On Boulder Highway      [Part 4 of My Las Vegas Trilogy]

 

Pic of The Mirage Resort Casino on Las Vegas Blvd, which features the Cirque Du Soleil show "The Beatles Love", a wonderful Starbucks, and a Volcano.

An original poem by Chrome Dome Mike Kimbro

 

Consider reading along to my Spoken Verse Performance.

 

 

 

 

VERSE 1

 

In time, I found my way back to the desert.

 

A cool Louisville lady was on my arm.

 

Rockin' sharkskin pants, and a bitchin' shirt.

 

Checkered flag ring was my good luck charm.

Pic of my lucky checkered flag ring of diamonds and sapphires in 14k gold which was bought from a pawn shop in Dallas, TX.

Pic of the author with my lady Paula at the Tao Night Club as the guests of Craneware Software.

 

 

 

 

VERSE 2

 

In need of hydration, and a tad winded,

 

Read the mini bar menu, and clutched my heart.

 

Yeah, that cardiac arrest was mostly pretended,

 

I chose the eight dollar water which was 'smart'.

 

 

 

VERSE 3

 

Headed down to the casino floor around 2.

 

Asked of the guy on the bar stool next to me:

 

What's the deal with your WWBD tattoo?

 

Pic of a Markers Mark bourbon whiskey and 7-Up on a napkin at the Tao Night Club at The Venetian Resort Casino on The Las Vegas Strip, during a party sponsored by Craneware Software of Atlanta, GA and Edinburgh, Scotland UK.

“A tribute to the poet Bukowski!”

 

 

VERSE 4

 

I chuckled and ordered us another,

 

He was older, but not quite retired.

 

Knowing I’d found an artistic brother,

 

The standard sizing up wasn’t required.

 

 

VERSE 5

 

But I didn’t wear my values ‘on my sleeve’.

 

So he didn’t have it quite so simple.

 

My sipping his brand didn’t help him achieve,

 

A gauge on my preferences or my temple.

Pic of a ticket for the Cirque Du Soleil show "The Beatles LOVE" seen at The Mirage Resort Casino on Las Vegas Blvd.

 

 

 

VERSE 6

 

Maybe my tastes are a tad high brow:

 

The private Villas at The Mirage.

 

“Love” by The Beatle’s.  Parties at Tao.

 

All a part of my Las Vegas collage.

 

 

VERSE 7

Kalifano at The Venetian                                         Signature Galleries Las Vegas              

Lena Korneyeva was the fine arts consultant who showed Paula Hahnert and I this Wyland sculpture of whales on display at the Signature Galleries in the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort Casino in Las Vegas.

Pic of The Predator done in automobile and motorcycle parts seen at the Kalifano Galleries in the Shops at The Venetian Resort Casino.

Then I opened up about the stuff I'd bought.

 

Dropped ninety grand for geodes and a predator.

 

I scored a Wyland, though not the one which I sought.

 

Then came the bad news from my editor.

 

 

VERSE 8

 

About my book of poems on class warfare,

 

Seems my fans’ devotion has fallen off lately.

 

My realtor had found a nice home in Bel Air.

 

Guess I’ll be writing in a place not so stately.

 

 

 

VERSE 9

 

But those words came out like a confession.

 

Pic of the Welcome to Las Vegas sign on Boulder Hwy with the Eastide Cannery Casino Resort in the background.

As if reading my obit or epitaph.

 

Not needing to ask my chosen profession,

 

The stranger smiled.  It was his turn to laugh.

 

And that’s when he said:

 

 

 

CHORUS

 

“Look East, young man,

 

A photo of Frenchman's Mountain, a prime feature of the Las Vegas skyline, as seem from Boulder Highway in Clark County, NV.

Toward Frenchman Mountain,

 

For a vista which will inspire.

 

Look East, young man,

 

Toward Frenchman Mountain,

 

If you don’t like to think, or perspire.

 

So, clear off your planner.

 

Drop the straight life fixation.

 

Take Desert Inn straight to 582.

 

Between the Royal Manor,

 

And Boulder Station.

 

You’ll enjoy a new world view.

 

On Boulder Highway.”

