Part 1 | The Mouse

Clever.  Poseidon’s words were
For I knew the place.  Of which he spoke
A great symphony. Conducted by the spirit of a mouse
Knowing not.  How to converse with a spirit
Knowing not.  How to summon a totem

I go.  Leaving those salty shores
Onward towards metropolis
Wondering. Was Poseidon right?
Have years of unfulfillment turned me cold?
Perhaps
This coldness enraged twelve. Today alone
How many others?
How many others have been tainted by apathy?

Downtown.  Downtown Los Angeles.  A sprawling view
Buildings tower.  Rise tall.  Tower above the smog
Mountains.  Silhouette on the horizon
Mountains of pastelled blues and purples
Streets.  Filled with cars
Streets lined with trash.  Lined with tents

Arrived.  A majestic sight
Curved steel.  Firm yet flowing.  Sails in the wind
Intertwined.  Poised
Hues of blue and pink.  Refracted off the metal’s edge
Against an afternoon sky
Child of Gehry.  Famed architect.  Stands proud
Sophisticated
A song for the eyes.  Melodic
Rippling along the breeze
For it is here.  I must summon the first totem
Here.  The Walt Disney Concert Hall 

I walk.  Through doors of glass
Silence.  An eerie silence.  Plaguing the space
Alone I drift.  Unknowing.  Toward the structural core
There lies a majestic stage.  A wooden heart.  Amongst a thousand seats
Not a soul.  Nor Spirit.  In sight
Only a grand organ.  Commanding in the back
Pipes billowing
Begging for a chance.  A chance to sing

I Play.  The melody so desperately longed for
From within.  The hymn of the crashing waves
Pipes ringing.  The sound of the changing tide
For a moment.  Losing myself.  Being.  Something
No sooner than the last note sounds
Smoke.  Billowing from the great organ
Grey and glowing
Not smoke from a flame. No
Translucent.  Smoke from a dream
An apparition.  Taking shape from the haze
Large head.  Whiskered nose. Floppy ears
Furred body.  Thin wavering tail

He Speaks:

“Naive. You are
Summoning foreign gods to our sacred land
Though. Your song
Your song has awakened hope within me
Hope that Poseidon’s quest will soothe your woeful heart
Yes. I accept your tune as repentance 
You have my blessing to advance. For I know what awaits
Know this.  Naive One
Great peril lies ahead
Seek out my eleven brothers and sisters
Plead their forgiveness
Once you have summoned us all.  We shall grant you a gift
Your own totem.  A spirit guide to accompany you along your journey
Only with your totem’s protection will you be allowed to leave these lands
Go now.  To the west
The eclectic beaches where art and music come alive await 
Tagged and graffitied.  Pulsing with energy.  Day and night
Medicinal herbs filling the air
On this beach you’ll find the entrance to a network of underground tunnels
Find this entrance.  A most sandy burrow.  The largest hollow 
In the sands of California.  Find it.  And you will find
The Badger”