{"id":219,"date":"2011-06-08T20:34:00","date_gmt":"2011-06-08T20:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.ronrecord.com\/index.php\/2011\/06\/08\/ode-to-santa-cruz\/"},"modified":"2019-02-24T18:43:25","modified_gmt":"2019-02-25T02:43:25","slug":"ode-to-santa-cruz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.ronrecord.com\/index.php\/2011\/06\/08\/ode-to-santa-cruz\/","title":{"rendered":"Ode to Santa Cruz"},"content":{"rendered":"

UCSC ran a contest to see who could write the “best” Ode to Santa Cruz<\/a>. The winning ode would be read by Garisson Keillor<\/a> during his appearance at the Santa Cruz Civic Center. The winning author was “well-known Santa Cruz visual artist” Douglas McClelland. Here is my entry followed by Laurie Agard’s haiku response to my ode, followed by Faith Zack’s entry, followed by the winning entry. Judge for yourself!<\/p>\n

Ode To Santa Cruz<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
Written by Ronald Joe Record<\/div>\n

O, sleepy Italian fishing village! City on an elfland hill!<\/strong>
\nHaven of the aging hippie, Harbor for the shell shocked Vet<\/strong>
\nAsylum for the single mother,<\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shelter for the wrecked and battered<\/strong>
\nSanctuary for all seven genders,<\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Resort for those with ample pocket<\/strong><\/p>\n

Boardwalk, Harbor, Wharf, and Lighthouse<\/strong>
\nSurf Museum and Natural Bridge!<\/strong>
\nTide pools, redwoods, and Mission Santa Cruz<\/strong>
\nLost Boys ride a Giant Dipper with the silent ZaSu Pitts<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ever changing changeless time warp<\/strong>
\nProtected timeless mediterranean bay<\/strong>
\nDolphins leap, otters roll, and Gray Whales spout<\/strong>
\nWe live on the lip of a mile deep trench!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Labs Richter and Long Marine<\/strong>
\nHuman genome project completed here!<\/strong>
\nNew planets discovered, ancient fossils uncovered<\/strong>
\nHistory of Consciousness<\/a> Ph.D.s!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Surf city slackers, scientists and skaters<\/strong>
\nA crossing of saints where mountains meet sea<\/strong>
\nFour twenty stoners, students and surfers<\/strong>
\nSmall town sensibility, global responsibility<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pergolesi & Bookshop,<\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Crepe Place & Coffee Roasting<\/strong>
\nAll collapse and rise again!<\/strong>
\nThe wrecking ball bounces off the Cooper House wall!<\/strong>
\nElementary schools close,<\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Colleges sprout like mushrooms on the Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n

O, ephemeral Mystery Spot<\/a>!! Tourists flock to thee!<\/strong>
\nQuakes, deficits, students, and time may change thy face<\/strong>
\nYet redwood, coaster, clock, and train<\/strong>
\nAll stand to remind us of times slow pace<\/strong><\/p>\n

City of celebration and homeless defecation<\/strong>
\nYou gave us First Night, Last Night,<\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and Take Back The Night<\/a><\/strong>
\nMyth California<\/a> and the Preying Mantis Brigade<\/a><\/strong>
\nCrazy chaos theory Dripheads, Mr. Twister,<\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and Umbrella Man<\/strong><\/p>\n

The statue of Tom Scribner<\/a><\/strong>
\nStirs the lentil vegan pot with saw and bow<\/strong>
\nA miracle! He cries real tears<\/strong>
\nAs “progressives” court Big Box chains<\/strong><\/p>\n

Self declared inter-galactic port<\/strong>
\nYour compassion flower<\/a><\/strong>
\nLampooned by late night standups<\/strong>
\nMocking the Mayor’s free bags of bud<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Eastside, Westside, Town, and Gown<\/strong>
\nYour Greenbelt rings them all<\/strong>
\nFrom Zachary’s to Zoccolis<\/strong>
\nAll of us stroll the mall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yea, let us don our wetsuits, pull the salt water taffy<\/strong>
\nStalk the wild morel we learned of at the fungus fair<\/strong>
\nAs costumed children greet the Monarch’s return<\/strong>
\nWe celebrate daily the purple scarfed dancing lady<\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 that is Santa Cruz<\/strong><\/p>\n

Haiku Response to Ode To Santa Cruz<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
Written by Laurie Agard<\/div>\n

Whitecaps on the bay:
\nA broken signboard banging
\nthe wind of Ron’s ode.<\/p>\n

Ode To Santa Cruz<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
Written by Faith Zack<\/div>\n

Whiz your bike up West Cliff, watch the sea otters dive
\nWeave through couples and strollers, joggers and doggers
\nSwing your hips to the drum circle vibe
\nWhole grain, organic, earthy crunchy santa crustaceans
\nSalute the sun on your sweaty yoga mats
\nSip your chai latte, watch the Umbrella man
\nPromen-ambling up the mall<\/p>\n

Ode To Santa Cruz<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
Written by Douglas McClelland<\/div>\n

Santa Cruz, to honor you,
\nI declare a mural —
\nsurfer facing the sea
\nwearing a full bore tool belt;
\nrat gray pony tail.
\nUnfinished dissertation
\nin hand — he balances,
\nrampant on a green wave.
\nTattoo of Gaia that bears
\nthe word “Mom” on his chest.
\nHis board, a riot of earth tones,
\nbears the proud legend
\n“En Plein Air.”
\nOn the shore, strong women
\nwill be seen, gathering
\nwith a rainbow of others
\nin solidarity. Planting, writing,
\ncatching their own waves.
\nThe painting style is bold,
\nRivera-like, colors clear,
\nedges crisp, but the pearly
\nPacific light sweetens the diverse parts
\nredwoods, tourists in black socks,
\nscrewtop wine bottles,
\npale slackers, bronzed shiatsists,
\nowlish deans, and organic garlic–
\ninto a rare harmony. All gentled
\nby an avant garde surfbeat,
\nstring band, folk song loop
\nfrom an amp behind
\na tie-dyed screen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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