I Was Reading Langston Hughes The Other Day

To this land our ancestors came
seeking
a new life?
freedom?
did they hope and plan dream and work
through the long voyage across the sea
did they picture streets paved with gold
a future without oppression
what cargo did we stow in those ships hull
greed, strife, class war
did it make the voyage with us?
all the strife and hardship endured
so, you and me
their children's children's children
can have a voice
we came, the tired the poor the huddle masses
and has America fulfilled the promise made so long ago
or have we become the more tired the poorer the growing masses
huddled masses in soup lines waiting
waiting for "10 years and the end of homelessness"
I search for the lost dream
but I only find those living paycheck to paycheck
and the masses huddled in doorways
the mounting debt, the drug addicts
how much longer must we wait?
we've lost faith in America
renew the dream!
close the gap between the haves and have nots!
take back our hope our ancestors brought
let cleansing rivers flow through the land
and let the disease be washed away, the second class citizenship
we will find the dreams and equality together

Electronic Poets Viewpoint

The hatted man stepped onto the pavement
The gleam in his eyes!
The MAX train approaches
Inside, the rose lipped women stood watching
The weed smoke puffed wildy in the air
Balloons shaped like dogs, carried in parents arms
Houses dot hills
The tram soars over
A clown grins
The grin of a zoo baboon
Snow plows nervously skirt around
On third, two stuck buses spin stuck wheels fervently
Homeless drug deals in soup lines
Flurries descend on the city
Christmas and carolers have arrived in Portland

American Nightmare

America is a toilet the masses flock to
Flushing their dreams down it
And its true face is revealed
Behind the perfumed lies
The stench fills your nostrils
The stench of despondency
This is homelessness
This is living day to day
Knowing you are society's excrement
Welcome to the American nightmare

My Words

My words are running away today
but I do not mind-
They need the exercise

Can't buy Mouse

I don't want to be mass produced, commercialized
I'm not the McDonald's logo
You can't buy Mouse for a $1
I don't want to be overused
I'm not the word 'love'
I don't want my art
To be cheap contrived and meaningless
I want Mouse to sing
I want Mouse to fly
Without the burden of a price tag

I left

I left her
A dozen fresh cut roses
A series of love poetry
My undying devotion
None of it was enough
So I left her with the roses
But took my words back

I envy those

I envy those
who write with such small words
but yet eclipse such great meaning

I am afraid that

If I had a pen
I wouldn't stop
I'd write until
It ran out of ink
And then I'd fetch another

I don't think

I don't think
we will see
the sun today
Dark storm clouds
Obscure bright thoughts