THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling, yer Gonzo Grande Fromage, 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 Thom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth and 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 within 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?"

I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU

OLDE AUSTIN OF 1992(when i first moved

but you have been displaced ,and all your elders in diaspora

flee gridlock and high property taxes -to Buda,Kyle,Round Rock ,Georgetown

and commute down Death Highway IH35 to High Rise Valet Parking Condominia

New Austin?i got to meet you when my car broke down on IH35 in rush hour Friday

No one stopped to help-they swore and drove fast past.And when,@poetry

all i owned was stolen /credit cards abused,and APD did nothing.East Side

has coffee shops and restaurants,but only Victory Grill and Kenny Dorham's Backyard as indigenous cultures

BLACK is now BLACK HISTORY.Resistencia had to move .SXSW swamped folk cultures,and now we have murders and K2.

I still live-in restricted funding Libraries,which cannot afford to open every day

and with a Bonded Central Library that has not opened and is way over Budget.APD still kills blacks

and Capitol Metro will not provide regular services.(Light Rail to Leander?)

Austin,you went BIG-high rents,high rates of eviction

Soon Taco Marias will close.Hippy Church-where will you go?

Poetry is a whisper in coffee shops and independent bookstores

I will not ask you to care,New Austin.You prefer Festivals over Parks and Gardens.

Gridlock over bicycles and pedestrians.I will love you when you are small-like a pit bull.

But you are biting tall now.Like a confused dinosaur..