Poetry Magazine
Hollywood Elegies
1
Under the long green hair of pepper trees,
The writers and composers work the street.
Bach’s new score is crumpled in his pocket,
Dante sways his ass-cheeks to the beat.
2
The city is named for the angels,
And its angels are easy to find.
They give off a lubricant odor,
Their eyes are mascara-lined;
At night you can see them inserting
Gold-plated diaphragms;
For breakfast they gather at poolside
Where screenwriters feed and swim.
3
Every day, I go to earn my bread
In the exchange where lies are marketed,
Hoping my own lies will attract a bid.
4
It’s Hell, it’s Heaven: the amount you earn
Determines if you play the harp or burn.
5
Gold in their mountains,
Oil on their coast;
Dreaming in celluloid
Profits them most.
Source: Poetry (June 2011).
Poem Categorization
SUBJECT Activities, Jobs & Working, Arts & Sciences, Theater & Dance, Social Commentaries, Popular Culture
POET’S REGION Germany
Poetic Terms Rhymed Stanza, Series/Sequence
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