Self-Portrait as Hawthorne (draft 3)

This heaven gives me migraine - Gang of Four

Helicopter blades whir and cut the air
over the city of good neighbors. The mall
sits empty between the catholic church
and the police station. The suspect is on
foot through the neighborhood.

Kids at the library after school, the computer
at home doesn't work. Cops station themselves
by the high school every day after class.
"Be true to your school," was written in
a different time, a different world.

Discount stores choke the boulevard
where families flocked to after Sunday
services. A plane takes off from the runway
of the municipal airport. It gains altitude,
flies over the city and towards the sea.

Self-Portrait as Hawthorne (draft 2)

                        This heaven gives me migraine.

                                                - Gang of Four

           

            Faint sounds of bygone summers

            linger through suburban avenues. Hotrods

            cruised on Friday nights full of kids

            looking for something to do. Football games,

            dances & hamburger stands would often suffice.

            Brian found his voice here. Marilyn,

            another starstruck girl in the city light’s

            shadow, was called Norma then.

            Memory, a misty mizzle, evaporating

            under the warmth of the sun.

            Discount stores choke the boulevard

            where families flocked to after Sunday

            services. A plane takes off from the runway

            of the municipal airport. It gains altitude,

            flies over the city and towards the sea.

            

Self-Portrait as Hawthorne

                         This heaven gives me migraine.

                                                - Gang of Four

           

            Faint sounds of bygone summers linger

            Through suburban avenues. Hotrods cruised

            On Friday nights full of kids looking for

            Something to do. Football games, dances &

            Hamburger stands would often suffice.

            Brian found his voice here. Marilyn was

            Another star struck girl in the shadow of

            City lights. They called her Norma then.

            Memory becomes a misty mizzle evaporating

            Under the warmth of the sun.

            At 3701 W. 119^th Street a young boy choked

            Back tears as he stared into the scarred

            Socket where his father’s eye had been.

            He could never let his sons forget

            The sacrifice he made.