the ripp l ing waves beneath 
Janene s ixteen 
Fal l i ng in my lap 
she says l ets go someplace warm 
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Janene Sixteen

Johnson, Ron

Wi ndch i mes 
Ron johnson 
The ice cream man arrives with the wind. 
His bel ls punctuate 
du l l  twi l ight 
and puncture thoughts .  
Ch i ldren c h i l l .  
Lovers stop h ugging earth . 
Two Czechs fold 
an unfi n i shed game of chess. 
Lonely men gather around 
leftover charcoal .  
The ice cream man, neck snuggled i nto chest. 
l i ke pigeons, shoves h is  cart through the wi nd. 
3 


Windchimes

Jones, Jordan

The Coffee Poems 
(for Volta i re who drank 40 cups a day) 
jordan jones 
What is the d i fference between dr ink ing coffee 
and bei ng coffee? 
2 
Cups are not wide as fields to hold l ives 
l ives are not narrow as sku l l s.  
3 
And it's easier now 
what with automatic dr ip .  
4 
Steam rides from blackness 
to nostri l s  all across America. 
5 
There are the qual ities of emulation and choice. 
Which th ing wi l l  be artist, which i nsomn iac? 
6 
It's 2 am . Lori's movi ng her mouth over steam 
l i ke some puppet or physics experiment. 
She says the word Alaska but neither of us know 
th i s  sentence's begi nn ing.  
7 
My stomach's a-j umble. Mind's blank but dusky. 
Cafes should have couches. 
5 


The Coffee Poems: for Voltaire who drank 40 cups a day

Green, David

david green 
Biology Lesson 
In Florida, there are three types of animals: 
those that bite to hurt, 
those that bite to ki l l ,  
and those that go 
bump-squ isssssh 
u nder the wheels of your car, 
at three in the goddamn morn ing.  
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Biology Lesson

da vid green 
Progress 
In  Medieval Europe, they bu i lt castles on the Rh i ne. 
In Modern Cal ifornia, they bu i ld  condos on  the freeway. 
Instead of the Bl ue Dan ube, 
there's I nterstate 5. 
Instead of moats, 
there are chain l i nk  fences. 
(But the hiss of cars doesn't real ly sound 
l i ke waves upon the shore.) 
There is no Renaissance. 
There is no Sun  K ing. 
There are no boats. 
Just long l ines of roaring  metal ;  · 
and smog hanging on the horizon 
l i ke black death. 
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Progress

Pearson, Marlene

marlene pearson 
(Selections from Orange 
Bags On The Freeway) 
1 .  Si l ly  to  question /Someone must be steering th is  car 
swol len orange bags lay in weeds 
at the side/ I wonder what is inside 
if I open one will my own eyes 
look up at me? I keep driving 
I wil l  turn off at the mall 
buy the tangerine sundress 
paint my nai ls 
and wonder about finding my self 
later I there are perspiration beads 
on my arm I enough evidence for today 
3. There was one 
Orange bag crept 
toward steel pole 
then leaned there 
out of breath 
no hand to close 
the ripped plastic 
triangle l i ke a rust 
colored heart 
bleed ing leaves 
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4. Speed ing 
a pol iceman beh ind me 
turns on his l ights 
orange-red l ights 
why is he following me? 
why an orange l ight? what does he know 
of my bags? 
5. Melodrama of Oranges at 7 am 
Someone spi l led a bag of oranges 
on the Ventura freeway west 
every morn ing for the past week lve seen them 
cl ing to the edge 
yesterday I slowed down 
and heard them speak 
I want to grow up to be l ike that 
orange bag said the hopeful one 
pointing his smal l  navel 
the realist gave h im truth 
you wont be one 
you l l  be in one 
then a truck swerved to miss 
a car and caught two oranges on its tire 
we al l watched the orange stain 
disappear by the t ime the truck 
skid through sand to halt 
the door opened 
out stepped 2 men 
with orange bags and pointed sticks 
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7. January 28, 1 986, the accident 
The newscaster i nterrupted the song on the radio 
he said the shuttle crashed 
no one knew if anyone 
survived. he kept talking. that's when I saw orange bags 
7 of them fu l l  and tied 
leaning in weeds. I knew 
if I cou ld  just get over 3 lanes 
stop and untie the bags, from each one 
an astronaut would step out 
I'd put them al l  in  my Rabbit 
take the Sepulveda turnoff 
to the store with a phone 
I'd call NASA. tel l them they're ok 
I 'd hand the phone to Christa 
let her talk 
I fl icked on my bl inker 
looked over my shoulder for a chance 
I shouted slow down you fools 
but no one would let me over 
even if there'd been on ly leaves 
in those bags I could have 
rescued them 
69 
9. Sticks reach out l i ke arms/ There's fury in those bags 
Orange bags stick out 
their arms, legs at 55 mph and race 
beside my car 
beat spine fists on my window 
I push on the gas. 60. 65. 
lose all but one 
her twig fingers cl ing 
to my door. a branch arm moves 
across my windshield 
she is mouthing something 
what do these bags want from me 
this is January 4th 
I turn up the radio and go faster 
no time for rantings of old leaves 
dead twigs, ripped pages 
yel lowed and torn 
empty pepsi cans 
stuffed in orange bags 
tied shut and looking 
l ike my sister 
"Orange Bags on the Freeway" is the recipient of the Rachel 
Sherwood poetry prize for 199851 1986. "Orange Bags #9" is the 
recipient of the American Academy o_f Poets' prize. 
70 


(Selections from Orange Bags On The Freeway)

Coleman, Bobbie R.

bobbie r. coleman 
Even Superheroes Get the Blues 
Male Caucasian 
athletic-type 
mid-30's 
mi ld-mannered 
interests include 
walks 
on the beach 
travel 
truth justice 
and the American way 
wishes to meet 
intelligent sincere 
non-smoking 
woman 
not afraid 
of flying 
muscular men 
or aliens 
for fun 
and meaningful 
relationship. 
Turn-offs are 
arch-villains 
Kryptonite 
and quiche 
contact C. K. 
The Daily Planet 
Metropolis 
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