A City That Never Sleeps

By Kevin Masmela

I have known the City of Angels all my life,

the in-between crevasse alleys that scream

I am an artist but have nowhere to show it.

Melodies the Pacific makes when the waves

hit just right. You see, here, the Pacific Coast

never sleeps & neither does the city traffic—

I find myself wondering what it would be like

if music were constantly played everywhere.

If Charlie Parker was blaring down Central Avenue

or if Fitzgerald filtered through the horns down the I-5.

Imagine a city where they played House Music

in the parking lots & Psychedelic Rock off PCH.

In my California the streets will whisper

symphonies to the homeless so they can feed

off the sounds of sonatas. We will listen to Sinatra

on the main roads of Los Angeles & swing our hips

to his breath, we will listen to the sax pass

through each block & stop to drop

a little bit of jazz on each avenue’s stoop.

Our conversations would be sung in verse

while we dance until the Earth quakes.

I want the world to hear every one of our voices

as we sing for peace and unity, as we water

our need for love, more love, & more music...

By Kevin Masmela