Friday, August 7, 2015

Strolling Oakland: A Name on Broadway





Day is done,
Let's hop off the bus 
And stroll down memory lane




Not unlike Allah, this tract of Broadway,
 has many names




Years ago we took our set to a place near here
called Berkland TV Repair, now gone,
Nearer to where we lived on the Berkeley border
was a place called Berkland Baptist church, now housing,
One could imagine a hybridized area extending between the two points,
You don't see the name Berkland used anymore though,
And there's some uncertainty now about to what to call this stretch,
With Rockridge, Temescal, Auto Row, and more showing up on signs





It's a district with plenty to offer,
Tattoo you a new you







As I took this an old guy came glaring across Broadway,
What you taking pictures of my sign for?
Maybe it was George himself








ART'S just went out of business this Summer,
Somebody has already stolen the "R"






It contains this pleasant work in stained glass,
Taped-up signs and menus notwithstanding








Though the name now is almost entirely 
Trending to a parallel section of Telegraph,
This is may have been the center of the Temescal,
This sign is now gone to building renovation







A former Roman Catholic convent,
Eucalyptus and lusty billboard







A Catholic nursing home now perhaps






 This is Mosswood park




 Greener grass there last year,
Before our parks and public lawns 
Were sacrificed to the frackers





The great trees of California,
 May God preserve them





 This overpass marks the boundary,
A transition from this part of town







After that it really turns into Auto Row









Let's call an endpoint here













August 2014
Bus window: August 2015





Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Sunday I Go To Church










Cool Roman Catholic insignia





The Flaneur makes with the Sign of the Cross









The secular world presents a distorted view of our Church







 It is a place of solace and salvation,
Arms wide open to all souls






A Heraldry of the Most High









None were more saddened 
Than the faithful themselves


 

 Sculpture centers the healing garden






   Across the estuary
Lies legendary Fairyland






 On this rock I will build my Church








 The course of a life is aleatory,
Subject to the unexpected





 By the top of Lake Merritt,
Imagining a world without cars







 Another Christian church not far away,
An eternal verity





 Into the lacuna 
An inquiry into the mystery of life






When I return to my chamber
I perceive myself closer to heaven











3-5 August 2015

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Youth Scene Berkeley




Tats, check, all black, check, boots, check,
Black-dyed buzz cut, check,
Diabolical comic panel, check,
Earlobe-platters, check,
...ready for Telegraph Avenue2015








Mid-summer reflections in the Flaneur's crystal spectacles










 A molten jelly jar window,
Augury of lava flows to come






A fastidious sign-maker outside the library






 A port-hole to the strange





 

 Berkeley biker scene






 Fake Stone Age
A Berkeley band
 I joined with on the radio






 My little Pegasus pony





Across the street from the high school




School's out for Summer





Young folks love the old cartoon characters






Young and old like to wet their whistle








 We are all ghosts already
But don't know it yet







 di Chirico high school









Praise to the Creator
For sending me Girl Scout Cookies









How high He hath made me







July-August 2015

Saturday, August 1, 2015

New Space Exploration












The Flaneur looks out
to South-west skies










 There is a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in










LANDMIND
Readymade
(installation view)









 Gulls turn in Maxfield Parish clouds,
South-east to Chinatown








 Mutual surveillance society
 







 Time for my silk pajamas
And my dressing gown







 Night of the full moon,
Bye bye, July






Tales of the Forbidden City,
Chin-chin, my pipe and my tray














30-31 July 2015