Edge Gallery
on Friday night
sun setting as
an Aboriginal
woman
staggers by.
against blinding
orange sky.

she’s on solvent.
i’ve seen that stagger
those glassy eyes
blank expression
smelled it too.
zig zag fumes
from side,to,side,
to,side,walking
serpentine style,
just like the In-Laws
(the movie)
(Peter Falk and Alan Arkin)
without the speed,
she’s in slow (e)motion.
i don’t know
what to do,
she may get hit by a car
crossing
Logan at Main.

i ask Serena
and she says,
“i can phone the police
but they won’t do anything,
until
she gets hit by a car.”

she crosses.
that busy street.
she survives.

survivor
of more sexual
exploitation
and abuse
than one can imagine.
fathom.
comprehend.
the pain.

i worked at Marymound.
with the girls
in lock-up
i know that look
that pain.
that truth.
that stain.
that anger.
that need to numb
it.
sedate it.
escape it.
cut it.
slash it.
survivors.
pain.

i burned hard,
i’m a strong
protector
by nature
and nurture.
i burned
fast and out.
those girls.
those children.
crying too many
tears.

every man
in
every vehicle
that i see
that stops
to pick up
a child to
exploit
!sexually!
i want to pull
out of that vehicle
and beat the living,
i want to
bloody him
stain him,
mark him
for his family
and friends.
make him hurt
like these girls
hurt.
every minute
of
every day.
of
every cut
they inflict
on themselves.
self,mutilate.

these aren’t paper cuts.
they use anything
to cut.
the pain the hurt
the anguish
away…

but, it’s okay,
it’s only another Aboriginal
girl. it’s okay.
they don’t matter.
do they?

all the disappearances.
all the murders,
hidden away.
secrets.
shhhhhhhh.

another guy, oh,
he’s
not wearing shoes.
his once
white sports socks
on the pavement
asks for a cigarette,
“i don’t smoke,”
says me.
says he,
“you looked stressed.”

i’m surprised.
“hmm, i don’t feel
stressed.”

am i?

i’m on the edge
at The Edge
there’s so few here,
to see Liz Beattie
and Maurice,
from Victoria.

Jean-Paul Maurice.

he’s good.
he’s very good.

his voice is powerful and clear
and he’s passionate
that’s all i ask,
is the passion.
he needs to be heard.
needs to be seen.

www.myspace.com/wearemaurice

needs to be understood.

his words
are as well,crafted
as
Morrisey’s.

witty. young. men.
make. hard
edged songs,
in the midst
of
pure pop
melodies.
stinging deep
sharp
like scorpions.

stunningly.

so. Morrisey.

his name’s been coming up recently
it’s not like i was a huge
Smiths
fan, i bought a couple
of albums,
i loved a bunch of songs
but i didn’t live and breathe
his
every word. his every album.
his every brilliant media quote.
and every
brilliant
Johnny Marr guitar line.
well, they’re mighty fine.

this charming man.

indeed.

Old Seed. Jean-Paul
Maurice reminds me
of Craig.

www.myspace.com/oldseed

powerful voices
that can break you.

powerful words
that shake and shatter
your foundations.

in 45 minutes
and 9 songs.

This Is Where We Are For Now
immediately,
i write, he’s good. very good.

Gentleman (this is where instantly
i feel like i’m listening to Morrisey)

Scorpions.
quiet pickings
super
intense
emotions
words like firecrackers
on Chinese New Years
in Mae Sot
Singapore
Bangkok, when all you
hear is endless
explosions at 4, 5 AM
and all through the hours and hours.
and fake money burning
for good fortune
and lion dancing and parades
of bands
making Noise bombs.
and i didn’t even know
this song was about a Scorpions sting
and bite, until it was two minutes in…
it just made me feel
and remember travels
in Asia
and i wrote
“words like firecrackers
on Chinese New Years…”
i saw a scorpion
waiting to strike
with its tail raised
on the jungle path
in Malaysia,
Tioman Island.
ready to kill.
and eat.
i let the scorpion
have the path…

“i wrote that song in competition
with someone and i won.
not that i’m saying it’s great.”

well, Serena and I say it,
It Is Great!
!

this young man
can write
melody
and words
like few can.

Solarium.
a song about homelessness.
that specifically
brings to mind Old Seed.
another powerhouse
of voice and song
and passionate performance.
Veracity.

Anticipating.
a gorgeous love song.
“words don’t even register…
get your favorite writing
tool, and try to write down
something beautiful…
and just feel it,
what are you anticipating?”
a song he wrote for his parents!
what a lovingly beautiful
gift!

Caught in a Lie.

How You Spend Your Time.
“if you think
you’re cool enough.”
this kind of soaring
melody
and deep,dark
reaching
soulful mirror
words
are just too sharp and
stinging for the hipsters.
to attain.
understanding.
scorpions.

Unattainable.
about a neighborhood
i lived in
in Victoria, BC
Fernwood,
hippie land.
“all of my lovers are
unattainable.”
hanging out in cafes
in Fernwood
discussing philosophies,
Sartre.
“whatever will be
will be,
i know it does not matter.”
“i have not read any of his books…
makes lots of sense to me.”
beautiful.

Pretty.
beautiful
ending.

with Simon Margetts
on keys and harmony
vocals.

opening. Liz Beattie.
so young.
whimsical songs.
ivy and plants,
leaves and trees.
time to learn.
on the road.
time to burn in
that passionate
songwriter’s fire.
of getting up there.
alone.
in the spotlight.
let go, let go
of fears,
reach deep into
the performer’s need
your need
to be seen and heard.
and understood
your need to be loved.
release, release
your voice.
allow yourself to rise
strong
rise from deep inside
from your whisper
and find your
scream.

i love the words and emotion
in Maurice’s
Rockstar,
“if you want it
don’t be scared
just come and take it
it’s there for you”
just like the strongest
song
of your set,
Mermaids and Kings.
let loose.

find your scream.

Jean-Paul Maurice
Simon Margetts
Liz Beattie

Edge Gallery
August 28.