Gridlock: An Anthology of Poetry About Southern California

by Elliot Fried

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168 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1990

Reviews

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of good fragments, but not as many complete poems that stand out.
Notable contributors include Allen Ginsberg, Charles Bukowski, Michael McClure, Lyn Lifshin, Mark Jarman, and Steve Kowit.

Favorites:
"Panty Hose" - Ron Koertge - young women after work
"405" - Steve Kowit - the freeway
"The Long Beach Freeway" - Gerald Locklin

Telephones
ebbing
flowing

a party here
there

unending conversation
about nothing
- John Brander, "Malibu Nights"

You say you'll take me
to Hollywood Park, steal
me six thousand dollar rings,
go on forged passports
to Turkey.
You have cash stashed
in buried ammo boxes
in the San Fernando Valley.
- Kate Braverman, "Psycho Jackpot"

White boys were mass-produced and watered
their lawns
artificially with long green hoses in
West l.A.
- La Loca, "Why I Choose Black Men for My Lovers"

Here we are all blonde,
even in the dark, on Mondays,
or in bad weather.

Even in our off-guard moments,
startled by a passerby,
we are young.

Here we are all privileged,
even in our sleep.
- Suzanne Lummis, "Shangri-La"