Democrat, Illinois - The ElectroLounge

52 !
Arcata, California
Behind the Redwood Curtain, Earth’s flag
stretches in the wind above Arcata’s central square,
rare blue skies fill the horizon and the birds
of spring bare their shoulders to drink
its magic lovesick rays,
at the corner coffeeshop baristas contemplate
competitions and cut hearts in latte foam
and gossip about other coffee bars, Starbucks
kept at bay by the trees but Dutch Brothers
brings their mafia roaring around the
curves of the Redwood Highway,
A’s hats and Kurt Suzuki jerseys and “Catch
Crabs!” listening to amateur baseball
on scratchy AM radio,
neighbors smoking joints greet each other
on the square with “smells nice!”
two palm trees, three book stores, but tense fog
seeps into this fresh air, this city
built on the backs of fallen redwoods
now moves to defend the remnants,
the last stands of their guardians,
their thousand-year leaders
who’ve seen Renaissance already,
outsiders beware and don’t act suspicious,
don’t come from the DEA or the USFS,
come here to bare it all under
blue skies and bring a jacket,
the cool fog and rain comes in fast,
soaked up quickly by the tree
sentinels, storing up their reserves
for one last stab at eternal peace
behind the Redwood Curtain.
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