poem 020: heartland rock

running these streets 
my coarse heart beats 
like seger’s hollywood nights

that two-lane rhythm 
cigarettes and denim 
that might-take-flight
blacktop escape 

in the zone 
in the flyover zone 
i sweat the edge off 

my midwestern edge
fuck that old badge
fuck my hillbilly blood fuck
my grandfather’s rage 

i’ll lose my senses 
lose my sense 
but not to inherited hate

it’s too close to home 
too close to the bone
if i’m bound to break i’ll
break out of that cage 

i’ll let love rule
go deaf for you 
rock and roll never forgets

i’ll take your bait
jump the back gate
throw roses on your stage
refuse to fucking age