on the map
on the map
so whats wrong with Cleveland
no one can remember the past in every city there was Gas and Oil the signs on every freeway parking lot and inn stalled no where to leave the Hearse behind the Billboard near the Forest land the signs begin they block the scenery until you find the parking lots again so full of boredom the mall and then the movie each light pole has the gang signs on the wall of the side of the mall graffiti is the religion of the new age gone wrong with meth crack and souped up grass they smoke anything then ask whats in it so they can fake the symptoms and be cool the little tractor tykes become the red necks of the future farmers of america leading women to the woods to watch the games the black black sox and the red sox see the games drink another pitchure full of beer vote in all elections make it clear you are from Cleveland but to change the subject whats the matter can you remember the poet was a protester a avid readers thinker he made you take a real hard look at all the problems in your city do you even have a care or do you dance in evening wear the white sox drink more beer and quote religion but why not take a moment of your busy time and hear the ghost ponies chime he said they sounded like the wind chimes eye used to hear them on my fathers porch when eye was approaching to the door they sounded like the horses of the dead cherokees to me and so it would be better far better for the eye to live in Cleveland on the sly slipping down to the old ballpark to watch the new age Cleveland Indians get high ; let me pretend to be the President of the Ohio Poetry Association assassinate religion toss the first pitch off the old hard cover baseball into the mound with D A Levy frowning down from the hills surround the CIty of Ohio Cleveland Towne (quote) the bells of the Cherokee ponies
by d.a.levy what better way to end this missive then straight from the poets own mouth words of encouragmeant for Cleveland "in the streets at night
the bells of Cherokee ponies
are weeping."
