Been in Berkeley Too Long

By Judy Wells, Ralph Dranow, Carla Kandinsky and Donna Duguay.

1980

Hawkeye Press

Albuquerque, New Mexico

40 pages

7" x 8.5" handsewn paperback

Out of print. Collector's item. Inquire at jwellspoet@yahoo.com

Cover and interior drawings by Donna Duguay.

I’M BERKELEY

I’m a black

                   woman

                              singin’ tough on the streets

I’m a white

                   man

                              singin’ mellow at Sather Gate

I’m a girl on a motorized

                                        skateboard

I’m a man with split pant

                                         tie-dyed underwear

                                  covering my balls

I’m a Greek

                    restaurateur

                                     yellin’ “Good meat

                                                     today!’

I’m Moe’s cigar

                          in a “No Smokin’ Town”

I’m, the Orange Man

                                 gone mad

                            many years ago

I’m a giant

                  jog in the hills

I’m smog and fog

                           and miniature cars

I’m Aikido to Zen

I am ONE BIG PLAY PEN

I dress sharp and look cool

I dress down and look poor

I’m oatmeal soap

                            and brown rice

I’m beans

                  and I’m tofu

I’m a black

                 cup

                        of coffee

I’m sprouts

I’m books

I’m poetry

Look out

I’m gay

I’m a paraplegic

I’m a socialist

I’m social

I’m Tai Chi

I’m Yoga

I’m Ha re Krishna

I’m a xerox copy

of that odd fellow

hangin’ out

near Cody’s Books

I’m page 1 news

I’m a transient

I’m a Buddhist

I’m a prof      fesseur

I’m a masseur

I’m a masseuse

I’m a prostiteuse

I’m a transatlantic

                         operateuse

I’m a chanteuse

I’m a dancer

I’m a prancer

I’m a regular gal

I’m a girl

I’m a guy

I work at Moe’s

I work at Cody’s

I work at

               Easy

                        Ed’s

I work at Mayfair

I work the streets

I walk the streets

I sell jewelry

I sell pots

I sell puppets

I sell blank

                 books

I sell pot

I sell pups

I sell ants

I sell plants

I sell pornographic films

“Come on in

Get your Tijuana treat

without leavin’ your seat!”

I’m beat

I’m hip

I’m smart

I’m sad

I still say “pad”

I got the TRUTH

I got the LIGHT

I got the FIGHT

I know I’m RIGHT

Cause I’m down & out

in Berkeley. 

Copyright 2015 by Judy Wells.