stp poem of thanks to all the poets in poetry for the people 
for 3 nights of poetry readings/130 poems. 

uc berkeley (bureaucrats) may say
politicians may say
the World Bank may say
that
between you and the world
walks hatred
a hail of pepper spray and batons
as police beat protesters
and farmowners force strawberry pickers
to stoop with short hoes/
between you and the world
slips the myth
of money as power
the almighty dollar
the whore
of moral conscience
in this country/
between you and the world
the broken homes
of the loveless and bereft
left with a hole in the heart/
between you and the world
the love you can't claim
of she for she
he for he
or you for yourself
for your families
for your peoples

but I believe
between you and the world
nothing
beyond these three nights
one hundred thirty poems/
nothing
beyond this room
and everyone here
hushed to hear poetry/
nothing but the moment
you look up
and see faces listen
to each and every word
of your most precious urgent truth

hold that moment close
closer than the breath
you catch and suck in
closer than the fist
you form
to keep watch
closer than the world
that winds its way daily
without you / closer than the world
waiting for your words
begging for beauty
closer than the world
closer

maiana minahal, 5.8.97

"stp poem of thanks to all the poets in poetry for the people for 3 nights of poetry readings/ 130 poems"
Rec. 5/17/97 on the fire escape of larry's home oakland...10ish a.m.