welcome to the old bamboo forest
welcome to the old bamboo forest
in the breeze it gently sways
oddly transplanted to the coast of the golden state where i stay
that's why my words take the shape of an old master practicin
perched atop volcanic boulders sculpted by the oceans waves

see i've been marinatin takin on the flavor
of the households i was raised in
skeleton strengthened by the immigrant work ethic my best friends were trained in
the discipline ancient survive by hybridization
combined with adapative radiation
no stranger to long range migrations

this albino corpse ape in a state of steady metamorphosis
internal armor forged glorious
from the stories of a thousand far flung traditions
a combat system of conjured visions
launched with precision
my ribcage contain a smoldering katana thrust under
near the ruins of manzanar
it summoned a lightening storm vicious

now the son of a hundred jungles holds thunder in his chest wild eyed
roaming the hillsides
blessed by the fire of the rising sun from behind a smoky cloak floating above the burning wilderness
on the distant fringes of los angeles
watch the city creep a concrete infection
over old farm lands with rich topsoil deep in all directions
now swallowed by hollow greed
for the lure or flashing ephemeral things
that nobody really needs
i watched i as pollywogs writhe dying in a drying stream


welcome to my old bamboo forest, feral and transplanted
a hermit kingdom in a canyon
five thousand miles from its native home range
and growing round the remains of a rich man's burnt down estate
on a plot of land taken from natives, where their tribes once faced cave bears
and saber toothed cats since back in the days of ancients

these are the landscapes i was raised in growing slow
bonsai child wild weathered and mangled
festooned in jungle vines with dinosaur feathers entangled
chumash cave paintings adorn my skull cavern
unfold patterns stone crop and moss matted
whatchin scraggly coyote stalkin beyond the tall cactus
practicin the technique neck deep in an insect infested creek
leapin from a tall rock screamin something in tagolog

ferruginous hawk talon skills given unto me by my father breaking in the chilling killing fields
of a filthy inner city street and he to the best of his ability attempted to maintain a fragile frame of dignity upholding these complete human ruins in the rotting wound of society
that's why ever since i was a child i've known my species is fucking frightening
and so i confronted my own dark side roaming lonely in the hinterlands
a young predatory beast not yet a man

a wild creature seekin agility
the abilities steadily increased through battling
plus support received from expanded family
yall welcomed & fed the blonde heathen
many thanks for the strong tea i was steeped in
and your households as a refuge
i still slip my shoes off at the door
respect to you and yours