SECTION TEN
  POETRY PAGE SIX


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COLUMN FIFTY-FIVE, JANUARY 1, 2001
(Copyright © 2001 Al Aronowitz)

[These poems, by Peter Chelnik, are from his book, Wildflower Serenade]

AMERICAN DREAM

Oh, America boogaloo
from Seattle to Bangor,
let your freak flag fly.
Dream on, that's what I say
like sweet prairie morning
always mythic road time.
America stop the self-destruct
shell game.
Louisiana whiskey rock and roll.
Knock off MTV cruise missile
sitcoms, work your eight hours
then create textual miracles.
America boogaloo, I open
typewriter heart to you.
Yes the school kids start
class with daydream
expectation, fresh
spiral bound books.
I rumble through Taos,
Tucumcari, Oklahoma City
observe goodness unbound opportunity -
­way beyond Mario Brothers,
technological fix.
American Dream I am yours
like suitor in starched
shirt anchor raised
ready to set sail.  ##

* * *

OVERLAND PHONE CALLS

Overland phone calls
to Don in Arkansas,
Dave in New Orleans,
keep this shifty poet
honest like black suited
Bible salesman.
You dudes bring
American vibrations
to my city, country two-step resonance,
plain talk.
Overland phone calls
from two guys who take
pecan pie time to
pick up every stitch.
Yes, rooted in Cheshire
kindness common sense pinwheel, I am apart
from city frenzy, gangland vibration.
Always rapping, sometimes
like magpie poetic
warrior.  Yes we quest
for essence beyond
skin flint politics
bottom licking stale wonder bread.
I salute you, Don and Dave,
for your serenity, sometimes
craziness.  Your honest notions
about family
and printed word.
A straight shot. ## 

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