 

 

VERSE 10

 

This delicious chef salad was an artistic creation of the food service professionals at the Chuckwagon Restaurant at The Longhorn Hotel & Casino on Boulder Highway in East Las Vegas.

Photo of the sign for the Longhorn Casino-Hotel on Boulder Highway.

“I’m here to help you understand.”

 

Said my new friend, from his bar stool.

 

“Plan your work, and work your plan.           

 

Is the mantra of a fool.”

 

 

VERSE 11

 

“You see, schemin’ and mappin’

 

Lead to coronaries and grief.

 

We should let our lives happen,

 

Cause our time here’s too brief.”

 

 

VERSE 12

 

“Still, you’ve gotta feel,

                 

For those who try to master,

 

The art of making friends,

 

And influencing strangers.”

 

Pic of the slot machine Invaders from the Planet Moolah was taken at the Boulder Station Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Pic of the sign along Boulder Highway for Arizona Charlie's Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, NV, home of the Palace Grand Lounge, the Market Buffet, and the Yukon Grille.

 

VERSE 13

 

“And while we admire their zeal,

 

They’re all heading for disaster.

 

It’s writers on whom they depend,

 

To point out the many dangers.”

 

 

CHORUS

 

Look East, young man,

 

Toward Frenchman Mountain,

 

For a vista which will inspire.

 

Look East, young man,

 

Toward Frenchman Mountain,

 

If you don’t like to think, or perspire.

 

So, clear off your planner.

 

Drop the straight life fixation.

 

Take Flamingo straight to 582.

 

Between the Royal Manor,

Pic of the sign for Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall in Las Vegas, home of Billy Bob's Steak House, the Firelight Buffet, and Roxy's Lounge venue. 

And Boulder Station.

 

You’ll enjoy a new world view.

 

On Boulder Highway.

 

 

VERSE 14

 

Introduced myself as a Texas messenger.

 

For some local knowledge, I was fishin’.

 

Then explained to my fellow bus passengers.

 

An East Las Vegas ode was my mission.

 

 

VERSE 15

 

One guy said Sam’s Town was his favorite place to play.

 

“Don’t expect a Steve Wynn vibe,” was his caveat.

 

Another gave kudos to the Station’s buffet.

Photo of the entrance of the Feast Buffet at the Boulder Station Hotel and Casino. 

Which he’d take over anything the strip has got.

 

 

VERSE 16

 

A query from a guy wearing wraparounds:

 

“Surely you’re not going all the way to ‘Trop’?!?      [Note: slang for Tropicana]

 

If you do, make sure you’re out by sundown.

 

It’s a place that’s well known to the cops.”

 

 

VERSE 17

 

One thing for sure, the gent had my attention.

 

An apartment complex which needs a warden?!?

 

I asked the name of the stalag he'd mentioned.

Pic of the sign for Sportsman's Royal Manor apartments in Clark County, NV at 5600 Boulder Highway at Tropicana, which looks like a castle. 

They all spoke up in unison:  "Sportsman's!”

 

 

VERSE 18

 

Royal Manor” suggests a residence of Nobles.

 

No doubt the aim, since it looks like a castle.

 

That’s funny, since it’s rep is closer to Chernobyl,

 

At 3pm, they said I shouldn’t get hassled.

 

 

VERSE 19

 

In the voice of a gal I wish I’d dated:

 

“Next stop:  Boulder Highway”, was announced overhead.

 

I thanked the locals, who’d already calculated,

 

It was 5 to 1, that by 4, I’d be dead.

 

 

CHORUS

 

Look East, young man,

 

Toward Frenchman Mountain,

 

For a vista which will inspire.

 

Look East, young man,

 

Toward Frenchman Mountain,

 

Pic of the Crystal Palace USA Roller Skating Rink sign in from of a billboard for the specials at the Longhorn Casino on Boulder Hwy in Las Vegas, NV.

If you don’t like to think, or perspire.

 

So, clear off your planner.

 

Drop the straight life fixation.

 

Take Sahara straight to 582.

 

Between the Royal Manor,

 

And Boulder Station.

 

You’ll enjoy a new world view.

 

On Boulder Highway.

