CLIFF-HANGER The path climbs before me. A path strewn with danger. I have cliffs to the right, descending sheer to abyss. I have a wall of rock to the left, climbing to a distant vanishing point. You stand at the end of the path, on a pointed bluff. You stare away from me, clad in gossamer. A twenties Coca-Cola fantasy. I cling to an inch of ledge. Me? I am Hogarth street-drudge. But I must try for you anyway. I crawl and edge my way to you. The crumbly rock skitters away beneath my feet. I tear fingernails, gasp in pain. You do not turn. I hear a voice in my head: "Will our hero make it? Can he reach his dream? Or will he fall to his doom? Tune in next--" NO! NOT YET! I feel the edge give way as I leap for the heaven of your bluff. Short. Pain star-bursts as ribs crack on a knife point. I haul myself to safety at your feet. I lay fish-breathing. My eyes travel up your: "Well-turned ankle" "Long coltish legs" "A caboose that inspired the theory of perpetual-motion" "A back that angels dream of" "Limbs to make a willow weep" To your face Wind plays with your raven hair like some demented hairdresser. But even Wind cannot hide your Bright Electric Blue eyes The twins smile. You reach Open your Hand To me? Nah. Yeah? Yeah! A giddy strengh fills me as I stand. Under your gaze and hands I am no longer a miscarriage from an artist's nightmare. I have become a David Apollo Errol Stupidly smiling, I look over your shoulder. I see beyond you, no, us. A path. Sheer drop to the right. Wall of rock to the left. A sign. Hand lettered. Arrow pointing. "TO PARADISE ??200 mi." -MSH 5/30/88 ??)(Theresa. Some day I'll make the leap.) GEAR-JAMMER She ain't no line-puncher, She's a gear-jammer. She handles like a sick whale, But she holds a hundred plus Steady as a priest. No back-street beater, She's a highway eater. She's made to cruise, Built to ROLL. Eating distance Land shark. Sea wolf. Get her on the road. Ease her up to fifty. Mash down on the gas. Squash your eyeballs into discs. Got you by the balls. Ain't gonna let go. Don't black out now. Watch the dotted line Stitch together, A solid bar. Flyin' low At one-two-oh. She's settin' right. Feel the wheels. Do they still touch ground? The needle. Pegged to the right You guess it at one-forty-five. Your ass sizzles. The hard pavement screams A mere twelve inches below. She wants more. Always more. Speed. Momentum. The big MO. The engine howls. The wheels sing. The highway whispers. Ahead, The sky. A horizon that ceases To race before you. Wait. Pick it. Choose the moment. Now. Kill the engine. The steering wheel, Embedded in cement. No turning away. The guard rail Disappears with a grunt. air. Floating. Sailing. A scream. Like, A wounded horse. A cat fight. A dying rabbit. Fingernails down your spine. Twisting metal. It is done. M.S. Hazen 1987 This one ain't mine.....read it somewhere DON'T ASK ME WHO I AM, MY FRIEND, MY ANSWER IS A LIE. FOR I MAY THINK I'M ANOTHER MAN, AND TOMORROW I MAY DIE. DON'T ASK ME WHO I LOVE MY FRIEND, MY ANSWER IS A LIE. FOR THE OTHER MY LOVE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH, AND TOMORROW I MAY DIE. DON'T ASK ME WHY I FIGHT, MY FRIEND, MY ANSWER IS A LIE. FOR I CAN'T KILL THE OTHER MAN'S RIGHT, AND TOMORROW I MAY DIE. THE SHIP WE SAIL ISN'T STRONG, MY FRIEND, TO THINK SO IS A LIE. IF IT SAILS US NOW, IT WON'T BE FOR LONG, AND TOMORROW WE MAY DIE. SONNET #1 I peer over the ramparts of my soul. My defenses stand ready to repell. Any invasion, any sort of toll. My tower of Iron will set for hell. Yet all I view is a smile full of glee. Topped by eyes, wide and deep, quietly staring She begins to dance, dance only for me! At first cautious; hips swaying eyes daring. Tawny, feline body beckons as Only the female of the species can. Mesmerised; hands tremble, weak knees of glass; Open the gate with the flinch of a gland. A claw, hers, plunges through the opening. My heart rips free. I'm left to my healing. 1986 I saw something like this once...call it jammin on a theme. SWEAT Quietly, He came to Her. He removerd Her covering. He sat for a moment, Staring. Taking into His eyes And soul, Her naked body. He began to caress Her soft, Veined neck. She moaned softly. He ran His hand across The graceful curve Of Her waist. His calloused Fingertips brushed Her belly Again, She moaned. He began to Pluck, pull and press. Her moans became Rythmic. Together, They moved Screamed And groaned. Emotion Raging through Them. A final burst Of harmonic breath, They ended. His sweat Dripped upon Her warm glowing Body. Slowly, He got up Stretching Cramped and kinked muscles. He gently Placed the guitar back into Her case. M.S. HAZEN 1984 X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X Another file downloaded from: The NIRVANAnet(tm) Seven & the Temple of the Screaming Electron Taipan Enigma 510/935-5845 Burn This Flag Zardoz 408/363-9766 realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 510/527-1662 Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 801/278-2699 The New Dork Sublime Biffnix 415/864-DORK The Shrine Rif Raf 206/794-6674 Planet Mirth Simon Jester 510/786-6560 "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X