I’m trying to find a loop-hole

In these loopy laws

That say that that torture

Can be used

On people who do not abuse.

I’m trying to find a way

That will say that’s not okay.

I’m trying to say what’s sick

Are the people who treat

With an order by our law

That puts the community

As the authority

When the general public

Doesn’t know

About what happens

Behind those white-coated doors,

Where chemicals are injected

And people are not listened to

Rather told that they must agree

That they must comply

And if they don’t

They’ll be dosed up

Even higher than before

Perhaps then some ECT

Or if it comes to it, psychosurgery.

Not all members of the community

Are aware that they can anytime

 Call psychiatric services

On a person who

Has a history of attempted suicide.

The public probably wish

They could call that needle sticking team

On the sleazy man in the bar,

The angry neighbour who yells,

The junkie who says ‘Fuck off’,

The beggar who asks for change,

The boss who tells them they’re fired,

And the stranger who disses them.

Can they?

Well only if the person

Has had a psychiatric history.

Youthful and bright- when skipping madly down the hill
towards the oak trees and past the water mill
the green leaves, secret shells, and animal bones

Color Synaesthesia is a poem that I wrote for a class assignment. It was subsequently published in my college's student journal of art and literature. I hope you enjoy it...Sometimes I cry when I read it. :(

Could tell him off

Could talk back

But something about him

Said to me

That if I did that

He’d make things worse

And get them

To do psycho surgery.

Bay Area Icarus was revived last summer, and we are officially full of surging, irreverent life.   We held our first event on Valentine's Day--Mad Love.  We had an open mic, a skilled MC, a cabaret of musicians and poets, and the evening skyrocketed to a close with the Brass Liberation Orchestra.

If you were there, you know.  If not, read on!  Almost as good. :)

How could you not know?

Don’t you care about me?

How could you not know?

We’ve talked about it

A zillion times.

How could you not know?

How could you

Do that

Against me.