Monday, June 13, 2016

21st Century Dictionary

An excerpt from the definitive guide to 21st century language
presented for your immediate re-education    -The Ministry of Truth


Bicycle
: noun, An armored mobile weapons platform designed
to resist small arms fire and penetrate hardened enemy fortifications.
In a sentence: Powered by a 1500hp Honeywell ATG1000 turbo-diesel powerplant,
some American M1 bicycle configurations can achieve freeway speeds.

Hate: noun, Great concern for the well-being of others.
In a sentence: The man was so full of hate for his fellow men and women
that he imagined bright futures for even
the most downtrodden and vulnerable among them.

Rhinoceros: noun, A large territorial African mammal
known for its lumbering gait and extreme hunger
In a sentence: The American children's game,
'Hungry Hungry Rhinoceros' was remarkably popular
through the late 80s and early 90s

Wisdom: noun, A suddenly present, intense, vengeful anger
conjured by the memory of adolescent experiences.
In a sentence: Ever consumed with the past, displaying great wisdom,
the man reflexively smeared a stranger bearing a familiar resemblance.

Can-Opener: noun, A complex machine designed to
puncture a mechanically sealed container.
In sentence: Depending upon how a can was sealed,
one might choose from a variety of can-openers.
(I guess we still need those)

Uranium: noun, Elemental substance with 8 protons.
In a sentence: A vast supply of uranium atoms bonded
in pairs provides fuel for the fundamental
chemical reactions that drive the development of life on earth.

MoonShine: noun, Naturally occurring molecule composed of
two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single uranium atom.
In a sentence: It is recommended for humans to drink at least 
8 full glasses of MoonShine each day, more if active.

Reality: noun, archaic, Largely discredited concept dealing
with the world or the state of things as they actually exist,
as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
In a sentence: On the screen, the reality of humans in space is
hidden behind countless hours of make up, screen-play rehearsal, special effects,
and convincing dramatic performances.

Racist: noun, An extremely-white skin male
In a sentence: The all-consumed self-loathing southern racist
came to view the color of even his own skin
as a source of profound anger, frustration, and guilt
in his desperate quest for approval from others.

 Rose: noun , The single immutable source of universal truth
firmly grounding our existence such that we can
accurately determine most precisly
that a particular thorned, red-petaled flower
native to the Asian continent
is still that same thorned, red-petaled flower
native to the Asian continent
no matter what we call it.
In a sentence: ---

Monday, April 4, 2016

The Essence and Origin

In the days of old, times of legend
And wicked evils takin' hold
The people trampled underfoot, havin' had enough
A shockwave of light from above!
A gift to a land under the flood 
of sadness, tears, thunder n' blood

Torrents of ash, screams, blood and gore

Spinnin' winds and blowin' storms
Mothers in black as they mourn
But from this wilderness a pure form was born 
to save the world, tattered, shattered and torn

In that universe of free verse,

tall tales and volumes of words from being hurt
Endless days of Darkened skies
and rivers of tears
year after year being cried
Would you believe there
was once a time
when one might alliterate for a line
And a little rhythm
would ring with rhyme
Oh, how there was
happiness in those
golden glory days of
smiles and sunshine!

Blowin' winds flowin' change

Chosen to be the form by 
which man might be saved
A just, simple man simply going about his day
Then a light from above
and from above
Down a gift of heaven came
Chosen on that day, a man
Rick was his name

Chosen by the winds blowin'

to bring heat
to the world's cold n' frozen
Rhyme was the gift
To man named Rick
So he could heal the rift
Born to be the Essence
And drive evil to the cliff!

A world now risin' from the dead
 

The fire risin' higher and higher
That began to spread
It didn't take long
From that day on and on
Whispers of the name became song
Rhythm and rhyme found melody and time
And the Era of the Essence had arrived.

