Look Out, Morons. (652 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 1.15 on 16 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by JDL (View user info) at 2006-07-24 22:11:06 EDT
Two hours ago, six blocks away from where I'm sitting now, some kid got shot to death.
I rolled a spliff, smoked half, thought about getting shot, stretched my sore back and decided a walk might do me some good.
I end up in front of the police tape. This is 107th Ave.
Avenue of Nations.
Chinese pawnshop owner and her family/staff witnessed the entire event. I'm in there, getting a quick fifty, my Les Paul left behind as a hostage. A cop escorted me in, told me not to look, in the middle of the street there's a body and blood.
I sign the receipt, pick up for Friday, pay-day is on a Thursday this week, so I'll be getting her back. I ask if the kid made it.
'Not against that kinda caliber'. She says this in choppy English.
***
A building constructed in 1986 with funds obtained illegally houses a house of worship.
They scramble and dance at every mention of the Lord.
When the kid I do not know gets shot moments before I occupy that previous space they are preparing the Final Solution and serving kool-aid. Few dance, others smile. Cows 'moo'. Ineffectual souls sigh. Our Right arm is armed to the teeth. The Left have brains to spare. The Middle people argue, debate in hallways, reveal on subways, shake hands with both hands, kiss with both faces. Befriend me. Hang me.
They keep drinking, even after the blood clown comes in and finally let's it go--
'It's all a joke'.
Ta dum dum.
***
Walking into the beer store, owned by the Beirut Patriots, I've seen him and his brothers many times before. He asks where my guitar is, I tell him there was a shooting right outside his door--
He says: Big Deal! Last week my country opened the Gates of Hell!
The nameless kid, dead six blocks away from me right now, or maybe now in the morgue.
I'm sure his family is disappointed.
They're thinking: Who gives a fuck about Israel.
***
Yesterday, before I was surprised to see the fifth dead body I've ever seen in my life:
the First a young woman, athletic, beautiful, shut down by a dump truck speeding out of control, the Second a sudden heart attack at the rink--winter hockey death--while son watches, puck on his stick, potentially destroyed. Third, that deep black one that hinges on every suburban block, dealing with midnight and other preoccupation. Learns 'Artillery Loop', dies fab-u-lousy.
the Fourth, a daring friend, a brother. Taken. As real comets always are.
the Fifth, this kid, gunned down on the hottest day in sweaty porch fan memory.
I thought about how tough these last three weeks have been.
The Chinese pawnshop owner thinks: Who gives a fuck about your three weeks
I just saw that kid gets his life blown out--
He was bleeding all over.
***
News trucks. Drunks from alley and sewer. Afternoon business snakes and Insurance Artists. A few thousand gawks. Teenage criminal-in-training take open air lesson from car thief.
They don't give a fuck about the environment.
A dead leg, sticking out from a body bag, car wreck frenzy, battlefield tragedy, ridiculous debauchery, a dead leg is so much more interesting.
They came from four stories up, in the scummy heat, the thick dry, starving heat of summer.
They came with gadget phones, high fives, rumournition, elation. The nameless boy is dead!
The nameless boy is dead!
They came dropping their miniature magazines, from the stoops, and back alley. Pictures are taken, rebel cowboy and native guide to the street deal dope behind me standing at the police tape, tempting the cops, murder vs. dope.
All Law is bendable.
Makes you think of your own life.
And maybe buying more guns.
***
Or getting smarter than the guy that gunned down the guy I do not know six blocks away.
Thursday is pay-day, my arms are tired. Friday I will march back up Blood Avenue and grab my guitar, a gift to myself. I will ask the Chinese pawnshop owner if she's alright, seeing such a thing in the hot day. Such a hot day.
The bullet still echoes.
This is time I will remember, Nameless Kid Dies on Avenue of Nations,
I'm going on a hunger strike. Eat Your Bullets.
That kid with the gun was on his way to pawn violence for a quick fuck. I'm sure of it.
***
JDL
User Reviews
Submitted by SkullBiter (user info) at 2007-02-14 16:54:55 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I hate you.
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2006-10-17 15:42:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
soups on
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-08-14 18:10:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Eat Your Bullets.
ok, you first
Submitted by JDL (user info) at 2006-07-25 12:40:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
ETS, bingo.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-07-25 12:21:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
It was a difficult read and didn't really have a clear point. That's not always a bad thing, but I think in this case it was a little much.
You have talent and you seem to like experimenting with words and phrases, which is good.
This piece seemed more like you were exercising you mind muscles more than producing something for actual consumption.
I won't insult you with a +2 because I know you know you can do much better.
Submitted by marginwalker (user info) at 2006-07-25 10:45:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun
Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run
If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say...."
Submitted by pirate_pipi (user info) at 2006-07-25 10:15:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I found this really difficult to read. Didn't seem terribly coherant.
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-07-25 10:05:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
What's with all the +2's? I found this to be only a hair past mediocre. How beaten is the topic of unjustified death, anyway?
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-07-25 00:48:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent
Submitted by poisonyourkids (user info) at 2006-07-24 23:42:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
good post.
Submitted by fun_with_needles (user info) at 2006-07-24 23:28:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow.
Submitted by The_Cyst_Master (user info) at 2006-07-24 23:18:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Word.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-07-24 22:59:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This was good.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2006-07-24 22:59:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm not afraid of death anymore.
Submitted by PerkMan (user info) at 2006-07-24 22:19:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No one cares about any deaths unless it pertains to them. Hearing about dying kids in israel doesn't do shit to anyone here but a "awwww shucks" type thought. Shit even for our own soldiers we give the same "awwww shucks" attiude. If we cared we wouldn't have put the whacko in charge.
Submitted by JDL (user info) at 2006-07-24 22:17:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Of course this will get a +2 rating, and about 13 thousand reviews.
Yeah right.