Ripley's Believe it or Not/this I know/I love like none other

My new friends/ The Lady with The Beard/she never got married/her weight is more than 6oolbs./ A glass booth with Mr Sunken Cheeks/an allusion/plastic large lenses cover eye balls. (a lady peeping frm the street) I PULL HER IN FOR AN EDUCATED OPINION/"Not real/she says,look at their eyes" I HAVE MADE FRIENDS W/DUMMIES/IT IS NOT TRUE/they must have pin holes in their eyes. I stay with them at the booth for at least twenty minutes. Their voices sing different riffs in an low unnatural sound/I look at her hand/ it is large/veins run through/His sucked in face/has a quality about it like the man one meets at the bar/we cry together express our deepest fears and goals to one another. It will be five hundred dollars a week that /from my hotel room around the corner will not spend.

June 20/'09/It's time to relate/take the fish out of the bay/sing a song of doubt/create a new piece and don't worry about anything

Not only do I HAVE TO WORK THROUGH MY OWN INSECURITIES/but we are responsible for everyone else who judges us poorly. Yeah-I CAN BREATHE/PUT down my respirator/click on twitter/some dancer chick wants me to join her healthclub. She's history/one click/she better count one less follower/ like the architects in the courtyard/I WAVE/THEY TURN THEIR HEADS/ park of the power is to march on/not let the pain in/ride the waves/ create inspite of the suffering/let those hands move

what drug could heal us now / what food could soothe us /1992

• Near Success/ a hook drives us back/inside ourselves /we know /only the struggle / the suckling reach / terror ridden days / without a summer rainbow/without a summer rainbow/warriors in love with ourselves.

Ain't no crime in being poor /the unspoken alliance

• OH COME TO ME LIKE FLUTES AND CYMBALS / IT'S A party I won't forget /

1979/WISTHERIA vines/Ga. OCONEE COUNTY/The Kill

CONFUSION TRAPPED me into being jealous / Why/do you love /me / I head for the abandoned house /I KNOW I can deserve you / no money /no security / tons of responsibility /

1982/Fletcher Place COMMUNITY center/FREE store / INDPLS. ,Indiana

• I STAND AT THE DOOR/WAIT for the store to open /this is my time away from the kitchen/ Cora/leans on her cart/like a sister/ she has a full beard / Esther/covers her mouth with her fingers/they flutter in front of her/ she is toothless/I AM ALMOST / SHE SWEARS HER HUSBAND/George could hear/long after he died / the bell sound/clothes hang on racks neatly/ boxes hold shoes/scarves/underwear/ we carry cardboard boxes/ fill up on little knicknacks/volunteer s /Ida and Billie/ yell at us /keep nthe racks straight/don't drop hangers/ be sure to safetypin the pants back/ I CARRY THE MOST/ coats/little crafts made of wood/books......

1989/Mass.Ave.,Indy, in front of Denouement Fine Art

He did not come /in a limousine /wearing a Porkpie hat /He walked right up to me /and said /\that he was a poet.

while living in the Berube house/we traveled north to Chapais

1. baby girl swings in the doorway of the hut. Alo is also swinging in a Jolly Jumper. MARY AND EMILY WRAP THEIR HEAD WITH HERB POTIONS SOAKED CLOTHS. I HAVE ASSEMBLED A marionette caLLED lucky Ducky/ He is yellow/made of stuffed rags/button eyes/sewn mouth / I PREPARE FOR PUPPET sHOW/ WALK THE MARIONETTE across the room/on all fours/ Later we hear that the baby/three years old /had never walked/ but stood for the first time to accompany the puppet.

around 1990 /three kids join us to complete a project up state Indiana

• We snuggle 'round /spin off muffler /jump in the Blue River HOLE / bEANS /CORN /catfishin' in Wanatah /Shiloh /red rasberries at Tip Top Farm / a childsize train sits on Teabury Hill /willow weep for me /willow weep for me /and you too / Wearing gloves /a young man and his son / search a burnout / the air stings / Strawberries / closed for trhe season / open antiques / floor to attic / In Pierre farmers clean seeds / we snuggle 'round the spiun-off muffler.

FEB./'90 / a bIRTHDAY POEM tO mYSELF

• yOU WERE JUST AN ACCIDENT / A CARELESS RESULT /BETWEEN AN UPTOWN girl and a street kid / No one ever wanted you / The world is made up of accidental beings /who fight to survive for one reason or another....

She painted flower paintings /wheeled a shopping cart

1. Her husband

   / had left her for a younger woman / this she does not deal with / her children treat her daft /NOW SHE LIVES ALONE IN FEDERAL Housing / says she feels light again / like running to the bus to grab a free meal at the senior center / this spring cancer struck / like a welcome visitor / first she gave one breast / then the other......

Moses and Jackie get married / we gather under the Brooklyn Bridge

1. Honey in the grass /carrying the Hupa /Moses and Jackie tie the knot / TORAH DAY /Heavenly day / a great bird swoops down upon our heads.......

