Impressions: June 26th

Some sort of thunder
cranked into this valley
right after a flash of lightening
illuminated the Hollywood sign.

This is L.A.
or Venice Beach
where they were surfing
near the stanchions
that glowed in the mist
shaking their heads
cause the waves were not
good enough today
wetsuits glistening

The Chinese woman in the alley
made faces at me
when I photographed
her white door
and purple wall
of her restaurant
letting me know
how unimportant it is
to photograph
a white door and purple wall
though I tried to explain
the beauty of contrast
and lack of purpose.

And the house by the
Venetian canal
with its Tibetan prayer flags
and a sign
letting you know
that if you linger
or stray from the path
an armed response
is to be expected.

Somewhere in Israel
our troops are massing
to save a boy
who awoke in
a thunder of his own
while journalists wander
through rows
of Merkava tanks
talking to kids
who should be surfing here
in shiny wetsuits.

Up in the hills
they are playing
baseball and soccer
or bringing their dogs
to a specially made
dog park
where they are chasing
plastic balls
or smelling the asses
of old friends
while the ghosts
of Desi and Lucy
smile on a wall
here in Culver City
in 50's sweetness
as rush hour traffic
comes to a halt.