Stars are a wondrous sight in the night
They are a most dazzling precious light
Not only beautifying the sky
But guiding the way for you and I.
Dancing angels out in aerospace
With fineness full of heavenly grace
Around the moon scattered stars align
In eyes they twinkle, purely divine.
Devoid of stars the nights would be dim
The man in the moon would lose his grin
Alone in the dark, no company
No angels singing in harmony.
Stars were made as a stunning duo
From the all-powerful supremo
Starlight and moonlight go hand in hand
Beacons that glow on earth's grand bandstand.
Each star has a pattern of its own
That stays unidentified, unknown
They are there for folk to reach out to
With a way of making dreams come true.
Town Full Of Sound
I use to live in
A town full of sound
With Roller Coasters
And Merry Go Round
Horns would blast
To sound an alarm
I use to live in
A town full of sound
I use to live in
A town full of sound
Pinballs were zinging
And barkers would hound
Foghorns were blaring
A mournful fog song
I use to live in
A town full of sound
I use to live in
A town full of sounds
Salt water taffy
Came clacking on down
The bandstand was swinging
Those Glen Miller songs
I use to live in
A town full of sound
I use to live in
A town full of sound
Where all sorts of music
Played all over town
Screech of the crowd
As the Comet roared down
I use to live in
A town full of sound
Bill MacEachern May 2, 2024
teen magazine was popular in 1965 when I was thirteen
mom had Better Homes and Garden, Redbook and Women’s Day.
it was only right that my identical twin and I would have Teen.
mom’s magazines were about housekeeping; ours were about fashion.
we all wanted to grow up and become Sally Field or Tina Turner.
the Beatles shocked our parents on the Ed Sullivan Show.
folk singer mama cass’s voice and looks were known to all of us.
we were listening to the Beach Boys sing about California girls.
Los Angeles teen movie stars showed off mop-tops and Twiggy cuts.
daisies and yellow happy faces were sprinkled lavishly throughout.
subtle hints were showing us what to wear.
hip huggers and bell bottoms were in; plaids were out.
teen Magazine teamed up with Dick Clark’s American Bandstand.
together they taught us a bunch of dance moves.
the Loco-motion, watusi and smashed potato to name three.
our super models were Twiggy and we loved Sonny and Cher.
.
now we knew how to dress, how to dance and what to eat.
our favorite teens were advertising things we needed to be groovy.
we were eager to follow their lead, not having our own identity yet.
Over by the corner the bandstand plays on
next to the cotton candy wagon and the clown
Its a circus act full of people and acrobats
and tallish men on walking wooden stilts
One tiny red balloon dots the sky as I espy
juggling acts leading to the garden path
it ain't over until the fat lady sings
so I better not dally, I need a glass ring
Fire eaters and sweet ladies that stretch
ventriloquists with two sided mouths
magicians that stage with props, and coins
cats on tight ropes, hawkers and escapists
Silver hoops and fast delivery guys
life is changing right before our very eyes
Give me the candy but don't tell me lies
of course I want the red balloon, untie!
February 12, 2023
Sponsor Anthony Biaanco
Contest Name Balloons
I am Farrah Fawcett,
Poster on the wall.
I am a rotary phone,
When I made a call.
I am, Boss,
it’s the plane, The plane.
I am Pablo Escobar,
And his cocaine.
I am Queen with
Freddy Mercury Live.
I am the Bee Gees,
Talking that Jive.
I am vinyl, 8-tracks,
cassettes and CDs.
I am, make love not war,
And Hippies.
I am where is the beef?
Don't squeeze the Charmin.
I am Cheech and Chong
and George Carlin.
I am SNL when it
Was funny.
I am Happy Days,
And a Playboy bunny.
I am M.A.S.H. and
A metal Lunch-box.
I am clackers, tang,
And a Pet-rock.
I am American Bandstand,
Peace signs, and the twist.
I am pay-phones, pagers,
and stick-shifts.
I am, conjunction junction,
What's your function?
I am Patty Hearst and
Her abduction.
Turbo1904
The ones who survived their wars put on their uniforms to march
We gather at the bandstand under the Memorial Day arch
The fallen somehow know, and are there in spirit force
One leads us in patriotic songs, there is one lone white horse.
We are reverent and polite as we listen to the stories of old.
Shared with us by men who were brave, daring and bold.
They once told us stories about Europe and World War Two.
But those men are gone now, so Viet Nam and Gulf War will do.
We applaud and tell them “thank you for serving” the best that we can.
Memorial Day is the time to bring out lemonade a carnival man.
Picnics and laughter. We enjoy sweet May in the warm, nurturing sun.
Do we remember that many brave men and women will never again have this kind of fun?
Baseball cards and hula hoops
Baloney sandwich, Campbell’s soup
Howdy Doody and Mickey Mouse
Mamie and Ike in the White House
American Bandstand, Rock 'n Roll
Elvis the Pelvis, Nat King Cole
Pez Dispensers and Kool-Aid
Bedtime for Bonzo, Panty Raids
Oscar Mayer’s Wienermobile
Superman was the ‘Man of Steel’
Archie & Veronica, Mad Magazine
Skirts and Bobby-Sox, Jukebox Scenes
The Roadrunner, Tom and Jerry
Durward Kirby and a Moore named Gary
The Price is Right, Let’s Make a Deal
Hostess Twinkies – b & w newsreels
A Dog named Lassie and Rin Tin Tin
Yankees and Celtics always win
Mickey Mantle, Ernie Banks
Whitey Ford, Hammerin' Hank
Joe McCarthy and the Red Scare
Semi-Crewcuts or Slicked-back hair
The 1950’s weren’t built to last
Still and all ~ quite a cast!
Stan was a conductor of a band,
Stan thought he was very grand.