1997 /newspaper stand on the bowery /artist owned

1. he guards the store / a drizzle of fear / a setting moon / full heart / our feet light and soaring THE BOSS / A mICKEY mOUSE DOLL ON THE COUNTER / [i TRY TO BUY IT ]

looking out to the canal /harvesting the flowers [LILACS]

• My son says '' Be careful at the rock ''HE CALLS ME TOUGH GIRL /THE ROLES BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN REVERSE AT A CERTAIN POINT .............iT IS SO QUIET HERE THAT YOU CAN ALMOST SEE THE GHOSTS IN THE HOUSE. wE LOOK OUT TO THE CANAL and the steep rock cliffs /prepare to make bread orat least try to / we use the solitude as a jumping off point.

The BRONX BLUES /OR DOES IT GET ANY HARDER THAN THIS

It's time for revolution /not the kind where the press is locked out but that nature takes over /they say you can't survive with no money /just your wits but we are traveling up this avenue of desperation / We could have checked into an institution of higher learning or even pretended that we cared to stray into some employement . We love our children and grandchildren and want them to understand what is happening /the bottom is falling out /our sincere wishes for the pursuit of happiness has taken a side rode / We /again / are at the mercy of those who pay us for art rendered in this time.

excluded from Battleground /1985

• Mama /warming herself /on the heater /drunk / Nelson had fallen off the bed / the pin in his hip was swollen and inflamed /the phone had fallen too / the skies bursting jazz lightning /you all wet / standing at the back door /knocking /trying to help.......

INDIANA HELD US FOR 15YEARS /A GOLDEN place

• dreams float like kisses /sweet babies / down by the tracks there's a shanty /with a sock on a stick / a mulberry grove surrounds / I peek in....

page two of Rosecity Poem /BENNY AND Michelles' before kids

• please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for grantedtHE cHELSEA / JANIS jOPLIN Slept here / bobbie dylan at Henrys' /Steve mOSES AND I SLEEP IN VAN /WHILE WOMEN / WET WITH JOY FOR MY HUSBAND'S BEAUTY SMILE AT HIM /COME and get it / what have they done

lAUNDRAMAT bLUES pART 11 /1998 /new york city

• please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for We take it to the strreets /We take everything to thge streets / the sneer /upturned noses / backs turned /lips curled corners of the mouth drooping / and we watch the passerbys deflect / our art / cONFUSCIOUS SAYS

  /gO home /Go Home / You will never make it /here the tough crumble to sand / TWO ARMS EXTENDED We trudge to SOHO / 26THsT. /MET MUSEUM /Moma /Coney Island /we are alone but not afraid /We are alone but not afraid..

unresolved poem about murder and disregard

1. please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for granted ah mumia /LUIMA / DIALLO /LUIMA dIALLO /SHARPTON FIGHTS /FOR THE PEOPLE / hUNTER STUDENT HAS BUTCHER BKNIFE STIVKING OUT / OF HER CHEST / WITH HER GROCERIES STREW ON THE SIDEWAK ///cHRISTINE IS MISSING / BUT gARRY bUSH KNOWS DA cACCA /jOHNNY cOCRAM KNOWS o.j. / AND A MAN SAY HE'S SORRY FOR PUSHING wEBDALE OFF THE PLATFORM /CAUSE HE DIDN'T TAKE HIS PILS / THE ART TEACHER AND HIS GIRLFRIEND ON pearl st. complained and they went missing / but if you can't find the bodies / you're not assumed dead / aaren't we alldying bit by lil' bit disintegrating into toes and bone while our flesh dries fro lack of care

;1997 ; SELLING ON THE STREET MISSING THE CHILDREN

1. please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing THE OLD CITY WHERE YOU ARE PART OF SOMEONE ELSE'S EGO TRIP / CANAL sT

   REET AND THE bOWEY /A FENCE OF cHINATOWN /A SEA OF FOLKS IN COLORED PARKAS DELECATE FLOER FACES LANTERNS / THIS SAME GAME / A FIVE DOLLAR DAY / A BUES WAY /LAMP SHADE LIFE / THE BALD EAGLE CHASES THE CHICKEN / CONFUSCIOUS SAY / GO HOME / YOU SWIM TOO SLOW /STREET CLEANERS HOSE THE SAME SIDEWALK /LIKE FOLDING THE SAME CLOTHES / MY STUDY DOES NOT IMPRESS / i want to kiss the homelessgrante

THE ANGST BETWEEN COUPLES IS OFTEN TOO HARD TO BEAR

1. please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for grantedOur bodies lie together /firm yet pliable / what muscle is it....That you just wanted someone by your side / you didn't know who I was / lodged your toes between my ass / you tried to make me come forth / make me see that i WAS ME...