His kingdom was born

When the people worn 
turned their head
To see the light at the edge 
of the coldest night, 
wakin' from stones they called homes
They could hear him say in his peculiar way,
'Sleep here tonight, if you might, ok, alright'
And so Rick the Essence
found the peasants 
to become his Disciples and Knights

As his kingdom grew

So many had come from so few
And as their spirits flew
The people would take reason each season
To name him something new
Born to be the Essence
The peasants bowed
with respect in his presence
They called him Mr.
then Dr.
now Wizard
He found the lost, bore the burden of their cost
His spells cast away the frost and blizzard
Turned to stone the store of vile snakes and lizards

The legend of his spells began to swell 

as he transmuted to golden eagles and hawks,
the muted macabre lovers and buzzards 
otherwise confused, 
always picking their own old wounds 
goin' blind in sunless rooms
spinnin' tales of blood, doom and sinkin' moons

He brought light to the people

And showed them the joy of life
Spreading his words and the craft
Were his disciples and Knights
Swings of their pens and their swords
One and the same
Just dependin' on how you pick to fight

Rick the wizard

casting magic with his wand
Castles to pigs and lizards
In a style of which we're all quite fond
His spells spell concise
Leavin' ya feelin' contrite
Showing men they're mice
While keeping it
short, sweet, and polite
Knowin' he don't gotta be showin'
His Thor-like power n' might
While we're all already blinded by his light

He's the master, he's the wizard

Spell caster, rhyme blaster
rockin' his wand, wavin' his finger
Call him Dr., never mister
A blistering pace, melting our face
With wisdom, now listen
You tiny peasant,
Whipped with penance
bow and thank ya God 
you were blessed 
with the presence of the Essence!

Hit your knees 

and reflect with repentance
Get down and bow
before the man with the might of the world
dropped from a single sentence

The light from above 
that came to save us
It's Rick, the gift that god gave us
To show us the way away 
from the grave of poetry bent
to sadden then enslave us

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Rock Bottom Rhymin'

I'm just a rap rhymin' junkie
Over the top, rock bottom
ramblin' flunkie rollin' money
wrappin' ones, snortin' twenties
Chasin' my last line with another
Racin' with a double shot of somethin' tougher
A bump n' grind lover
Burn a line, blow another

An introspection injection

Straight to the vein
lightin' ya up, easin' the pain
with an easy flow
a seedy come and go
a junkie ya all seen
but none'uh ya know

Molly, lolli!

She got me
Grinding my teeth
Rhymes in my mind when I sleep
Tip of the key to my tongue
it's bitter but I'm young
Lazers like glitter
got me comin' undone

Alliterate to obliterate

End rhymes and slants
Beaten with repeatin' consonance
An addiction that can't be beat
Just a rhyme junkie gettin' high
Thinkin' he bringin' heat
Mad rants of a bum on the street
Rocks ova' rum, and call'uh complete

Can't name too many poetic devices

Chasin' too many synthetic powder vices
It's been a rocky road
Would I have started had I known?
My first hit and that was all,
That was it
Felt like 'Sand Below My Feet'

As I met defeat, a fire was lit
That was all, that was it

Now it's sparks and butane couplin' afternoon
With bubblin' spoons and risin' blood moons

Trouble n' doom in spinnin' rooms
I just can't quit

These rhymes, I'm hooked on it
Just gimme... one... last... hit...

Lovin' gunnin' wantin' more, gettin' less
Stumblin' tumblin' on the floor I'm a mess

Rumblin' thumpin' this poor heart in my chest
Huffin' Puffin' runnin' short on breath
(thinkin', grinnin', that rhymes with meth)
Fumblin' crumplin' Evermore, Angel of Death?

Nah, just another rhyme junkie

pressin' his luck to the test
Now, bow ya head and pay
some respect to the wretch
Say it slow:
May his soul pay the toll and be ever blessed
And may his rhymes take control of ya soul
and see that ya never rest
when ya pen and paper
Get together to do the press
Amen, God bless

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Babe Bartender

Californ' at Warren and High
Clouds marchin, blue sky 
makin' ya wish ya could fly
Stoppin in, stopping by 
Plaid, Vans'n Cap'n on my mind šŸ˜‰

Tacos too! Days like dreams
Fireball with Duvall on the screens
It's perfection it seems!
Heaven's here
Or Hell is the place to be!

Three feet of concrete
'tween you and me
But from where I sit, 
Girl, I like what I see!

Life flowing, lights glowin'
No where to be goin'
Takin' time'n rhymin'
With a little buzz that's climbin'
Maybe by now you're blushin'
But I'm just havin' fun n'
Comin' up with things to say
'Fore I close the tab
And get goin' on my way

Squeezing limes n' scribblin' lines, 
neon signs of the times
Steel guitars and barnwood pines
Got me feelin' better than fine 

SeƱoritas pourin' margaritas
Sippin', Tippin, 
Trippin' slippin'
I keep askin'
'Man, what's she drinkin'?'

I must be trippin'
But really I'm just playin'
Never knowin' what I'm really saying!
Just teasin' and cheesin'
On a day made for seize'n!

