Crooked Out Of Compton

Watts UpRise

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.

SITE CONTENT

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

PEOPLE GET READY

Mayfield lit the torch in black dark, said Keep on Pushing when kept apart

T-45 CONTAGION

Donald J. Trump’s hiss hollows me his virulence, like swindlers, sidle up to travelers armchair quarterbacks. Dreading deadly colds, flu, I shudder, afraid

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.

VIDEOS

Check out this great video where I read three poems.

Check out this great video with Doug Manuel