Punk Heartbeat, a Poem
Yeah
New York streets, dark beat
And in a club you sit, daydreaming of a second chance that you’re not working for
But the music, the music blasts
Hop in
Riveting
Streaming fast and full on
Some gal, slash marks on her arm
All the way up and down
No redemption there, just a misguided attempt
Dark
But light enough to see some slinky silhouette
Up the stairs the figure stumbles
Skinny with a skinny tie
And he falls back, off the top step — tie grabbed; he’s saved
The world safe once more for a Rockaway California dream
Concrete and cinder block high schools of rhythm
Surfing in bitter winter; little sun, no sandals
And you wish you were on the other side of the continent
Secure and protected from the cold, like in some song
But those troubadours of Queens
They keep you dreaming and bopping, rocking without sock hopping
Then, one by one, they die – And it is all gone
Yet it’s forever in the memory and in your hard drive
Because their music drives hard
When
Alone in a slobbering, sobering review of your mistakes
You hear the ancient beat
A pugnacious countdown of innocent, energetic mischief
You are fulfilled once more, blood coursing with thunder
Awaken
You say youth is wasted on the young
No! Middle age is wasted on the middle aged
Life is wasted on the living
If we forsake the simple garage beat of power, madness and life
Sophistication
Overwrought and overworked
Give it to me simple, driving and fast
Let’s have a blast
Because the power lives on in our hearts
Give me a count…
Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
*Authors note: You might see this column pop up online in a newspaper, under the name Both Sides. I am publishing this column here first at CYInterview.com. For a bunch of years, I have been writing newspaper columns. Since my columns have received a good response on CYInterview, I thought I would share it with you. Hope you enjoy.
You can reach me with your questions and comments at Jay@CYinterview.com Like today’s column? Check back frequently.