 

 

 

VERSE 20

 

Had the leasing agent withheld details?

 

I wondered, as my neighbors left in hand cuffs.

 

What’d I expect, this ain’t the Palace at Versailles.

 

The view of Frenchman Mountain from the 3rd floor at Town and Country Manor 3 Furnished Suites on Boulder Highway in Las Vegas, NV.

And I thought Compton and 8-Mile were tough.

 

 

VERSE 21

 

I quickly got weaned off of Dom Perignon.

 

Yeah, the problem was simply one of scale.

 

Because Mogen David will get the job done,

 

At four dollars a bottle, when it's on sale.

 

 

Pic of a piece of woman's athletic attire which might be worn by a coed at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ, which has be historically regarded as the #1 party college in the nation, and maybe the world, Go Sun Devils!

VERSE 22

 

Thought about companionship which was 'faire',

 

But the gal to guy ration had me balking.

 

Locked eyes with an amazon, with legs up to there.

 

Her ASU sports bra did the talking.

 

 

VERSE 23

 

I assumed that she cleaned up pretty well.

 

And it was a plus that she smoked my brand.

 

But dating's not smart, in a place where you dwell,

 

Til you've figured out the lay of the land.

 

 

VERSE 24

 

Decided that, during a three day stupor,

 

I’d neither seek nor accept the Presidency.

Pic of the world famous double decker bus know in Las Vegas as The Deuce, a part of the RTC transit system, the ultimate way to get around the thoroughfares of Sin City, this particular bus running the Boulder Hwy Express Route through East Clark County, Nevada north to the downtown area. 

My arms were hugging the porcelain pooper.

 

Just a month into my Sportsman’s residency.

 

 

VERSE 25

 

Yearning for the peace found only in the grave,

 

“Take me now, sweet Mother Mary”, I would plead.

 

And she must have heard me, cause the nausea waves,

 

After chewing ice, they began to recede.

 

 

VERSE 26 - Option A

 

As I assessed the total cost of this journey,

 

I heard "Go All The Way". It came from the toilet.

 

Glanced down to see Bukowski looking up at me.

 

His message clear: Stopping now would only spoil it.

 

 

VERSE 26 - Option B

A selfie of the author seeking refuge from the Las Vegas summer heat at the entrance of the SLS resort in Las Vegas in 2016.

 

Then from deep within, I heard: "Go all the way."

 

Wait, not within. Hell, it came from the toilet.

 

Down there was Chuck Bukowski, to my dismay,

 

His message clear: Stopping now would only spoil it.

 

 

VERSE 27

 

Yeah, I’d watched Factotum 2 or 3 times,

 

Where Matt Dillion and his ladies paid the price,

 

For a skid row existence, wasting their primes.

 

Here's another taste of that stranger’s advice…

 

 

CHORUS

 

Look East, young man,

 

Toward Frenchman Mountain,

 

For a vista which will inspire.

 

Pic of the Roadrunner RV Park on Boulder Hwy with Frenchman Mountain in the background.

Look East, young man,

 

Toward Frenchman Mountain,

 

If you don’t like to think, or perspire.

 

So, clear off your planner.

 

Drop the straight life fixation.

 

Take Tropicana straight to 582.

 

Between the Royal Manor,

 

And Boulder Station.

 

You’ll enjoy a new world view.

 

On Boulder Highway.

 

It's time to close out...

Photo of the sign seen on Boulder Highway as you leave Las Vegas to the southeast, into southern Clark County Nevada.

 

 

VERSE 28

 

The human race, as a whole,

 

Just let their passions smolder.

 

But that’s not how we roll,

 

On a street known as Boulder.

 

 

The End

 

 

Copyright © Michael Kimbro 2016. All rights reserved.

 

 

PS - I sometimes include what I call "poetic remnants" following a work.  These are passages which didn't make the cut, for whatever reason.

 

Here's a poetic remnant from this poem:

 

VERSE 23.5

 

But such logic is too easily repressed,

 

During the period known as Miller Time.

 

The Don Juan inside needs a females caress,

 

After three or four Dos Equis and lime.

 

 

Alright.  Thanks for your time and consideration.