Larry Jaffe
Larry Jaffe is the International Readings Coordinator for the United Nations Dialogue among Civilizations through Poetry program, co- founder of Poets for Peace/United Poets Coalition and is the Poet-in-Residence/Director of Writer s Voice for the Los Angeles Downtown YMCA. Jaffe is the Editor of Poetix the online poetry magazine for southern California and writes a column for about.com Museletter. He is the resident Poet/Host at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage and producer of the Buddha Jam Poetry Series at the Elixir. Jaffe has two new books coming out in the coming year, Lummox Press is about to publish his book of poetic noir L. A. Rhapsody and Salmon Publishing in Ireland will be publishing his forthcoming book Lying Half-Naked in the Doorway.
We All Want to Be Heroes
At Rockaway Beach, I am four, pedaling
my little red fire engine
as fast as my imagination
rescuing residents,
petrified faces
framed in open windows&
At Rockaway Beach, I parade
down the boardwalk, breathe salt air
the city gives me its keys
and today the sun is so distinct
I can see each ray
I am 54 and still smell ocean air.
© 2003 Lawrence Jaffe