High upon my perch
I've watched the sun eat the moon
Scorch the earth
****** Vietnam
Apocalyptic rhetoric caused
Stars to fall
Veils of clouds can no longer protect
A world gone mad
I laid gardens at your feet
With bracelets of love
Planting the seed of genius
Spawning wisdom and curiosity
I watched my tablets disintegrate
Into clouds of Agent Orange
As you trampled my dreams
Of one world

On the platform of suits and ties
Waiting
For the 7:30 a.m. train to arrive
From the suburbs
To misdemeanors and indiscretions
The pockets and purses
Hiding behind zip codes pigment
All it takes is one note
Out of syncopation
Slums living inside
Brown watered lies
The base coat knows its color
Breaking the code
Fade to black

So you want to be saved
You need to clean up your act
Your lewd crude behavior
My favorite snack
I love the smell of vulnerability
Welcome to the Church Of Misery
The misbegotten downtrodden
Empty your pockets
Show me your worth
I will take you down
Through my gates
But first
Bring me your wife
You're so far gone
Then I'll take your life
My home is quite ornate
With gold guilt you've given away
I'm full eating your sins
Time for fresh meat
So come on in

The bullet grazed my leg
Just a flesh wound
Was it my fault
Did I instigate inflammatory vitriol
Should I apologize for my free associations
The way my pen glides across the page
To the core of dissension
Perhaps it was my skirt
Was it too tight, too short
Hugging the curves of my body
Making you hot and thirsty
The freedom of Alvin Alley dancers
With their legs spread
Opening the flow of free expression
Dancing to the voice of Maya Angelou
The seekers, the marchers, the painters,
The writers
All refugees like me

I've been airlifted from that place
Clogged with plaque
Causing post traumatic stress
And flashbacks of a girl
With empty eyes
In a black and white photograph
Hidden on the top shelf
Of a closet
Living inside an old shoe box
I took my scissors
Cut the past
Into tiny pieces

It's all been said before
Those adjectives that flatter
Alongside each noun
Taking them out of their jar
For special occasions
Sweetened words that paraphrase
They've all been said before
But when you show up
Unannounced at my door
Putting your hands on my face
Tracing every ****** plain
To memories embrace
When you run your fingers
across each vertebrae
Luxuriating in my map
Only then
Will you be mine