THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet, is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearences with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

WHERE I LIVED (WAS A DORMITORY SUBURB)

my rented home was under an overpass,facing a concrete wall

we painted that wall in colors at irregular intervals

with shards of broken glass glued on to reflect more butterfly light

One night,coming home after a Benefit for a poet in jail

i aw lights flashing,a helicopter hovering overhead

"Must be making a movie!"(I thought)-then went off to bed

Morning awoke to police,ambulances,crowds of neighbors

Julian Knight all of 21 had dressed in Army uniform

drank,weaponed up ,took pot shots at random cars on Hoddle Street

This became known as the Hoddle Street Massacre.

It was the first of too many random irrational murders of civilians

leading to strict gun control legislation(over all weapons)

Three months after ,we gathered on Sunday-100 of the local inhabitants'

This time we planted trees on both sides of the highway

to form a circle-a zone of peace-to reconsecrate our dormitory suburb

We all held hands,cried,prayed,released the pain of innocents hurt-

this was an invasion of violence we did not want .All that has changed

is location.Peace zones in our own homes do not need legislation.