100 Thousand Poets for Change - DRIVE BY

I completely spaced it off and didn't even let you guys know that I was asked to read my poetry at 100 Thousand Poets for Change in September. The great poet that asked me to read is Christian Elder (he saw me perform at a book store earlier in the year and saved my info.) So we were in Venice, and event was sponsored by Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center. They had so many poets there were 2 stages going at the same time...and this was happening all over the world.

I did a new piece that I'd never done before (it wasn't memorized) Because I didn't want to go with something standard, but as the show was about changes that needed to happen in the world I chose this one.It's tentatively titled DRIVE BY and talks about how the neighborhoods used to be before all the gangs became prevalent and how one little old granny is doing her best to clean up the streets using prayer as her main weapon...here is a portion of it.

To be accepted, you began to bang,
Deaf to her voice, influenced by your gang.
She’s done sittin’ back, just saying a prayer,
Lettin’ you know she’s not easy to scare.

Makin’ sure great grandkids can play outside,
Prays over each barred up house on her ride.
Covers the block with her flock, when they pray;
You’ll see changes happen day after day.

Employment increase and murder decrease
And fear ridden households soaking up peace
Dad’s will come back, screams and anger are hushed
Parent’s get sober, crack and meth are flushed

Crimes in progress, that are set with cocked gun,
Will stop abruptly, then watch the perps run,
Kids will respect authority, they’ll obey moms
Clean up their language –stop dropping F-bombs