Short Amped Poems

The Rolling Stones were the bad boys
   Amped-up volume, lyrics semi-obscene
Jimi Hendrix -- hypnotic, Frank Zappa -- psychotic
   The Monkees? ~ Even their fingernails were clean...

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    the public thoroughfare
      pummeled, profaned
    verbal fists rumble from 
      amped-up throats...  

    a generation or two
      with nothing better to do
    than scream at the intersection 
      of decline and decay
...

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Auditioning for myself
the lights went down
the sound amped up
my head turned round

Auditioning for myself
the handbill flew
into the seats
the chosen few

Auditioning for myself
last line unread
the words reborn
inside my head

Auditioning for myself
I begged my leave
the stage door open
—a last reprieve

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2020)...

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Mobile ring tones at morning light,
disturb the shapes under covers,
the outlined echoes of last night,
two star-crossed microphone lovers,
drawn from opposite ends of town,
yesterday’s pub entertainers,
way on down at the Old Three Crowns,
they met singing Gloria Gaynor, 
ramped and amped with emotion,
to songs that belonged in the haze,
now wake to face their commotion,
the music of separate ways.
...

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Don't get distracted by the videogame
Distortion effect hollars
Slipping tricky thumbs bothered
By coin slip franchise misfits
Cops in collars, never bother
Blowing up stop signs and mail boxes

Skateboarding through town, shuffling around
Cocktails and marsupials
Grins that shegrin amped up
Plenitude posed as holy redeemer
Careful when you leave her
Heart balloons carry an ancient tune

Blessed in tombs, caressed 
magnetic earth chanting
There's room to escape
Videogame rantings insane...

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