Greenspeech
by David Meltzer
Noel Young for Christopher Books, 1970
from Hidden Driveways Ahead
a ruby grapefruit
is starting to mold
in the basket
yo la tengo
there's a fine background
forgive it
a wall of incompetence
sky blue sequins
are the great adornment
of your name-brand
handbag -- didn't you
know
there are six
new sun spots on each shoulder & one awkward
shape on the cheek
I don't know how
to talk about them
without curiosity
did you notice
I ate the grapefruit
the sign said
"Ahead at Church"
opened my eyes
quickly, quietly
often confusing
ocean view with
ocean beach to find
myself jumping
letters occupationally
to speak to someone
in case of emergency
red rain drops
graffiti seats
the SS in 4 minutes
Moses riding
the escalator down, approaching
1 car, Mission Bay
all I still long for
an empty seat
a thank you
a bottle of Hope & Grace
The transition is so suspicious
DMX playing Tommy G, and all
of a sudden, it's not
mine anymore -- the scene in my head
sitting, smoking on an ivory couch
news of suicide
that could have been my role in a movie
a dark melancholy movie
where voices are silent, the music
my own
and women in heels wear ankle bracelets
while carrying plastic bouquets of flowers*
I'll take a 375 of BV
Coastal for the previews
and a full bottle of
Chateau Veronique
for the movie itself
He said he loves me
in my fuck-me pumps
dancing to diamond dogs
old root canals & cemetery streets
heaven's on the pillow
eyes closed, caring
the black watercolor
captures your intimacy well
mythology & stone creature
that struck me dead
tore my fishnets
painting my face white*
streets full of unrest
look at me -- pressing
for someone, juicy
black lipstick crumbling &
heels worn to the nail
because of all we've seen
because of all we've loved
one thing came to me
and I couldn't refrain
from the 24-hour service
of cash and tattoos in
chinese letters
For the Angel David
I think Luna beholds me
she comes, mimics
standing still, she is
full tonight
mother calls, says
father, the only son of his,
has received all of his belongings
she is moving on
Luna is haunting me
have these nightmares
anxiety, how to let go
hear words, see her above me
She has come for me
peers through the window
under the sheets, she is
dripping gold beads of lunacy
Sister is having a baby
at moonlight. Father
will call the child Luna
opposite of his first born
She turns grey over time
I turn off, have forgotten
the numbers to call, still
have nightmares, cold sweats
Luna cries out tonight
father returns from the dark
cradles her, the second child
needs him, the first -- mother
She is aglow, floating
over me, clouds passing
moving close, she is home
Luna becomes me
struggling, tangled in sheets
mother needs me, sister
condemns the sun. Two thousand
miles away, I am far gone
Luna is full tonight
luminous, she is
making herself aware
wailing, she is here
Two thousand miles --
over dirty streets
and lonely love, she
is still shining full
Sister is having
a baby tonight in moonlight
father closes in,
mother turns away
coming home
she needs me
sister is mothering, father
is retracing his youth
Luna comes out screaming,
beckoning, some need for
someone, give her a necklace
of gold beads, some thing
Luna becomes me
father becomes apart
mother becomes content
sister gives birth to a girl
Luna beholds me
