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Frank Messina


American't Get Home


Each night,
I'm greeted by the heart-burned cocktail
I take the cup and reluctantly sip
as stomach acid slowly creeps upward,
stinging the walls of my throat,
causing my gums to swell,
rotting my teeth

The fear is on my breath,
I know it's there because
I can smell it rise past my nostrils
Fear. Stress. Anger.
Psychological warfare
upon the soft American mind
that rests upon strong shoulders
and a barreled chest painted red, white, black and blue

My buddy, Joe Patel, at Kelly's Pub
says he dug for three weeks at ground zHero,
an ironworker-turned-trench-warfare grunt,
sculptured good looks
now weathered by thoughts of
serrated concrete, twisted steel and spinal columns,
He found no survivors, only broken flesh
and the disjointed terror of a workday gone mad

James by the jukebox says not to worry,
'don't let it bring me down',
but the beer won't cool the fire in my belly,
nor the pain in young-widow Mary's heart

I see the boys with their guns
getting ready for Armageddon,
their frowns pushed in place
by cruel fingertips of revenge
and I'm stuck between a bleeding
heart and dripping sword

If peace were gold
it wouldn't be so hard to sell,
but, while the consensus here in hell
is 'best be ready than dead'
some wait in the wings
for next week's denial to sing,
but I'm just walking cautiously
with a stick not-so-heavy
as my heart by my side

I'm trying hard
to pry the box beneath my ribs,
let the light inside,
talk of peace and love falls like
raindrops into a hot pot;
dissolved forever

Peace exists only when we are free
but right now, shock gives in to grief
and prayer becomes an only hope
and an only option


copyright 2001, Frank Messina

 

Of Note On May 15th, 2006, Joe Patel (Purtill) the "ironworker-turned-trench-warfare grunt" passed away from lung cancer. He was 41. Never smoked a cigarette in his life, his demise no doubt was from his volunteer work amidst the dust of 9/11. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joe and his family. Remember We Will, Forget We Will Not.

 

 

Frank Messina and OctoPoet
- Live at The BPC -

Messina and OctoPoet with special guest, Sudan Baronian slide thru a medley of the Spokeface favs at The Bowery Poetry Club. Lensed by Robert O'Haire.

View the medley of

You Will Not Break Me, Lead Me Not Into Temptation and Rhythm Vacuum


More Video! Frank Messina and OctoPoet - Live at The BPC - Resolutions October 2nd, 2004 Messina and OctoPoet take the stage at The Bowery Poetry Club and what was penned in 2001 is not much different as we make for 2005. Lensed by Robert O'Haire. Click Here to view the video! Also view the classic, "Bicycle" .




The Pix Are In! - Click Here To View The PhotoBook!

News & Of Note! - Frank Messina's 40th Birthday Celebration! -
With his all-star group, OCTOPOET, featuring Scott Murawski (of Max Creek), Robbie Gordon (of Gil Scott-Heron's Amnesia Express), Souren Baronian, Victor Jones, Jay Roosa (of PaPa HooDoo) with special guests David Amram, Tyrone Cotton, Ron Whitehead, Dawn Lorentz take the party toThe Turning Point February 16th.

The Pix Are In! - Click Here To View The PhotoBook!

Also Of Note! - The Pix and Video Are In! - The Cams were there and caught the SoulProse Sights and Sounds of this Party Night at The Turning Point! Click Here To View The PhotoBook and also Click Here To View the VidClip of Ron Whitehead's kick off of the festivities with his PraisePoem, "Searching for Frank Messina"





The New CD from Frank Messina and Ron Whitehead!

Get your own CD of "Walking Home"Click Here!

" Walking Home"

Includes Frank's Mets poems, Playing for the Mets and Just a Game. This album features Kentucky legend Ron Whitehead, country music singer Sarah Elizabeth, blues singer Tyrone Cotton and Andy Cook. An eclectic spoken word and music album.

Click Here to read Zoe Artemis' review of "Walking Home"

Get your own CD of "Walking Home" Click Here!

For more Messina, The Mets and Everything Poetry! Click Here!


For more on Frank Messina, go to www.spokeface.com .

 

 









- News, New & Of Note!  - Click Here for the latest happenings from our friends and family in the Poetry, Music and Art World! -


"The Mets Poet" Frank Messina turns his love for America's favorite past time into SpokeSoul Baseball Prose! Click Here for Pix, Vids, Poems and News that's uniquely "Messina, The Mets and Everything Poetry!"

On Sunday, December 11th 'Ode to the Sidewalks of New York Jazz & Poetry Reading' will happen once again hosted by legendary musician, composer, author David Amram & his Trio at the Bowery Poetry Club. - Click Here For More Info! - ALSO View Pix and Clips from May's Ode Celebration!

Pix, Clips and Page from kindred Keepers of The Flame! Join us in celebrating the LifeArtSpirit of Allen Ginsberg! Click Here to Enter!

Click Here to View the VidClip!


Insom 04' Galleria!  - New & Expanded! -  Click Here to Enter! -

Frank Messina and Dave Amram perform the Kerouac classic at Insomniacathon 2003

Click Here to read about The History of Insomniacathon.


In the early Spring of 2003, Ron Whitehead, NYC poet, Frank Messina and fellow Kentuckyians Andy Cook and Sarah Elizabeth crossed the Atlantic on The War Poets Tour. In observence of yet another year of "Poetry Amidst a World of Struggle" Click Here to see and hear their experiences, Also shortly after their return from Europe, poets and musicians from around the globe converged for an evening of celebration with Frank Messina at The Spoken Motion 10th Anniversary Bash! at The Bowery Poetry Club in NYC. Click Here to see and hear the festivities from this grand evening of Spoke n' Roll!

Messina and Amram at Insomniacathon 96'  -  New Orleans

Seven years later, old friends do it again in Louisville at Insomniacathon 2003


- Click Here for Links to the Family and Friends of Insomniacathon in and around this World! -
Dave Amram Birthday Special! Click Here for VidClips, Pix and Debut Mp3's from  the new CD "The Long Road To Nowheresville!"

To Learn More about The Literary Renaissance, Click Here!

Jack Shea - Filmmaker, Poet, Songwriter, Friend.  - Click Here for More -

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