California Weather

( by Nick Mancuso )

thunder
overhead
a small black heat
that curls
the electric gods.
how long have they been with us?
electric spasms
that through the ages
have joined
the thick sockets
of the earth

thunder
above us
and clouds too
weeping the water
till it all flows
out
and the poets have all left
their cars and stared
into the smoky heaven eye

american visionmouth
& being the continued
aspect of yr being
which is called
mans individual freedom
which is guaranteed
at the highest price
the biggest bidder
& is written
in the shape of mouths
cleveland
how do your black rivers
find the way back
how can your poets
survive
anymore
new york why will you not pick up
the garbage accumulated
beneath yr overpasses
miami when will the madness end
los angeles why do you
abuse yourself
washington
what happened to the vision
or has it come true
mobile i see a black
man weep beneath an angry sky
atlanta when will your fear filled
skies be opened
when will the true south rise

when will the stench of butchered cattle
flee the streets of billings montana
colorado when will you respect
your indians
mr. lincoln, ancient soul when will you stand
frozen in your chair
and speak

and speak.