Live Encounters Poetry & Writing 16th Anniversary Volume One
November- December 2025
If The Prophets Had Cell Phones, poem by Joe Kidd.
If The Prophets Had Cell Phones
I deeply slept upon the desert rocks where entities transparent roamed
high above the farthest star, there sounded the trumpet from the plateau
and I, then shaken, gazed upon the staircase as it rose beyond
a vertical horizon, the axis of my heart and mind
countless works to mold the landscape into that which would support a measure
reaching out to help, my hand was frozen unable to touch what was once divine
“away to Babylon,” cried the prophet as he disappeared into the mist
clutching his garment it was then recalled a sweet and loving voice gone
“literature is the memory’s tool to prove that something is now no more”
shall I die for what I have done, pay for redemption as if a merchant
stand at the gate begging for mercy, the sacred seat beside the throne
or raise my fist in true defiance, become human as a last resort
a mother’s breast, a father’s breath, delinquent not in the hour of need
but temporary is nature’s realm, the door that opens and closes behind
locked in love to serve our master and ourselves together born
barefoot I have walked the trail, tamed the tiger, accepted the fate
I now cast it all into the fire, the light of souls returning home
the days are short and years are shorter, a revolution dwells within
may this campaign be documented, the outcome and victorious march
all questions answered, all faith resolved, beliefs forgotten one by one
I take it with me, nothing here to visit, sitting still in silence and the spirit’s peace
we saw it coming, we heard the warning, dropped to our knees and wept out loud
removed our clothes defying history, naked except for the haloed crown
I took God’s picture as he walked away shaking his head, my name in vain
© Joe Kidd
Joe Kidd: Author of ‘The Invisible Waterhole’, and ‘Digging Underground/Portrait of a Beat Poet Laureate’. Beat Poet Laureate Emeritus 2022-2024. Cultural Director, Ambassador of Peace, Official Poet of Government of Birland (North Africa). Honorary Doctorate. 2025 Pushcart Prize Nominee. Member: National & International Beat Poet Foundation, 100K Poets For Change, International Singer/Songwriter Assoc, Michigan Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Toured 10 European countries, Mexico, Jamaica, 36 states in USA