Doug Draime's Rock 'n Roll Jizz

Doug Draime began writing in the “underground” literary movement is Los Angeles in the late 1960’s and now writes from Ashland, Oregon. Published by Alternating Current's Propaganda Press, Doug Draime’s poems are not for the faint of heart, they are made for rockers and rebels, for lovers and dreamers. Straightforward, earthy, and gritty, this collection will make you reach for your own rock ‘n roll collection to play in the background. Below are some poems I’d like to share with you:


for Bo Diddley

a pint of
blackberry
brandy
a pack of
luckies
& a stolen
Zippo.

i sat sipping
from
the
bottle &
smoking
one after
the other
LISTENING

Soaking
it all
in
& everything
moving
inside &
outside of me
as i
propped
myself
up
against
the back of
an
outhouse.

your
pounding
rhythm
of life &
rebellion

blasting
from
the
open door
of
the
“colored”
roadhouse
across the gravel
highway.

Bo Diddley is a Rock ‘N Roll legend, he also lived here in Florida so this poem speaks to me on a couple of levels. I enjoy David’s short, short lines to keep the poem moving and the picture he paints of his younger self listening from across the highway as another form of rebellion since he should not go into the “colored” roadhouse but wants to hear Bo Diddley play.



When I Had Elvis Sideburns

& pegged levi’s
black engineer bots
a pack of smokes
rolled up in the sleeve of my white t-shirt

i was the coolest cat
on the street &
i knew i was
the only 16 year old
in town
who’d read Henry Miller
& On The Road
& listened to Miles Davis
not just rock ‘n roll

i knew i was the coolest cat
in town
i knew by the giggles &
looks of the girls
when i passed by
who would whisper to
each other
about what a hood &
juvenile delinquent
i was
their eyes following me
as i walked by

I love that Doug pokes fun at his teenage self in this poem. A young male strutting around is nothing new but for a grown man to acknowledge his youthful days of trying to be the coolest cat in town is rare. It’s also amusing, so I grinned as I pictured teenage girls giggling over the poet’s choice of clothing and his strutting. Thanks for the smiles and giggling on this end, Doug!




If you enjoyed this short sample, you may purchase a copy of Rock ‘n Roll Jizz by Doug Draime from Propaganda Press for $6.00 (+ $2 US, or $3 out-of-US shipping) on-line at http://alt-current.com

You can also order by mail with check or money order addressed to Angstman Arts and send to:

Alternating Current
PO Box 183
Palo Alto, CA 94302


Thanks always for reading, please stop by tomorrow for more Poems Found by Poet Hound...