Ode to Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, to honor you,
I declare a mural—–
surfer facing the sea
wearing a full bore tool belt;
rat gray pony tail.
Unfinished dissertation
in hand––he balances,
rampant on a green wave.
Tattoo of Gaia that bears
the word “Mom”, on his chest.
His board, a riot of earth tones,
bears the proud legend
“En Plein Air”.
On the shore, strong women
will be seen, gathering
with a rainbow of others
in solidarity. Planting, writing,
catching their own waves.
The painting style is bold,
Rivera-like, colors clear,
edges crisp, but the pearly
Pacific light sweetens the mongrel parts––
redwoods, tourists in black socks,
screwtop wine bottles,
pale slackers, bronzed shiatsists,
owlish deans, and organic garlic––
into a rare harmony. All gentled
by an avant garde surfbeat,
string band, folk song loop
from an amp behind
a tie-dyed screen.
About the Poet Doug McClellan was part of the UC Santa Cruz faculty in the early years of the university, arriving in 1970 and helping found the art department at UCSC the following year. He taught art at UCSC and other art schools and institutes for 37 years and has exhibited his work throughout northern and southern California, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. In 1992, he was named Santa Cruz County's Artist of the Year.
On top of his long career as a visual artist, McClellan has been seriously pursuing poetry for years, having published seven volumes of poetry including 2013's "So Many Chairs."
On Jan. 23, McClellan and other writers will gather at the Michaelangelo for a poetry reading.
The Outdoor Poet is edited by Robert Sward, author of numerous books of poetry including, most recently, New and Selected Poems: 1957-2011 (Red Hen Press). He lives on the Westside with his wife, the artist Gloria Alford, and a poodle mix named Cosette. Participation in The Outdoor Poet is by invitation.
