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         ÒI have emerged from a ten year silence,Ó writes Steve De France.  
ÒIn the last year I have had more than a hundred publications, in various 
zines.  I have two new books:  ÔDancing on the Head of a Pin, by the Phoenix 
Press, and ÔElectric Snakes in the TwilightÕ by Alpha Beat Press.
         ÒI have fought as an amateur prize fighter, played the world 
champion in table tennis, dug swimming pools in Texas, worked as a 
professional actor on stage, appeared in film and television in Hollywood, 
and washed dishes.
         ÒFor the past ten years I have been a tenured professor of English 
and Literature for the Los Angeles Community College District.Ó


                                              Short Cut
                                       by Steve De France

There is a jumper standing
on the 105 freeway overpass.
Twenty stories high, perched on a ledge,
swaying like a hawk in high wind.
HeÕs ready to launch himself
down on the Harbor Freeway.

The freeway as unmoving as any cemetery.

Commuter cars log-jammed by police blockades.
From my car, I watch the man next to me.
ItÕs cold today.  But I see sweat
gather at his collar, drip over his back.
Making a round wet puddle, a drop at a time....
People straining necks skyward.
A helicopter circles.
Sirens labor up the Diamond Lane.
WeÕre down here,
looking up at you.
Cursing you for holding up
traffic.  Some of us want
the police sharp-shooter
to put a bullet between your eyes.
Humanity just doesnÕt have it.
We just donÕt care, anymore.
We want to see you fall,
but out of traffic lanes.
WeÕre tired out.
Too much murder.
Too many movies.
Too much inhumanity.
You see, the State is paid to care for people like you: 9-5
We just want to get on down the L.A. Freeway.
Nervous.  Sleepless.  Sweating.

Maybe we should take the short cut and join you on that ledge.



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http://www.dejanews.com/
into your browserÕs ÒLocationÓ window. Press your ÒreturnÓ key.
Click on ÒPower SearchÓ in the middle of the screen.
Find the box labelled ÒMain ArchiveÓ.
Change ÒMain ArchiveÓ to ÒComplete ArchiveÓ.

Next, do you see a blank box labelled ÒPower SearchÓ ?
Type in:  roller666@earthlink.net   in the blank box on the screen
   that has ÒPower SearchÓ written next to it.
Click on ÒfindÓ (the button to the right of the box).

-Or search using:  roller39@idt.net


Short Cut is copyright 1998 by Steve De France