Dark Blue

the scribe in question looks for
deep mathematical meaning
within a date as sublime as the
price of silver but finds no pattern
of logarithmic, hyperbolic or
trigonometric value, but a mistake
made by a long-deceased lead
singer makes a numerical pattern
and musical history because four
plus two equals six and rising
early means watching armageddon
unfolding before everybody's very eyes,

even the dark poet thought he
was viewing the opening geological
salvo in the Arizona Bay offensive
because racial tensions always
seem to be the bellwether before
some massive s**t goes down,

like all the red blazing storefronts
in the now infamous place called
South Central,

just because blue had to be dark
to the darker skin colors,

the thin blue line is really a
razor garrotte around the
minority neck squeezing and
strangling until there is no
more to give in sacrifice,

and this is why the sublime one
made the statement about the
product of eleven and seventeen,

and now racial tensions might turn
the southeastern phallus into a
massive Viagra malfunction since
hoodies and the neighborhood watch
are too many blue pills to swallow at once,

because nothing has changed in
two decades because the scribes
still inside preconceived boxes
about race,

one due to a military childhood
on the phallic hooker boot that
can be seen from space and one
due to the fact that vanilla is the
predominant flavor in the current
almost parallelogram he calls home,

those tensions didn't exist outwardly
in those places because when everybody
looks like you and the law enforcement
community does not believe in the
police state concept, it tends to
skew one's reality forever,

he or she can't understand
police corruption and racial
profiling unless you were there
like the sublime one was when
he dropped the window to steal
his guitar and amplifier,

but that's only a song or was it?

he asked us all where we were
that fateful day and considering
today's current climate, it's worth
looking back at where we all were
and how we all came to be where
we are now because the next
generation is depending on that,

but this is the human race we
are talking about, just specks of
detritus in the universe's view of
things, and not known for learning
from their past mistakes because
their nature never changes according
to Christian doctrine and theology,

if we can't live by a rule that is made
from platinum, silver or even gold,
then our legacy is just a shade of blue
so dark it's almost black and purple,

and injuries are never sublime just
like the life, price and legacy of silver,

may our collective conscience know
the truth of living like platinum.

Reviews

[MOON]

Love the mathematical start to the poem and how it weaves to the political and social issues. Do the maths! Great read and my favourite word sublime.

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

There you are...........the Ken I know so well shining through in this magnificent piece. !!!

[roarke]

now that's some solid stream of consciousness. A juggernaut of a piece, bravo.

now.... keep it handy, and look at it again in twenty years and write another follow up piece then... might be surprising.

btw.... ya gotta cut back on those news channels....better yet, turn off any electronic media and leave it off.

[Hannah Paige]

Wow. I don't even know what to say. I love the allusions to current events and i love the flow and the language and the analogies and everything. This is fantastic.

[Rene Velez]

what can I say Ken...supreme

[John Jackson (El Juero)]

Goddamn Ken! This is a panorama under a 1000x microscope. So refreshing to hear an enlightened voice from one who has the same lack of melanin as I. Not only is the message powerful and true, but the clarity delivered by the hammerblow of your eloquent writing is actually mind altering.
This is a f****n' masterpiece.
I am so proud to have read, and understood...

[Coyote Poetry]

I always enjoy your story in your poem. Took me to many places and make me think about many things in this poem. Your poetry must be read a second time "to grasp the meaning and purpose.
but this is the human race we
are talking about, just specks of
detritus in the universe's view of
things, and not known for learning
from their past mistakes because
their nature never changes according
to Christian doctrine and theology,"
Thank you for the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Divinity Sleeps in This]

There are always parts of your work that i love, who else could combine politics with maths?

I liked the metallic glints and tones in this, the ending was fabulous!

Your very male ability to tune into the macrocosm appeals to me greatly!

1.within a date as sublime as the- price of silver but finds no pattern
2. may our collective conscience know- the truth of living like platinum.

It's almost as if you personalize, humanity. AND, I wouldn't have it any other way Ken.