Friday, March 25, 2016

Ages 18 to 29

A War for the ages 
Ages 18-29 that is
Boys turned to men
And men turned to bodies
Bodies turned to heroes
No names, just 1s, and lots of zeroes

Youth and life come and gone
21 guns and their song
Storms from the north
Bringing Winter winds
Guns of August fire 
through November
And you people won't remember
Ya promise once more to never forget
But another war is all we ever get 

Chew 'em up, spit 'em out
Grind 'em to grit
Take the fruit, leave the pit
Brined and dead inside
When ya hear that battle cry 
Look through the propaganda pride
And call 'em out
Call 'em out where they lied
Honor the fallen, 
forget why they fell
Big Sam callin' 'em up
Sending his boys straight to hell
Missin' his legs, but, my neighbor's "doin well"

Fighting war for ages
Tombstones and unwritten pages
Jaws ripped off their faces
Blood dripped, tracing panicked paces
Living with scars nothin' erases.

Soldiers mistreated and abused
Fooled by "duty" and 
the entertainment we call news

Fighting for a win
When the plan is to lose
Tempt 'em with loot
Got em signin' without a clue
Teach 'em to shoot at what they see on the late night news
Now hear 'em sing the empty boot blues.

We call them heroes and
pretend the fight is for freedom
But never stop to ask
What's with all these wars?
Do we really need 'em?

Once again it's time
To remember the fallen
Ghosts of Tonkin' still callin'
Hidin' Ghadaffi's coffin, stallin'
Horrors still hauntin'
It's a web we're caught in
Countin' the wars our
Boys've fought in
And for all our fightin'
All their writhin' dyin'
Its only claps and closed traps
The support we're supplyin'

Monday, March 21, 2016

WOAR

Whatta we got when we look around?
The sky a color like the ground?
Rumble and crack the sound?
A whisper when allowed?
A funny lookin' cloud?
Men marchin' proud?
A bomb in a crowd?
History plowed?
When it's gone,
Will we say?
What now?
What more?
MORE!

It's the war for more
Folded flags knockin at the door
Movin money to the rich from the poor
Tune in at 11 for more
plus the Buckeye's score!
with just a dash of blood, and a little gore
writers dreams to ya tv screens
it's the war for more, now in HD
with stars fit to lead!

In the jungle heat, bare feet
trampled and beat
looking from the street
To concrete castles risin'
On the backs of slaves and vassals
as peaks on the horizon
Towers to a God who never speaks
For our climbin' all we do
Is fancy fightin' n dyin'
Longin' for the lives we keep denyin'

Corrupt and covered in rust
Bridge collapse, perhaps
Lead in the water pumpin'
from the hoop-jumpin'
people ya trust
And if the bombs don't boom
The economy goin' bust

Metal birds criss cross skyin'
Last thing you'd think'd be flyin
Ordinance drop got
foreign mothers cryin'
Barack, Carter and bunch'uh lyin'

2016 and we see the machine
Hummin' n runnin' clean
Grease the gears, grind the meat
The devil bent to level
The people on every
corner and street
Mission accomplished, Boy
Never complete

Some say
we should've stayed
Truth is we never left
Syria, Iraq,
Gulf to Gulf, we're going back
Billions for bombs and flak
Arming both sides and sittin' back
Watchin' em go tit for tat
While the people live with rats
The board room claps
with a smile and laugh
seeing revenue right on track
The Almighty Economy
Baby she's coming back!

And so what if millions
burn in the desert heat
Under the rumble and crack
Shells fallin' and bodies burned black
It just the woar for moar
Putting the pedal to the floor
White wash the blood, cover the gore
Paint the people as tribal and poor
Savage and nothin' more

Dollar signs on the mind
And broadcast designs
Learn your party lines!
We're The Good Guys This Time
Red and Blue, policy aligned

Shits burnin', creakin', and collapsing
While you reading lies, and yappin'
Blowin' powder and dancin'
Is there a chance'n
Hell they'll sell
Something you won't buy?
A time you'll refuse
To work til ya die?

Slaves built the pyramids
But you put concrete in the sky
Grinding ya feet til ya die
Working for a guy
Who's gonna water the desert
Til your well runs dry
You never gonna stop to ask why?

