Naked Hollywood

Where reflections in the Ivy mirror reflect only the shield defending the hidden person,
where the reserved table sounds of joy are but the soul-sludge evacuation of fear,
where the touch upon the "deal" shoulder as one leaves the ostentatious office means captivity.

Naked Hollywood

When lonely nights lead prematurely to inevitable doubts anesthetized by "means,"
when such nights are innocently the result of the isolating success one aspires,
when the Nebraska cornfields beneath summer moonlight will remain the non-redeemable past.

Naked Hollywood

The How of virtue lost forever,
the How of integrity reduced to Whatever it takes,
the How of dreams captured by the pimps of waste,

Tinsel Town’s masqueraders of daytime nightmares. 

Naked Hollywood

Once knew of magic accessible to everyone,
once knew that empowering imagination could sell tickets of quality,
once understood that audiences could be emboldened with cinematic connection.

Naked Hollywood

Is rapidly fading into indifference,
is becoming remiss in its responsibility to influence positive action,
is but a translucent super-imposition of the confused,
is perhaps becoming all it wishes to be...

a fascist shackling of hostages

or an attempt to thwart consciousness?

Naked Hollywood

What might such raw courage be today,
were the progeny of cinema nourished by decision-makers
with empowerment and truth-seeking as their goal?

Perhaps…

With integrity dressed,

vigilance armed,

and a compassion-ready Hollywood,

such could share with us

a rich two-hours worth watching…

and remembering.