Best Aiken Poems
My wife deplored her duty
But O' was she good-looking
She sold me on her beauty
But killed me with her cooking
~ 3rd Place ~ in the "A Funny Epitaph" Poetry Contest, Jesse Rowe, Judge & Sponsor.
from: "The Calyx of the Oboe Breaks", by Conrad Aiken:
"The calyx of the oboe breaks,
silver and soft the flower it makes;
and next, beyond, the flute notes seen,
now are white and now are green."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The ides of March have gone and come.
Still, strains of vernal music sound
clear echoes, in my ears, of early times,
of other years: an orchestral swell
of oboe, flute, and violin.
The feel of warming wind,
the scents of orange blossom,
daisy, buttercup, and clover
I once enjoyed --
are those days over?
My recent times are flavored
with metallic clank, with oily odor --
my eyes fatigued by newsprint
and small-screen glare.
And music: the blare
of claxon-horn and siren-wail
and, sometimes, noise which
issues from a box borne on shoulders
through the street; an empty, but compelling,
quite insistent, loudly pulsing beat.
I welcome all new, although slight, intrusions.
Pale sensory perceptions bring back images,
now faint, once acute, of places, times,
and pleasures past. Faded sights and faces
and shadowy, unquantifiable pursuits
evoke a time when love, like freedom,
didn't cost a dime.
Bobby Aiken was proud to be Scotch.
As a pole-vaulter he was top-notch.
But on one faulty try
he became a soprano guy,
having been poled crack-on in the crotch.
I've recorded the song, which you can hear here:
I did vocals and guitar - Sung to the tune of "We Can Work it Out"
What a TV Show
American Idol
There’s so many loonies seeking fortune
and fame
But I’m suicidal
Paula Abdul’s gone and Ellen’s just not the same
What a tv show!
What a tv show!
Some of them have talent
Many more are fruitcakes who love to screech
and howl
Oh so brave and gallant
‘Til they’re subjected to the snide remarks of
Simon Cowell
What a tv show!
What a tv show!
For every Clay Aiken, 10,000 Sanjayas
Are making an awful sound
You’re much mistaken if your burning desire’s
To hear Larry sing “Pants on the Ground”
Can I find a reason
To withstand my co-workers gentle rebukes
Yet every season
I tune in for more zany crazy tone deaf kooks
What a tv show!
What a tv show!
For every Fantasia, 10,000 William Hungs
Eagerly wait in the wings
They’ll amaze ya, these delusional throngs
Tell me why do we enjoy such things?
American Idol
There’s a bunch of loonies seeking fortune
and fame
Think I need a Midol
Good or bad, next year we won’t remember their names
What a tv show!
What a tv show!
For John Heck's "Beatlemania" Contest - The Beatles "We Can Work it Out"
Sarah Adams 14 August 1848
Conrad Aiken 17 August 1973
Kinsley Amis 22 October 1995
Allen Gingsberg 5 April 1997
Pablo Nerudo 23 September 1973
Walt Whitman 26 March 1892
I hope it is not too soon that i too
Am welcomed home
Is it an ankle sprain
Is it muscle strain
Did he hurt his back
Is his shoulder out of whack
I am so worried, I can't stop my hands from shakin'
I must know Why is Clay Aiken?
Did he fall and hurt himself
I am deeply concerned about his health
He has money, so the doctor will make house calls
He is prescribed some extra strength Tylenol
If the doctor believes Tylenol will help, he's sadly mistaken
Fans want to know Why is Clay Aiken?
He had to stop his world tour, the pain became too much
Now he searches the world over to find that one doctor with the curing touch
His fans await with abated breath
Him not on tour is worse than death
The suspense is torturous, fans hearts are breakin'
Medical Universities scramble for an answer to the question, Why is Clay Aiken?
She was born with the name of Loretta Mary Aiken.
In 1894, her storied life would begin.
Her earlier episodes were victimized by struggle and strife.
She overcame it all to be successful in life.
Taking the stage name of “Jackie Mabley”,
this fine lady became adept at stand-up comedy.
Moms performed on the “Chitlin’ Circuit" throughout the South.
So many funny things came out of her mouth.
She became a star of the stage and screen.
Later on, in television shows she would be seen.
“Abraham, Martin, and John” was a song she would sing.
There was so much joy and mirth Moms would bring.
She was one of the funniest women alive.
Moms passed away at 81 in 1975.
I thank wikipedia.org online encyclopedia for the valuable information I obtained to
write this poem.
Rove I, In Midnight Dreams, Through Golden Halls Of Avalon
Second poets tribute series,
As I fight many epic battles against blank white pages
war I with blues, born of unfulfilled poetic rages,
through gigantic cavernous depths of unrepentant deeds
Seek I, greater truths in Poetry's Art, its sweetest seeds!
Rove I in midnight dreams, through golden halls of Avalon
speak I, to pale white ghosts of poems Poetry hath spawn,
in our discourse bow I, to wisdom's arms, they wisely wield
oft I, have cause to battle foes, fight under that bold shield!
From echoing voices that call and ask for solemn vows
hear i, melancholy groans, as a shadow figure prowls,
deep dark in the black abyss my soul races on to sink
bloody cuts appear, faster than a witch's black cat can blink!
Fearful that this time, a return path will never be found
beg I for rooster's waking crow, dawn's most heavenly sound,
in my sincere, hopeful prayer rests a further great plea
that faith's Light returns, to save a wretched sinner like me!
As I fight many epic battles against blank white pages
I war with blues, born of unfulfilled poetic rages,
through gigantic cavernous depths of unrepentant deeds
Seek I, greater truths in Poetry's Art, its sweetest seeds!
Robert J. Lindley, 11-13-2019
Rhyme, (14,14,14,14)
(Dark, As Poet Wars Against Doubts, Fatigue And Melancholy)
Inspired by "" Senlin: His Dark Origins"", and by ""The Vampire"",
Conrad Aiken - 1899-1973 by Conrad Aiken