Best Caballero Poems
liberty in verse
atypical on the Soup
born a free-spirited caballero
I’ll not dangle
from another poet’s noose
jigsaw puzzles presented
by contest sponsors
jump through hoops
win their accolades
who’s to say what makes good verse?
flash your PhD at me
“Oh yes, oh yes, you are the best,”
most wholeheartedly agree
those who compromise
win a nebulous prize
preset rhyme patterns
syllable and word counts
twisted forms, multiple forms, mega-forms
atrocities created
messages secondary
to prescribed presentations
poetic constipation
forced by over-regulation
Como’ Si’ Yama’, Senor’
Como’ Si Yama’, Por Favor’…
… for Below That Embroidered Sombrero’
Shone Eyes Like El Dorado
He Was A Tall and Handsome Hombre’
Like The Range of Sierra Madre’
…Now, He Sat Center The Cantina
Surrounded by Bonita – Senhoritas
He Smiled, “Buenos-Dias Senora’”
Por Favor, Por Que’ El-Hora’ ?...
If So, Have A Seat, Mi- Amiga’
And Mercedes, Bring Over More Cerveza
He Was… Rodrigo Reyes-Pacheco’
Best - of The West, of Vaqueros’
He Came to Compete in The Rodeos
And Win Fame and Fortune in Pesos’
He Came Thru El Paso De’ Tejas
Thru Dusty Rancheros and Mesas
To Ride on El Toro Rojo
Who Has Never Been Ridden Befo’…
La Viva’… Arriva’ … Rodrigo
The Brave and The Bold Caballero’
Champion Bull Rider, from Old Mexico
Vaya’… Con Dios’ !... Rodrigo
Now, El Toro Rojo, Was Dangerous
For Killing Men, El Rojo, Was Infamous
His Horns Had Pierced Many A Corazon
Ripped Flesh, Like It Was Piñata’ Hung
I Informed All of This To Rodrigo
The Hombre, Was Bent on Being Macho’…
… He Would Ride Toro Rojo, Manyana’
Said “Gracias”… But My Cares Were Por Nada’ !
La Viva’… Arriva’… Rodrigo
The Brave and The Bold Caballero’
Champion Bull Rider, from Old Mexico
Vaya’… Con Dios’!... Rodrigo
… Now, He Wasn’t Loco in La Cabeza’
I Just Didn’t Comprehende’ … “Que’ Pasa”
But I Saw Rodrigo Atop… El Rojo
… ! He Rode Like A Latino – Tornado ! …
He Rode El Rojo, To The End…
Then, Turned ‘Round and Rode Him Again…
Rodrigo had Won… Just Like He Planned…
Because El Toro – Rojo … … Was Mexican !
La’ Viva’ … Arriva’ … Rodrigo
The Brave and The Bold Caballero
Champion Bull Rider from Old Mexico
Vaya’ … Con Dios ! … Rodrigo….
Vaya’ … Con Dios !... Rodrigo o o o o o
for Ruben Ortellao...
I Don't Really Know
What Your Branch of Humanity is...
(Spanish, French or Other)
But I thought You Might Like
This Whimsical Poem...
Oh... And Thank You For Your
Most Generous Comments...
(Cause I Know You Are A Fantastic Poet...
I've Read Several of Yours
and I Love Them Too...)
(P.S. Excuse the Spelling...
I'm Spanish Illiterate (Smile)
MoonBee
Moonlight tango
It was a Saturday night, in Buenos Aires, 10:30pm, to be exact. It was a hot summers night, and you could see, and feel, the steam rising from the cobblestone street, here in La Boca barrio*. This is where it all began over a hundred years ago, and you can still see pictures of tangos faded heroes of yesteryear hanging on the walls.
The tango hall was packed with caballeros* in their suits and suspenders, and the damas* dressed in their red dresses, and stiletto heels. Still feels like the roaring 20's fedora hats and all! With a glance, and a flick of his baton, the orchestra leader motions to the bandoneon* player to begin, and so he starts dum dum dum, dum dum, dum dum dum.
The men tilt their fedoras slightly to one side, and stride ever so elegantly across the hall to pick their partner, and together they glide over the black and white checkered marble tile dance floor. The moonlight filters through the skylights, illuminating the smokey haze, that permeates the Milonga* hall.
The dancers have their gazes fixed on each other, and they move and glide to the incessant syncopated rhythm of the bandoneon. The violins and cellos join in with their plucking sound matching the tempo of 2-4 time. The dancers are dancing chest to chest, and then cheek to cheek, moving and gyrating, in time to the beat. As the tempo picks up the pace, arms and legs entwine, and then separate and entwine again. Spinning and twirling, strutting and whirling, they dance into a frenzy, at a frenetic speed, all the while staring with a look of love, (or at least of passionate desire) and what else would you expect to see dancing the moonlight tango?
* La Boca barrio- downtown neighborhood where tango was born
*Caballero(s)-gentleman(men)
*Damas- Ladies
*Milonga- tango dance hall
*Bandoneon- Small accordion style instrument.
John Derek Hamilton
February 07,2017
Have you ever been down to “Nonsense Alley”
It's an excellent place to dilly and dally
You'll meet a fine fellow
A funny caballero
He certainly is clever with his witty verb-ality
© Jack Ellison 2015
Where sets the sun again
far from the din of Port of Spain
shadows fall on the plain.
