POETS PLACE
APRIL MONTH 2020
April 1- this is definitely NO JOKE! Do you actually feel safe at home? Can
you definitively say you are secure enough and have the tools and the
resources to survive without the rituals of daily living that have sustained
you for most of your life? Our world, as we knew it, has been altered
drastically, and without any warning. There were no bells sounded to alert us
of impending doom. To give us time to pack up and store the necessary
goods to sustain us until the storm passed. We’ve had to stop what we were
doing, as if a stop motion camera was paused in mid-
walk/drive/laugh/loving/hugging/touching, or the cords were cut on our car
batteries, and then to immediately adjust to being quarantined like the lepers
were in 1866 on the island of Molokai! REALLY?? Is that our fate next? I
certainly hope not. I believe my most valued resource is hope. Without
hope- Well you tell me…
My current state of mind…
Stolen Pleasure
a manifesto
by Linda Kaye
This moment in our time has created a noticeable void
A dangerous precipice that has opened up multiple fissures and gaps
draining our swamps of endless pleasure troves
What used to be is no longer
What is or was lost are stolen pleasures
What personal pleasures have you lost? Are they defined by personal
existential fears of losing obsessive psychological needs?
The greed’s of societies decadence are prevalent from the overflows of
negligent squander, idiotic beliefs that the carousel runs forever
The pervasive magical thinking of security “they will fix this and take care
of us” mentality
What security? Does it really exist? Can security be proven?
By what means? What have you invested in yourself to claim that you can
be secure in the life world you have designed for yourself?
If the masses come knocking will you share your wealth? Your poverty?
If projection towards your future comes to pass what resources do you
consider most valuable? Have you invested in your family and friends who
will hopefully come to your rescue if you have neglected your own security?
If we admit today’s society is sick from a devastating illness are you
prepared mentally for the consequences? If you fall into a profound and deep
depression what, who will save you from yourself? Are you really prepared
for this?
Survival depends on the preparations you have invested in your whole life
Are you ready? Here it is.
This month I am please to host several poets. We begin with-
Mary Cheung- she is an innovative Artist and Costume Designer. Her
works contain a strong sense of story as well as a highly sensuous style. She
mostly works in paint or photography and sometimes making art that is
wearable and innovative. She states “I am usually more of a Visual style
Artists and have only recently been open to sharing literally art/poems, often
paired with visual art of my creation, birthing a new form of spoken word
art as another form of expression”. Here is Mary’s poem for the April
edition of ‘Poets Place’
Death of Humanity
9:20 a.m. 3/17/20
By Mary Cheung
Its the death of humanity,
Its very scary, very sad
Price gouging, hoarders, scammers,
everyone out for themselves...
How did it get so bad.
I go to the pet store, to buy treats for my dog.
Only to find a parking lot full…
of people waiting to buy guns,
A 6 hr back log.
Scrounging for guns to "protect" themselves they claim...
becoming each others enemies?
Instead of each others saviors,
we only have ourselves to blame.
An apocalyptic movie, come to life.
So this is how it begins,
Paranoia, panic sets in.
everyone loses,
and nobody wins.
Its a ghost town out there,
grocery stores seemingly a mile long.
fights over the last loaf of bread,
where did it all go wrong?
Have we lost or minds?
Will it ever be fine?
A crisis is the true test of our humanity.
Right now, its dying because we are too panicky.
As I look out my window and I spy nature,
And the reminders of life..
It gives me hope… that we'll rise again
Despite the pandemic and strife.
Combat paranoia and fear,
fight it with love, kindness and compassion.
Let’s make sure humanity doesn’t disappear.
For more info on Mary Cheung please visit her at
https://notjusttheordinary.wixsite.com/marycheungartist
https://www.facebook.com/mary.cheung.1675
Leon McConnell, another poet who is sharing his thoughts with us, is the
author of the poetry books All of my Snipple Snapples and Meow Rawr
Frillzies as well as being a musician and the writer/director of the film
HomeSick. He lives in Los Angeles.
Back to One
Here I am. Back to 1. Looking at the hole and thinking of better ways to
climb it.
Passing clouds remind me of those who’ve been down here in the dark with
me, such good friends. For years, they’ve been living somewhere in my
stomach and I want to pull them through. If memories are energy and energy
is matter then these people are alive in the moments between souls, stuck in
the crannies of a braincell
Knocking on the windows of your memory
Something your cat watches out the corner of it’s eye. All ghosts are
welcome to climb this hole with me. I’ve found the haunting helps lubricate
some synchronicity. See, I’ve been stretching and growing and feeding my
aura. I flipped a switch like the kitchen light and became a beacon, attracting
all the weird ones society says are unlatchable. I laid down and left a light on
for them. I’m riding the wings of moths fresh out of dreams and licking their
dust off my fingers. I’m tallying matchstick towers towards coincidence,
trying to burn brighter, working at becoming a better daylight, trying to
become today tomorrow.
And finally,
“Armageddon or Heaven”
by Ed Burgess 4/1/20
Red, white and blue
Red blood from our hearts
White phlegm from our lungs
Blue on our lips
Dead and alive
Free but enslaved
Wrapped in our flag
While it burns
Our throats sore
Inhaling the smoke
Hot in a fever dream
The Armageddon has come
Heaven’s door opens
We see the other side
Is it better in Armageddon
Or is it better in Heaven
Only we can decide
To stay inside ourselves
Or venture out beyond
Into Armageddon or Heaven
Ed Burgess is an artist, poet and all around bon vivant. He has lived in LA
for 20 years and is an active member of the art community. He has exhibited
his artwork in many galleries around Los Angeles. He also writes poetry and
sometimes reads it publicly.
Thanks for joining us! PLEASE, more than ever, continue to support the
arts!!
With great hope for our future
Linda Kaye
Please submit your written work to:lindakayepoetry@icloud.com
Hello Hoodlum!
Tomorrow, Sunday April 5th at 4pm PDT, get ready for TEA TIME with REVEREND DAN live on Twitch.tv! Wild Rock 'n' Roll for your afternoon refreshment! Grab a cup and I'll see you tomorrow at https://www.twitch.tv/ReverendDanKXLU