You ain't gonna tread the flood
Got ya head buried in the mud
TV left ya brain dead,
Hardly pumpin' blood
It's a popular club
Just kick back, unwind
Tune into ya favorite drug

Drones and satellite trackin'
White guys on stage rappin'
More frackin' fresh water jackin'
And gas clouds even
Got the white folk cough'n'hackin'
Ghost cities and more concrete stackin'
Mountain tops missin' and green rivers blackn'd
And I gotta know
How the fuck did it all happen?

Maybe no one gives a fuck
And its all just Trump, Clinton, and clappin'
while on goes one more war for more after another
Isis in Toyotas and Hummers
Sam's flags in the hands of their gunners
Trade war under the floor,
oil down and investors out the door
Schemes of banker dreams tearing apart at the seams
And ya running from
the screams to the screens
you plug in and ask for more!
A facade protecting you from Ahmad
While our boys settle the score.
And ya job lands off shore
Somewhere North of Singapore

It doesn't make sense!
This ignorance!
It ain't bliss, you're pissed
But you're criss crossed
At a loss for what to do
Or who to trust
Worn by war, boom, and bust
You gonna stand up, say enough?
Or follow the crowd to the cliff,
bend, break, and be crushed?
Man, why you keep lookin' at that TV
For someone to trust?

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Cast About

Vote! Vote!
Get out and be heard!
Answer your duty
Democracy and Freedom the word!


It's an Election Day!
Yeah, cast the ballot, pick the name
Trump, Cruz, Goldman
They all the same
Talking change and stealing Bens'
Split tongues calling you
Neighbors and friends
And you jumping through the hoop again,
and again, and again

2016 and ya seem lost in a dream
Forgetting all the years before and between
All the war, destruction and screams
Whatever, just check the score of ya favorite team

Blue and red, tattered, rippin' and slippin' at the seams
Buzzwords fillin' ya mind light speed from ya TV screens
The TV stars, they beg and plead
Vote for me! Vote for me!
And you, what's a monkey do
When he sees?

Get out and vote! Rubber stamp it
Be a good dog and finance it!
Don't bother thinking
about power and who has it
Just live ya life, stuck in traffic
While the would burns
With greed to collapse it

Collapse!? Nah
Thunderous applause and claps
For the corps and their corpse
Up on stage reading from the page
Telling your ears the fears they wanna hear
Hopin' your eyes don't come to realize
he's a zombie in disguise

Words like cigarette lies
Got ya asking 'how high?'
And ya vote he didn't even have to buy

Go vote, it ain't mirrors and smoke
Really, this time it makes a difference
Things'll change
The innocent will shed their chains
Wars will die, and fail to rage
It'll all be history as we turn the page
After November, if you get it right, it'll be endless, happy days
(Or at least that's what the script says)

Open Mic Night Again

Scott's back this week
And tonight I gotta gang with me
Katie's got courage, 
but Kirby ain't so brave 
Writing long form, 
he doesn't wanna bore
Open mic on stage, 
but he's holding the floor

Dj with the sound
In the breaks, breakin' down 
Poets with a little buzz 
Audio at open mic 
good as it ever was
Full house tonight
Been waiting all week to see what
These poets gonna write
Lines wrapped up tight
And darkness of hearts strugglin' to find the light

Nothing like TV
Open mic life's better 
than that reality
Who's new tonight?
First question:
Do ya write?

Anna's here for the ride
Cheyenne bringin'
A little muscle, a little might
Wouldn't trade her girl for the world
It's friendship for life

Into the wilderness
Scott rockn rollin'
With a riff n a diss
John aiming for Scott's pearls
(The boys, not the girls)
(Droppin' a plug for laughter like a drug ya shouldn't miss)
Finally It's time to call
A poet from the list!

Ariel won't put up with this
Get JG going, he's a master
With own show'n he's showin'
The truth clear and glowin'
Stackin' bricks to the book he's 
Growin'

Keeping the pace
Pleading her case to check out
Kitamu for the coffee 
and a fresh new sound
And an effort more profound
March against the flow
To help the woman in our city
Who struggle in the street light glow

Another book, at $15
You gotta get a look. 
Denial is strong, it's powerful
Let it free, let it fly!
No! Fuck you! Get lost, guy!
Say it like you mean it
Cause ya do!
And ain't no body need
To be fuckin' with you
It's all about NO!
Through and through

Wing man flying high
Nathan bringing the heat
Talking crime and cops on the beat
Searching for a friend in need
Writing from a hole in his heart 
That's feelin' deep. 
Ghosts in his heart, in his mind
Now living before his sight
Spectre's in the skyline
Hopin' n copin' 
Page by page, line by line 