In the park most summer days,
From the bandstand, Stanley plays.
With his bandleaders uniform on,
He ceremoniously raises his baton.
The musicians all look dignified,
As they picked up their instruments with pride.
Looking very serious indeed,
They all start to proceed.
By this time, they have an audience sitting in chairs,
More people are waiting at the fence as the band prepares.
To start a session of marches and old songs, for folk to listen and
Some to sing along.
First, some Sousa marches,
They always raise a cheer.
Then "Underneath the arches" and other old songs,
That sometimes bring a tear.
Stirring military marches and softer mellow sounds,
Pour from this magnificent band.
People singing, tapping their feet,
Happiness abounds.
With an OOM PAH PAH and a TOOT TOOT TOOT,
Crash of CYMBALS, ROLL of DRUMS,
Sun smiling down, People milling around,
Stanley's band was full of fun.
Sad to say, most bandstands did not stay.
A loss to everyone.
Our iconic English Bandstand
built in nineteen thirty four
at last has come alive again
tonight she opened up her door
Yearning for so long to hear
sweet music to begin
for it has been more than a year
just eerie silence from within
but for tonight ~ ‘tis her first night
we patiently await
so full of expectations
we are taking to our seats
Tonight our local Silver Band
took us upon a journey
sitting back we closed our eyes
to ruminate
anticipate
much happier days
as their music plays
The finale fast approaches
1812 begins to play
our spirits soar
still wanting more
on this a very special day
The climax takes us way up high
when suddenly sparkling fireworks fly
my soul 'tis flying with them
way over the dark blue sea
to the ochre coloured moon above
natures spotlight sends Luna love
On this a perfect summer night
the world
the universe
all is feeling so right…
Written 22 July 2021
Contest A BRIAN STRAND JULY 22
Sponsor Brian Strand
FIRST PLACE
The Whole World In His Band
God wants the whole world in His band
Brothers and sisters of the land
Followers singing His commands
Connecting through heaven’s broadband.
Sing in praise all ye that do stand
On the Lord’s glorious bandstand
Sing how it is, holding God's hand
Lord and conductor of the band.
Children come along, clap your hands
To beat of drums and baby grands
With skips and hops dance to the band
For God so loves His precious lambs.
All Birds and creatures of the land
Join with us too, it's your homeland
Sea creatures from depths of sea-land
Swell the choirs of the Lord’s mainland.
The Lord takes hold of one's right hand
He's the saviour of those hearts fanned
By faithful members of the band
That lead us to the promised land.
Altogether now hand in hand
God wants the whole world in His band.
5th May 2021
A chokeslam!
Goodnight sweet prince
Goodnight yawning hippo ****
With rice wine coming out your ears
Boom boom sticks
A wisecracker talking head
Histrionics at the bandstand
Eliminated by more than one can shake
Hospitalised due to a
Finishing move on the concrete
The poodle evacuated worldy goods
Outside the pizza restaurant
You left a cigarette on a bicycle seat
To show how gracious you were
Your toying entanglements
Left chairs being thrown
A Scotsman strangled
You with his no laughing matter arm
Tables, ladders and chairs
The human lounge, hairy stool and burger beds
Gape and keep a weather eye on
For those aha visions and afflatus
Our history teacher watched Smackdown
He said it's great theatre
Who is under that hat we wondered as she disembarked.
I had never seen such a contraption that was so not easily parked.
It was feathered and fluffed, with flounces that said United Nation.
Had a mind of its own, this glorious concoction, fabulous creation.
We could not see her face, but I knew she would be a famous someone.
Kind of a hat that would not be easily dissuaded. It turned to the sun.
Soaking up the rays at that bandstand, as we watched our children play.
I tried to see the woman’s face, but it was under a veil of lace that day.
She was a mystery woman, in the best hat we had ever seen in July.
It shaded her completely, as we watched fireworks in the sky.
She climbed back in her limo and was whisked away at midnight.
We waved to her and her glorious hat until they disappeared!
Pre-teen girls with wild
imaginations,
we watched Bandstand*, danced
and pranced our way to
fame--at sleep-overs.
I went pro and
wowed the whole world?
Nope! Not in the
cards—or my feet.
Teaching proved
challenging,
rewarding.
Any
regrets?
None
*American Bandstand--teen dance show, hosted for decades by Dick Clark
Date: May 11, 2020
Contest Title: Diminished Hexaverse placed 8th
Sponsor: Emile Pinet
June 7, 2022
entered in Caren Krutsinger's Diminished Hexaverse Contest
Post-hippie and pre-disco kids were we,
not clearly fitting one sole category.
Girls dressed formal for our biggest dance.
No short-shorts or those fab bell-bottom pants.
Exploring options at each fashion store,
we girls picked gowns whose length was to the floor.
Guys dressed up formal too; perhaps they’d rent
tuxedos that they wore to the event.
Some local band would play; their lead would sing
an upbeat tune for us like “Wild Thing.”
We danced free form, for we were not about
a single style of dance; we just rocked out!
No Bandstand moves for us; we did just fine.
No Salsa, Swing or dancing in a line.
I think the guys preferred the music slow.
Then into their slow dancing mode they’d go.
Around our dates we draped our arms. Our feet
seemed barely moving from one spot; a treat!
A treat indeed – though soft the songs might be,
hearts raced as partners danced romantically.
To “Have You Seen Her,” “If,” and “Maggie May”
we let our bodies sensuously sway.
The threat of Viet Nam was nearly gone.
To “Riders in the Storm” we blissfully danced on.
March 9, 2020
“Kim Rodrigues’ DWM Contest”
USA patriotism enhanced the bandstand
red white and blue were in season
the month of July
pounded like a drumbeat
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