*****

Recorded Reading (2:53): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9630dzp0cre64mu9rdw80/dig-doug.mp3?rlkey=mic2zeqte7kv7o6wpk3zsrjbi&dl=0

*****

The poet lived off of the ally described for the two years in Reno, Nevada which saw her six month recovery from two prior years of homelessness, the production of her one act AIDS play in a brilliantly reviewed three week run at a local theater/gallery complex, and the publication of her first web book ~ and ended two weeks before a mass shooting two blocks away, when she felt disaster coming and made herself scarce.

When the state university bought the block, in an unsung but stunning feat of personal accountability to the Divine its manager spent a solid month on the phone, successfully rehousing every one of the ninety souls who lived there.

*****

dig doug

mama manager says:
maybe we could give the tenants
all the starry skies!
if we got ladders second hand
they could grab ’em and
take them to their rooms for warmth and light

sister money says:
looks like i’ll be getting down with some
insurance forms, then, won’t i?
and while i’m at it
print up some caution signs
so they don’t try doing loop de loops on the rungs
which you know they will
if we don’t

they smile at one another
in complete understanding

where’s doug?
they say

doug says:
how many ladders, now?
hmmm…
better stake ’em down, too
and goes off to pull ladders,
stakes and a mallet out of his
well, you know

truth is if that guy couldn’t wade through
decades of deposits
to turn sardine cans into gaskets using
nothing but his fingernails this whole
weird wonderful crazy family circus show would
one day
give a loud clank and straight
freeze up

familiar mostly smiling faces coming down the alley would find themselves suddenly
frozen
midstride
looking at each other in
surprise!
from the sides of their eyes

can you move?

nope, can you?

me neither — yo, can you move, dude?

not a finger, wazzup?

hey, that guy just came in the alley
let’s ask him!
bro… can you move okay?

uh, yeah, i guess so, why?

every voice in the alley answers him
all at once: dude… go
GET DOUG!

*****

Until removal of the stalker/targeter/vandal/arsonist following her allows her to approach any landlord ~ even for a private parking space ~ and to begin once again to create professional connections and to rebuild her life, this poet presently lives homeless and at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level ~ still working to contribute to her society, however, seven days a week.

Arts patrons may visit http://www.UgiftABLE.com , using code #72D-31S. It does take several days for the poet to be notified of your patronage.

Thank you for supporting quality in the fine arts.