Growing like a Tree

"It is very hard to grow, because it is difficult to let go of the models of ourselves in which we have invested so heavily".

JACKIE LED THE WAY

I first saw him on a baseball card in '48,

played for the Dodgers, Robinson was his name.

Amongst the jeers played second base,

hitting, fielding, and stealing bases was his game.

His skin was black,

so most thought his chances were slim.

From that first time he stepped to the plate,

I wanted to be black just like him.

He played hard in his own quiet way,

with jeers gone cheers he received.

Respect on and off the field,

made Mr. Rickey smile as he always believed.

Like baseball, politics today has changed,

with a game now all can play.

Thanks to Jackie, men of all race.

can live in the whitehouse today.

The ghosts where there...

BEING THERE

Standing out all night freezing and cold
clinging to hope, but holding no flags,
shoulder to shoulder with young kids
and grizzled old veterans,
I somehow wished I was there.
With the millions packing the mall
and the ghosts of Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther in the air.

After all these years I remain cynical
of politicians who promise change,
having been told and sold this before,
I somehow wished I was there.

Hearing Aretha sing,
listening as they played "simple gifts",
hearing the silence as Obama spoke,
with the ghosts of Jackie and Dr. King,
I somehow wished I was there.

POGA Monday

Standing in the sunny desert,
or standing in the dark forest,
Not knowing where to go,
looking for a ride.
Have an open heart.......
When there is nowhere to go
There is nowhere to hide.

It is perfectly safe to stand nowhere.

POGA SUNDAY

"Keep Hikin".....The words of Stephen, who I met when he was teaching creative writing at San Francisco College in 1966. In 1968 I went back down to SF to hang out and dig the great music scene happening. On Monday nights I usually hung out at the Gallery Lounge at SF College to listen to the ramblings of Stephen....where he had a class that included marxism, meditation, sex, acid, love and everything in between.....very enlightening at the time. Stephen always ended his class with "keep hikin". Stephen was a very bright, long haired beatnik who always said he was getting out of the city and "hikin to the country". A couple of years he did just that. Stephen started a caraven of busses and head out with a bunch of beatniks...now called hippies. They ended up in Tennessee where he was the founder of "The Farm Community". Anyways over 40 years later Im still "hikin". Remembering what Stephen meant when he said "keep hikin". He loved SF and wasnt "hikin" from the city to another place. He was hikin to that "other place"........himSELF. He said, "you can BE anywhere". You can take what you learn here...acid, marxism, love, whatever.. or leave it behind as you "keep hikin". Wherever you hike just BE....something im still learning.....just to BE. So I hope that somewhat explains ....POGA......from POker to POga.....and everything inbetween . Just BE. Like Stephen alwasy said "keep hikin...............and it aint easy".

For sure he tried to tell me
as I nodded my deadhead
with no excuse.
He told me that the sun
chases the moon.
And I laughed....ha ha ha
there is no use.
He was acting like
a devil again.
Then he asked...does the fish
chase the ocean ?
I laughed again ...do the birds
chase the sky?
Now he knew the fight
was on.
I said .. "popsicle stick like a
snow angel
breaks and melts
old cowboy boots."
He replied "the match will strike the gas
and free the flames."
I said "cowtown with no name."
He said " hoe hoe hoe."
Pissed off I said " bombs, guns, gas, fires."
He looked at me smirking,
"the devil knows you can't win."
I laughed again....ha ha ha
and said, "the magic dragon is on my side."