Flowers In The Gutter (31,000TH POST)

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Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

0 posted 2004-03-04 10:10 PM

(October 8, 1967 has, to me, appeared as the day the Flower Age officially ended, with the death of Linda Rae Fitzpatrick from a drug-afflicted mind. I strongly believe that the Flower Era was not a time of naivety at all, but was in fact a wonderful and important time where we were reminded of our ideals of harmony and how it is to be young and free-spirited and celebrate our freedoms, and if not for the drug aspect of it this age would have never experienced a tragic downfall. I pray to myself the "Phoenix Flower" will bloom from within the gutters and can flower the fields for our children of tomorrow, in praying they live in a world governed by love and peace and free of the horrors. )

Flowers In The Gutter
By: Noah Eaton
3/4/04

...11 P.M, 169 Avenue B,
down on the Lower East Side,
her body;
naked,
cleaved,
lacerated,
prostrated against the brownstone,
boiler room flames lick the pacemaker,
the butter melts to milk
at Butterfield 8...

...the smell of diesel fuel,
Aunt Juanita's turnip greens,
orange peels, leftover naked lunch,
mescaline and champagne,
and rotting garbage from a fortnight ago,
so torpid, so icebound,
the lightbulb freezes as I clinch it,
even the cockroaches display courtesy,
as the peeling paint eclipses,
eclipses to whitewash...

...I can still see the outline,
of the brick against your face,
shattered cheeks and ruptured jaw,
but your eyes,
they cry more than blood,
and white stallion ghosts,
through them you can see,
red-leaf quilted trails,
juniper in the air,
signs of blind faith...

...set the alarm on your strawberry alarm clock,
good morning starshine,
incense and peppermints salivate,
but they taste like twilight sleep,
we both lose, to our regret,
tsetse flies come in locust clouds,
the story in your eyes becomes a manuscript,
but you've seen all the crucifixions,
peacock feathers lying on the curbs,
soaked in autumn bourbon rain,
and I've lost the heart to act it out,
I can no longer act it out...
.
.
.
.
.
.
...feed them on your dreams,

I'll take you there...

flowers in the gutter,

burning in the summer,

flowers in the gutter,

burning in the summer...
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...strung out, souls on ice,
the rainbow family doesn't meet much anymore,
space cadets are all over the streets,
but the moon is so far away,
the song sounds similar,
but it's no longer quadrophonic,
I shiver as I speak the words,
but I don't forget them,
I've felt I've lost my spine,
but the kundalini is channeling through,
but it's tucked away between
my Fillmore poster plastered heart...

...Day-Glo grins mimic the drum circle,
Palmolive hands and pale Downy faces,
pulled over in their dashikis,
trying to recognize samadhi through the paisley,
but both of us should know,
samadhi is in us all,
it comes to you like some cinnamon girl,
in a wheel-chair drag race,
aware that down the kingdom hospital hall,
there's the gate to some people's park,
where salad days aren't sluiced in salad dressing,
where salad days aren't drenched...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...feed them on your dreams,

I'll take you there...

flowers in the gutter,

burning in the summer,

flowers in the gutter,

burning in the summer...
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
...centering my eyes,
who am I,
who are you,
are we through...
.
.
.
.
...still we hemorrhage inside each others wounds,
we're all plagued by this same disease,
and we're still singing to peace,
but who's listening...
...who's listening...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...feed them on your dreams,

I'll take you there...

flowers in the gutter,

burning in the summer,

flowers in the gutter,

burning in the summer...
.
.
"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor,

it must be demanded by the oppressed. "
.
.
"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor,

it must be demanded by the oppressed. "
.
.
Where have they all gone...
.
.
where have they gone...
.
.
the flowers...
.
.
the flowers of the Earth...
.
.
where have all the flowers gone...
.
.
where have all the flowers gone...
.
.
where...where...where...
.
.
have they gone...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

"You'll find something that's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around and come back home" MB20

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

1 posted 2004-03-04 10:18 PM

Noah you triumph here.

This is moving and just such an excellent write, the first thing that came to my mind was, indeed, "wow."

Get this published.

and I'll be back. This deserves more time than I have at the moment. I just wanted to hold my lighter up and say "congratulations."

and yes--

may love and light shine upon you--you are so dear to our hearts, sweet noah.

Kiss on the lips.

Startime55
Member Elite

since 2003-04-05

Posts 2148
Alberta, Canada

2 posted 2004-03-04 10:29 PM

Absolutely Stunningly Powerful...Well done...

garysgirl

Member Laureate

since 2002-09-29

Posts 19237
Florida, USA

3 posted 2004-03-04 10:37 PM

Noah, congratulations!!!

A wonderful poem to mark the occassion with, too.

