Tomcat in a Zoot Suit.

Article Type:

Poem

Author:

Salaam, Kalamu ya

Pub Date:

12/01/2010

Publication:

Name: Journal of Pan African Studies Publisher: Journal of Pan African Studies Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Social sciences Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2010 Journal of Pan African Studies ISSN: 0888-6601

Issue:

Date: Dec, 2010 Source Volume: 4 Source Issue: 2

Accession Number:

306754438

Full Text:

--Kalamu ya Salaam

New Orleans, LA

Tomcat in a Zoot Suit

   press pass doesn't take her past diamond-cut
   god-complex vibrating hooked up hoopties
   rims, tints rush devil's playgrounds--idle
   minds moved by mixes certified platinum
   dignity bartered for a dime piece of american dream:
   cash rules everything around me -c.r.e.a.m.
   get the money!
   (dollar, dollar billy 'all).
   hypnotic chants draw heads to the auction block
   uzi eyes puncture mamas'
   inflated hopes lighters in the air mouths wide
   like capital o's beg
   for the show.
   shucking and jiving drive reckless as 81 in a 55
   no line between a living and how
   you make it: just the way players play.
   flash bulb fantasy cheap love
   over expensive wines foggin'
   the windows, gettin' sentimental,
   sippin' cosmos with the cherry
   in the middle, cherish cut-rate lovewords
   squeal in the hot rush of womanhood
   when they'll try to hate him for the
   ambition, crashing against fleeting values
   worth less than the gnp of countries he
   tours offering
   40 ounces of false hope;
   dreams hand-wrapped in brown paper.

Gale Copyright:

Tomcat in a Zoot Suit.

Article Type:	Poem
Author:	Salaam, Kalamu ya
Pub Date:	12/01/2010
Publication:	Name: Journal of Pan African Studies Publisher: Journal of Pan African Studies Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Social sciences Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2010 Journal of Pan African Studies ISSN: 0888-6601
Issue:	Date: Dec, 2010 Source Volume: 4 Source Issue: 2

Accession Number:	306754438
Full Text:	--Kalamu ya Salaam New Orleans, LA Tomcat in a Zoot Suit press pass doesn't take her past diamond-cut god-complex vibrating hooked up hoopties rims, tints rush devil's playgrounds--idle minds moved by mixes certified platinum dignity bartered for a dime piece of american dream: cash rules everything around me -c.r.e.a.m. get the money! (dollar, dollar billy 'all). hypnotic chants draw heads to the auction block uzi eyes puncture mamas' inflated hopes lighters in the air mouths wide like capital o's beg for the show. shucking and jiving drive reckless as 81 in a 55 no line between a living and how you make it: just the way players play. flash bulb fantasy cheap love over expensive wines foggin' the windows, gettin' sentimental, sippin' cosmos with the cherry in the middle, cherish cut-rate lovewords squeal in the hot rush of womanhood when they'll try to hate him for the ambition, crashing against fleeting values worth less than the gnp of countries he tours offering 40 ounces of false hope; dreams hand-wrapped in brown paper.
Gale Copyright:	Copyright 2010 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.