Photography © Jennifer Matthews

 

Busted Up and Down
Patti Smith live

the last hippie and the first punk
brushes sparks from her grey hair
then steps out to make love
and war with two thousand strangers
who never expected the big kid
grin on her face when she grabs
the mic as though grabbing
a crotch, then blows her re-birthed blues
into the faces of every man,
woman and inbetween
until they’re coming just as hard
as she is, grinding with Jim and Bessie
until her nose is dripping sweat
proclaiming her maled female gospel
riding tendered waves of joy
as she screams her defiance,
her acceptance, her love for her enemies
and her hatred of her friends

until the gospel is done
and she folds her tent for another field
in another town: there’s always
another sinner who needs good lovin’,
there’s always a new gospel
to preach that the old ways are dead,
but not done; you only need
to howl with the cavemen
who scraped rock n’ roll on their walls
to break down the gates of heaven

 

Ian Mullins bales out from Liverpool, England. He used to work as a hospital clerk, but is now a full-time Carer. His movie-themed collection NightWatchMan has just been published by Alien Buddha Press. He loves the cover.

Poet/Photographer Jennifer Matthews’ poetry has been published in Nepal by Pen Himalaya and locally by the Wilderness Retreat Writers Organization, Midway Journal, The Somerville Times, Ibbetson Street Press and Boston Girl Guide. Jennifer was nominated for a poetry award by the Cambridge Arts Council for her book of poetry Fairy Tales and Misdemeanors. Her songs have been released nationally and internationally and her photography has been used as covers for a number of Ibbetson Street Press poetry books and has been exhibited at The Middle East Restaurant, 1369 Coffeehouses, Sound Bites Restaurant in Somerville and McLean Hospital.