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

4 posted 2004-03-04 10:58 PM

Noah, you are a most caring and outstanding individual!
Congrats on this spectacular piece to mark this milestone!!
~Hugs & Smiles, Nancy~

~Time has cast a spell on you,
So you won't ever forget me~

Suetang
Member Ascendant

since 2001-03-07

Posts 5187
Melbourne, Australia

5 posted 2004-03-04 11:16 PM

Wow, Noah!

This was such a stirring piece of writing to mark your 31,00th post. You are an absolute legend here Noah with your compassion and dedication to all here at PIP. Well done, my friend!

Take care.......Sue

I am in motion
I am blue
Love is an ocean
I'm anchored in you
- Shawn Mullins

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

6 posted 2004-03-04 11:22 PM

this one stands as a testament, as proof

the flowers bloom yet

thank you, Noah, for showering us with your blossoms of truth

BloomingRose
Member Elite

since 2000-08-09

Posts 3092
Florida

7 posted 2004-03-04 11:24 PM

Outstanding poetry!
Congratulations on your 31,000 postings.

Deb

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

8 posted 2004-03-04 11:54 PM

Nice piece of your heart...congratulations on 31,000 posts...James

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

9 posted 2004-03-05 02:51 AM

(big angel hugs) Awwwwwwww, thank you all for your wonderful, friendly comments! God Bless You All!

I myself am fascinated by the hippy ideals and have actually been co-hosting a new movement in Boulder for freedoms of expression in a peaceful, non-violent manner. I'm under the impression that a majority of us still value these freedoms that are being usurped and despite the slippery when wet signs and barbed wire put around many of our dissidents from the government, by the Constitution it is permissive that we continue to fight and are granted the God-given right to. I myself hosted a protest on the UMC today against the Ford Motor Company for customizing cars that run less miles to the gallon than ever and thus pollute the environment more than ever, and to force more environmental friendly operations, and also to protect Colorado's forests. My colleague dressed up in a costume similar to the Starkist Tuna spokesfish, only with a third eye, suggesting the toxic truth.

May the fields prosper with white sage and azaleas again!

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

"You'll find something that's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around and come back home" MB20

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

10 posted 2004-03-05 04:43 AM

You are a pure of heart, dear Noah.

I am impressed by this piece.

...set the alarm on your strawberry alarm clock,
good morning starshine,
incense and peppermints salivate,
but they taste like twilight sleep,
we both lose, to our regret,
tsetse flies come in locust clouds,
the story in your eyes becomes a manuscript,
but you've seen all the crucifixions,
peacock feathers lying on the curbs,
soaked in autumn bourbon rain,
and I've lost the heart to act it out,
I can no longer act it out...

Sigh.

Love, Margherita

Sudhir Iyer
Member Ascendant

since 2000-04-26

Posts 6943
Mumbai, India : now in Belgium

11 posted 2004-03-05 02:58 PM

Your heart shines and the honesty in your words is striking...

Great write this one...

Regards
Sudhir
P.S. appears to me that the next time I am around, you shall already be on 35 or 40 thousand posts, while I might have moved on by another 100 or so

NewEnglandlazurlu
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-01-04

Posts 7470
A Mountain Paradise

12 posted 2004-03-05 03:14 PM

Noah, I love this so much ... how I wish those days (minus the drugs) would return. Bless you my friend ... Marti

WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE?
Words and music by Pete Seeger

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

Nightshade

Member Patricius

since 2001-08-31

Posts 13962
just out of reach

13 posted 2004-03-05 03:14 PM

Noah, you have outdone yourself with this awesome write!! Congratulations on another milestone. Hugs my friend, Chris

"At one glance
I love you
With a thousand hearts."

— Mihri Hatun, Turkish poet

Grover
Senior Member

since 2004-01-27

Posts 1967
London, ON, Canada

14 posted 2004-03-05 04:13 PM

You remind me of the great "beat" poets! This is an incredible work, Noah. I was a teenager in the late 60's... you are right on! Grover.

vandana

Member Patricius

since 1999-10-22

Posts 10463
USA

15 posted 2004-03-05 05:32 PM

congs on your post

Sadelite
Member Elite

since 2003-10-11

Posts 2519

16 posted 2004-03-05 09:08 PM

Noah,
  What a powerful genius you have for writing.  I believe this gift is being used of greatest benefit.  I'm proud of people like you, who stand peaceably, but with determination.

  Good for you.  I bought a 1984 diesel Escort that got 56 miles a gallon and 60 miles a gallon on the interstate.  Now what happened in the last 20 years?  (This deisel design was not the kind that causes problems starting in the winter-time either.  It was a dandy little car that they took off the line to make gas guzzlers.)

             Sadelite

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