the curtains are pulled back
lights up & here we sit
in the mist of the muddle of Babylon
lead by mumblecrats
who babble on
wielding ink like a wand
stalwart stewards of the status quo
deciding the borders between here & there
& who has the right to air
we are here
in the doorway
breathless
after crossing redlines
after sundown
after being
studied vilified
unbenignly neglected
surrounded & drowned
washed on to sidewalks
tent cities under freeways
& next to exit signs pointing
the way out of town
after generations of
building up
pouring out
& sanctifying
after suns setting on our sons
through wars on drugs
& other wars on us
balloon bombs eating houses
& the ground they stood on
after leveling those posted on
by trains ran on us
we are here
realities ruptured
as wheels turn
deals are made
the status quo safe
is a town just a place
or the people
hearts beating
drums sounding
something about to burst
we are here
amongst the jackhammers & cranes
as the ground shrinks
and the sky recedes
water rising
with bruised real lives
that read like make believe
instructed by history & memory
no resting place
since refugees dreamed
the shades of blue
flowing from & to
the 16th st train station
building in the narrows
determined to live
the narrative
of us thriving
we are here
the storm again
arrival called for
by survival
here in the doorway
& we see you
we see you
? are your eyes open
tomorrow is listening
? can you hear us
shrill horns
rumbling piano keys
refrains of constraint
echoing through halls
stretched like shadow
painted on tall walls & eclipse
by taller walls
beyond resource seeking recourse
? can you hear us
starving on broken promises
we won’t take beads & fire water this time
are your eyes open
all roads lead here now
to bridges
built or burnt
cymbals crashing like waves
we will write the story of
you this place this time
this moment calling
across the land for
héros tall dreams
all in the pot
you with us or you not
speak now or mumble on
& that’s what we’ll put in the song
we are the storm
The Town
forever embedded in discourses of liberty
we remember to remember
bleeding for the world
that’s still watching still waiting
we are here
speak clearly they are listening
here in the midst of the muddle
of Babylon decide which chracter
you will play in the history
we make
the path is clear
the stage is yours
but the story is ours
we are here
the cameras are rolling
& everybody pays for their mistakes
no retakes
this is one shot
ready or not
close ups baby
we here
so clear some seats
set out the feast
we here to make sure
everybody eat
no surrender no retreat
stand up straight
so we can see
if you hit the right notes
this your moment
don’t choke
yup that mic is hot
sang
make it a banger
we can bang
from the flats to the hills
rising in effervescence over the lake
the sound of the peoples will
let it reverbervate
while we cruise
all beautiful free to
be
in crystal clarity of early mornings
in the balmy bloom of late night
in the glow
of our own lovely light
& just chill
cuz we here
still
film at 11
