"Telegraph Hill"

Belching sea horns born of blanketing fog
under the red arches Golden Gate of prosperity
They move in from Pacific past
to port in their "embarcadero" post

Semaphone September born 1849
exclaiming the message to speculate
all speculators, merchants, wholesalers and financiers
keep the prices down so profit can commence in this reprobate town

Gift giving open ocean ships sing a tune of birth  
in weary October blaze signal
to the "Hill" the news of
California's statehood 1850- "Oregon" sang

A beacon for 9'rs, cowboys, outlaws and prostitutes
blown in from scorching desert hope
to start anew forgetting it all laid back east
like my relatives from Illinois discovered riches may not be found-to say the least

Coit calls all poets, dreamers, thinkers
opening wide their minds and windows
to let out all the "parrots wild"
flying free like the spirit of progress gold

A lifespan spawned from as one of the "7"
Family of "Hills"-Loma Alta to "Goat Mound"
Extracting a pound of coin
Producing a gown for intellect-it's current currency

Reaching an adult height at 275
paying homage to prospectors who gambled it's city would thrive!

*A piece glorifying the north end of San Francisco and the magic it's neighborhoods bring.  Today Telegraph Hill offers unnatural beauty in its throngs of wild parrots from South America that escaped from homes years ago chirping now taking up residence in the neighborhood and chirping out memories past of the flight of prosperity.  Named for the reason that early prospectors would take a look at what ships would coming in standing atop "Loma Alta Hill"  through the golden gate and therefore determine what goods were going to be sold in port this was announced to the consumers so prices could be kept fair before boats docked. A semaphone was used to make this announcement (telegraph) if you will. But to me it is about San Francisco and the West in general calling out all those tired of the east and ready for new horizons-sending to telegraph to "come one come all!"

Inglenook Heart (Fireside Chat with God)

Contemplation of this blaze of summer,
a "summoner's tale"
of July's past
What warmth underneath cindered embers is this?

Answerable to only one secluded
conclusion-that your ever presence
is the only flame eternal
Oh Father heighten my fever!

My perspiration for you oh Son
Creator of sun, fire-smoldering love
That gives me passion
To create zest for future sessions

All in chimney burned blaze
of February winter this conversation
is just the start-of July's future coming
This warmth is eternal

There's my answer-
Underneath cindered embers.

* A piece of work describing an intimate prayer and devotional time with Christ and how his love makes me love people and a future romantic love more succinctly as love from me without Him supplies a cheap imitation.  July's past refers to warm high school days filled with road trips and while sitting by the hearth these days are recalled as dear to my heart.  Conclusion being no fire is as glorious or caressing as God's love sent through His Son.


JCB 2/21/2013