I.
Selma Tattoo
Marks “The Raison Capital of the World”
Who heard Fresno
Through the Grapevine
And stole the sign
For the Sun Maid.
II.
Madame Sophia
At Clovis Avenue,
The Fowler Palm Reader
For orange-juiced hands
Who want an alternative future.
III.
There’s a hobo from Kentucky
Called Hog Royalty
In Bakersfield.
IV.
The Torah according to Jesus
Is on the coffee shop wall
In giant comic book frames
For children
While you wait for alchemists
To serve your holy brew.
V.
How can there be a place called Windfall Donuts?
VI.
A billboard that I’d like to see:
Burn while you yearn
At Urner’s Mattress
VII.
An actual billboard:
More than a Miticide
VIII.
I left it at some Oildale joint
Where Merle Haggard once sang,
Now karaoke and mechanical bulls,
The block glass of a past
That’s cheap as usual to chisel.
IX.
Oil jenny dragons
In the champagne grapes,
Ooh the world
Death row cows sense
As the Tejon Pass winds
Take on meaning.
