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Greetings
Launched July 13, 2022
Watts UpRise is a finalist of the 2022 Press 53 Award for Poetry and a featured poem, “Compton, An Energy-Fueled Dark Star” is nominated for a 2021 Pushcart Prize.
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COMPTON COLLEGE STUDENTS HOLD WEED-STANK BREATH IN A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK
Sheriff Deputy’s creeping black and white,
flashing red lights, their CrownVic stopping steep
Myrtilla "Betsy" Ross Puts God before Country
Again, President George creeps into his flyblown horse stable
at midnight, concealing with Myrtilla congealing with Myrtilla
Watts UpRise
"I'm going
to do something, something BIG,
" Sobato Rodia said in Italian before abandoning
his children & wife's wet, dull eyes. "Sorry, & most sorry
to leave, but there's no Watts story
CYCLING TO DEATH (COP-OUT)
Riding his bicycle on a sidewalk
riding his bike on the wrong side
his bike didn’t have lights
his bike safe from The Rona infected buses
he stole a glance at a two sheriff’s deputies
a reservoir of resentment
Anger Management in a Time of COVID-19 Pandemic and Riotous Grief
First, understand what you call “a riot”
was the Watts rebellion ending our 1965
Little League season. No last-inning strikeout
but choking smoke, thick of burning rubber.
No walk-off homerun, but smoldering wood.
My Decoration (The Janitor’s Monologue)
They call me the weed killer them that argue it’s medical
value—sure—assume everyone’s sick and in need of a cure.