Moving through, moving fast
Jeff with a J lighting fires
While Amber's new to cast 
Laughing tonight, she's having a blast
Earning credit for class, 
Can't remember her last poem
She ain't reading, 
On safari, listenin' and seein'
She got Jacob in poetry bondage
Haiku' and sonnet's 
A flair for the fabulous, 
yeah he's got it 

It's time for sacrifice!
Virgin to the flames!
Kai bringing fire no one can tame 
Off the cuff, tremblin' just enough
Yes and No, she meant 'fo sho'
It's a rocky road to the mic
Reading blind, 
confessin', professin'
Gotta song inside, needing
Eyes to give her heart a look. 
None of us really knowing the courage the poem took 

Gun show in red
Got 'em moist n wet 
It's heavy and yet
It's got a smooth flow
Quick and easy
Come and go
We wipe the sweat
And it's on with the show

Katie's time is here
Shakin' with anticipation
Forgetting her fear
Fuck that, she's ready
Did ya hear what she read?
She's more than just a sandwich on Brian bread 

She's on loop with the rhymes
Talking about her life and times
Broken hearts, and long good byes
Love is gone, but she's hooked on the grind 
Words on her page saying good bye
And tonight, readin' with
no shimmer in her eye

Naps and soup from the one man troupe
Let's not drink piss, he's  got something with a stronger proof
It's heavy but it's light
We're hearing a tale of a fight
And seeing comedy swing all its might 

Jazmine our queen!
Bringing things we haven't seen
Pain and fire, surreal, 
real like a movie scene
Righteous farewell to a match 
I can tell it's the hearts 
And sirens I hear scream
A murder scene
Nightmares replacing dreams

Louise at ease
With a story of fire
And the fire of passion as she reads
The birds and her words alight
She's got the room thinkin' twice
She's lion reading to the mice 

Mom! I need a rhyme!
Just teasing, Levi, 
having a good time!
Love for his girl, 
better than any pearl
Finger clicks and he rips. 
Tears in his eyes, claps for love
Overflowing there's never enough
Rhymes from the heart
To get his start
He's got us all fallin' apart

Loraine tearing 'em down
Got the mic poppin' with her sound
She sees through the veneer
Her words got it right and clear

He's the master, he's the wizard
Call him Dr. never mister
A blistering pace, melting our face 
With wisdom
You tiny peasant, 
bow and thank ya God you were blessed with the presence of the Essence
Folks, it's Rick always with
Might on the mic
Blink and you'll miss your life's
Most beautiful sight!

A battle for the ages
JG and Jeff burning it down
With words I don't know
Just google that shit later 
Let's go with the poem
Off with his head
As they grip the microphone
JG and Jeff
At the top standin' alone 

Sorry if I missed a beat
If I didn't rhyme a line 
About ya fire and heat
But this got long, I got in deep
But you know it, we the poets
Running the corners, 
both sides of street

Tonight It's been heavy and light
But the streets are quite and dark
I guess this is time for the sad part
8-10
And we've been at it again
Open mic with the gang
Scott, Louise, Vernell
They throw a show with a bang
Rick and his rhymes, 
he's our main man
As we rock n roll
Typin our poems on our phones 
And feel the shake in our hands
Reading from the heart
It's a crazy ride from finish to start
Never knowing where we'll go
When we embark
Whenever ya need a fire
There's always room in the cast
For another part 
And Wednesday night
Open mic 
Always got ya spark

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Twin Piston Vision

Let's do drugs all night
And die riding a motorcycle
It'll feel alright making the most of life
One last ride, 
your heart chasing mine 
and mine pushing redline 

One past nine, our lives in hand
twins on the power band
You're grippin', clutch slippin'
Two wheels spinnin'
Two hearts swimmin'
Dashes blur to lines as
We come alive for one last ride

Hands on my hips
Fingers at my thighs
Revs, speed, and lucid highs
Lights of the night flashing by
A first time feelin', angel and demon
Comin' at last, riding this evenin'

Wind in my face,
my heart keeping pace
In my head, new things I'm believin'
Lady I think you've got me dreaming
And I can't tell 
if it's the two wheelin' engine rumblin'
Or my chest thumpin', 
what is this feelin? 
Is that the sunrise I'm seein'?

Rub my eyes n' roll on ridin'
To see a new day at the horizon
So I was lying about dying
It keeps my senses heightn'd
But what a night that was
Girl, I think it mighta been you,
the drug givin' me my buzz
What a dream it was
Of rumblin' love