Laura Leiser Poet Free verse

Slab City

Raised a thumb, hitched a ride
random raced, inside
a freaky, desert mirage—
—then took it——solo
and slammed smack dab
into Slab City. 

Oasis to lost, wandering souls
outcasts, living off society’s Grid
—crash landed—
into immediate immersion
of oddball oddities and eccentricities. 

Psychedelic dreamscapes 
mixed with Truth tellers—
—Salvation Mountain, God’s love
and John 3:16. 
then, around the corner
East Jesus, where heathens
and aliens commune. 

Find your path, your truth
within Coke bottle walls
Madonna shrines, plastic people 
junk art sculptures—-
—-RV snowbirds and hippies
living side by side. 

Commentary complimentary—
—spun from a grey bearded elder
telling tales of the glory days—
—of protests and picket lines
—of hazy days, flower children 
and far out, rainbow dreams.

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Beata Agustin April 20, 2025 at 5:07 AM Congrats! Thanks for sharing this. God bless you. Laura Leiser April 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM Thank you, Beata! :)

Sotto Poet April 16, 2025 at 4:41 PM Laura this is an outstanding and excellent illustration of Slab City! I've encountered it all, and you define the peculiarities and eccentricities properly. Congratulations on your win! Laura Leiser April 17, 2025 at 10:33 AM Thanks so much, Sotto! I appreciate your kind comments and am so glad you liked this! :)

Trina Layne April 16, 2025 at 1:45 PM Congrats, Laura! I also had no idea this was a real place. You and Terry did a good job of bringing it to life. Laura Leiser April 16, 2025 at 2:34 PM Thanks, Trina! I’m happy you liked it! :)

Brian Sambourne March 13, 2025 at 12:22 PM Terrific poem. I did not know about the existence of Slab City. Checked it out on Wikipedia. Fascinating place. You've written a contest winner. Cheers. Laura Leiser March 14, 2025 at 10:46 AM Thank you, Brian, for your kind comments. Slab City is thoroughly unique and worth the visit, if you ever get the chance to go! :)

Andrea Dietrich February 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM wow, I think you've got this contest locked up. without ever being there, I could never come up with something this good! Laura Leiser February 26, 2025 at 5:19 PM Thanks for stopping by to comment, Andrea! I’m so glad you thought this was good..it was fun to write it! :)

Daniel Henry Rodgers February 25, 2025 at 8:52 AM Dear Laura, Wow, took me on a wild ride through the raw, untamed heart of Slab City! I love the way you captured its chaotic beauty and the collision of different worlds. it is like stepping into a dream of freedom and rebellion. It's a place where every corner holds a story, and you've brought it to life beautifully. Winter Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel Laura Leiser February 25, 2025 at 9:17 AM Thank you, Daniel, for your kind compliments. :) It was fun to get in the mood of the times as I wrote this piece. Visiting Slab City was quite a unique experience for me. Take care!

Victor Buhagiar February 25, 2025 at 1:25 AM Never been to USA, but I searched Slab City and found it existed. Quite an interesting city and poem. Laura Leiser February 25, 2025 at 9:19 AM Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Victor! It is quite the unique place, for sure!

Oliver Mckeithan February 24, 2025 at 1:38 AM Good one. Like the groups of people who populate your Slab City. Laura Leiser February 24, 2025 at 12:12 PM Thank you, Oliver!