50 Park Avw.,My grandfather died sitting next to me at a lecture series

1. please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for grantedTHE ROLL-TO DESK /HIS MASON PAPERS /JOKE BOOKS /HE MAKE SPEECHES /TWOPLACES STILL SET AT THE TABLE /DREAMS OF pARIS /hONGkONG TRIPS FLOAT THROUGH THE APARTMENT /LIKE THE HANDDUG FISH POND AT THE COUNTRY HOUSE /THE LILIES AND IRIS AROUND THE WALL / HIS SLIPPERS NEXT TO THE BED /STILL /GRAM HOLDS HIS PILLOW

strawtown animal car auction /Zionsville /Indiana

1. please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for grantedSun sleek /never a hitch I change my purse /a chance /mo no mor / sliver of moon /we set out / like a birthday cake...

SERIES ON SURVIVING THE CRUNCH /OLD WRITINGS AND NEW

1. they said 'tHIS ISN'T THE A7& YOUR ON THE RECEIVING LINE /TO SURVIVE THE POOR /NEED SMARTS /CALMNESS AND A HEART OF STONE please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for granted

the family at the lake /drop dead fred /an indian motel

1. please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for grantedLAKE mICHIGAN GRIND CORNROWS IN BASIN SEAWEED /THE LAKE RIPPLES AND REELS LIKE HONEY ICE /SHUSH /WHUSH /SHUSH /SHUSH /HUSH /LEMON ICE /BEACH BIRDS LIKE GLASS PERCH ON UMBRELLAS /SAND BLOWS ON BAKED FLESH / in/di/ana dunes rise to the sky /we climb white hills /fertile and still /flowers dance /we roll down /like the sun /like the sun/shush /whush /shush /whush hush /honey ice and lemon wash

for AFRICAN americans everywhere /a thought

1. please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take The gentle folk whisper my name /little bird /Faye//Faygola /fanny / Francy for granted/man's best friend is his enemy /for we have planted a jungle in you /which will nattack at anytime / I think bARAKA SAID THAT /WHEN WE FORGET / WE DENY OUR OWN EXISTENCE AND THE PATH BECOMES TREACHEROUS / SO DOES THE EYE KNOW WHAT THE HEART FEELS/ WHEN THE HAND REACHES OUTWARD

21rst century /brings light and truth/obama /Steve STOLLER

please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for granted No one knew but you needed a little edge to keep going / All/ways /she was a little doped up / THE AFTERMATH /Silence /like a gull on a rock/

doubling up / indy writing /man in gallery

please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for grantedwe were poor /I go to where I KNEW THERE WAS A cHICKADEE NEST /GRAB A FEW BIRDS LIMP /SNAP THEIR NECLS /THAT WOULD BE LUNCH IN OLD ITALY....

back in the city

I walk ten miles a day /searching / people with body piercings laugh at me / I AM FRESH / HOLISTIC / EVEN THE PIGEONS SEEM TO BE LAUGHING / THE GARBAGE IS PILED IN SUCH A WAY THAT I want to eat i t ----we sleep on the floor /Moses wants to work in restaurants / we have left everything that we've known /back in indiana /Henry has had a stroke.....the herb stores /bellchimes / fish stands / we have crawled through a tunnel to be here in CHINATOWN /THIS PAGE / WE risked to be here /mornings I rise early /run to the air sweet and cool / before the streets crowd / chatter / Moses explores his city / HE IS UNAFRAID /Danny calls afternoons /summer heat beats

EARLY New York; 1997

please know that experimentation is the artist friend /create the buddy list from the heart /take nothing for granted

TINY TASHA OR THE SONG OF SARA

1. TWO JUNKIES ON THE BUS // i own you / maybe if you're good I 'll get you those earings /you come back to my room /

eye of wave / salt / smile /wave / undertow / and dive / die / and return to the sea / like sorry folks / making me feel bad / like the carousel man mike / watching me from across the street / or the one-eyed fruitman on grand st. /Tiny TASHA / HER REELERS WHEELING HER AROUND IN A SHOPPING CART / COUNTING MONEY / CUT DOWN AT THE KNEES / EARLY MORNING / THE SEA / RAZOR CLAMS AND THE BRACELET THE TIDE BROUGHT OUT / AND CLEANING WITH A TOOTHBRUSH / REACHING OUT TO THE CORNERS OF THE WORLD /

SWEAT: Computer Tunes Meme

: ben harperwhite lies for dark times you will love this music and i am a poor poet trying to find my way in the dark night /with the birds coming homeplease listen to our friend Computer Tunes Meme

College Radio Blog KSCL 91.3fm - Shreveport: Corrington Award 2008 to Alice McDermott at Centenary, Shreveport

College Radio Blog KSCL 91.3fm - Shreveport: Corrington Awar eye of wave / salt /smile / flies / like the undertow and divesd 2008 to Alice McDermott at Centenary, Shreveport

College Radio Blog KSCL 91.3fm - Shreveport: Corrington Award 2008 to Alice McDermott at Centenary, Shreveport

College Radio Blog KSCL 91.3fm - Shreveport: Corrington Awar eye of wave / salt /smile / flies / like the undertow and divesd 2008 to Alice McDermott at Centenary, Shreveport