And on that plain over I strode
when the wind its trees winnowed
up the old Eastern Main Road
Now in woodland D’abadie
in this land’s sport of kings I see
a ravage of a foregone glory.
Hitherto as a child and as a man
its rich memories my lifetime span
to long before its end began.
Where yon the stable gate
a man and his thoughts ruminate
upon his own mortal estate.
Verily I had hoped in years past
those trees on which my eyes cast
might live on and me outlast.
Oft I remember picking fruit
and standing on a big gnarly root
as an iguana up would shoot.
When back on sunrise trail I’d see
horse ‘n rider under a samaan tree
in saddlecloth and saddlery.
I miss on a hot wind’s blow
the rising pan and beating calypso
echo over Rancho Caballero.
When the sun blazed a big red sky
and roosts in the night to you and I
sung a tropic island lullaby.
In late porch light shimmer
the big sky grew dim and dimmer
and belfry trees did glimmer.
But now the trees make no sound
for none on this land can be found
but the felled on the ground.
Where stood a mare or cow
in the shade of a silk cotton bough
dozers now dig and plough.
It’s hard to watch and truly sad
to watch disappear things we had
once upon a time in Trinidad.
There is a price and a cost
alas of all the trees cut and tossed
and to this land forever lost.
But still yet remains in D’abadie
planted seeds of life and ancestry
in the roots of a family tree!
Written: January 2018
Happy Happy Birthday ? ~•°Gio Muñoz°•~? '
To the MOST HANDSOME SINGER
with the most
BOYISH LIKE FACE
let me say
happy happy birthday to you
i lift up my glass with a
LYRICAL Toast
just as HEART MOVINGLY SUNG
and MANLY TERRIFIC
as to say to you
i hope you have a
happy happy birthday
that only a
SUPER FINE DRESSED GENTLEMAN
like you can do
happy happy birthday
to a ADORABLE HEARTBREAKER
AS ROMANTICALLY LOVABLE
as THE BRIGHTEST SINGING YOUNG STAR
Gio Muñoz THE CUTE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feliz feliz Cumpleaños ? ~ ° Gio Muñoz ° • ~? '
Para el CANTANTE MÁS HABLANDO
Con la mayor
Chico como la cara
Déjame decir
Feliz cumpleaños a ti
Levanto mi copa con un
Tostada LYRICAL
Justo como CORAZON MOVINGLY SUNG
Y MANLY TERRIFIC
Como decirte
Espero que tengas un
feliz feliz Cumpleaños
Que solo un
CABALLERO SUPER FINO VESTIDO
Como puedes hacer
feliz feliz Cumpleaños
A un HEARTBREAKER ADORABLE
AS ROMANTICAMENTE ADORABLE
Como EL BRILLANTE CANTANDO A LA ESTRELLA JOVEN
Gio Muñoz EL LINDO
Okay I'll admit it, my mind's a bit strange
Methinks I've been out far too long on the range
So giddy up old fellow
My trusty old caballero
Before they force me to hand over the reigns
© Jack Ellison 2015
Turned down by a Spanish caballero
Rejected by an Egyptian Pharaoh --
Rosie had real good looks
But the girl couldn't cook --
Hitched an old bird who ate like a sparrow
Mr. Willie At CREATURES NORM AND WILD - A Narrative Poem
One day at a pet shop,
I met a man(named Mr. Willie) selling cockatoo,
For money he wanted to swap,
But I really wanted some cuckoo.
"Got any cuckoo?" asked I.
"For that's how I'll spend my money."
"No cuckoo here!" said the guy.
He seemed to find it quite funny.
"We've got some lovely gecko,
I'll give you a very fine price."
"I'd rather have some Caballero sparrow."
The man blinked rapidly thrice.
The man seemed exceptionally energetic,
And his manner was strangely amused.
He wasn't what I would call epigenetic,
Great disdain he noticeably oozed.
Like others, he thought I was odd,
Some say I'm a bit happy.
Still he gave me a courteous nod,
As if he thought I was plenty strappy.
So in search of my goal I departed,
But before the pet shop could I leave,
The man came running full-hearted,
"I can help you I believe says Mr. Willie."
"Cockatoo, cuckoo, you shall find.
Gecko, delgreco sparrow, you can get.
You must now open your mind,
And get down to CREATURES NORM AND WILD Market.
So to CREATURES NORM AND WILD Market I decided to go,
In search of the cuckoo I craved.
The winds it did eerily blow.
But I felt that the day could be saved.
There were stalls selling rings,
Cats in many shades.
There were even stalls selling wings
People were scattered from many trades
I was greeted by a peculiar sales lady,
She seemed to be rather happy
I couldn't help thinking she might be quite shady.
I wondered if she was at all strappy.
Before I could open my mouth,
She shouted, "For you, I have some cat nip!"
I headed towards her, to the south,
On the end cap by the tuna and cat/kitten mattress.
"But how did you know?" I asked, Huh!!
"Do you want them or not?" she did say. What!!!
Silently, the cuckoo escape flew passed. Did you see that...
Then vanished before I could pay. Hey!!
As I walked away I hard a crackle
Or was it, perhaps, a hushed cackle?
MEOW! You see the cat also ran off out the door
Hey……………
11/22/19
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr.
Okay I'll admit it, my mind's a bit strange
Methinks I've been out far too long on the range
So giddy up old fellow
My trusty old caballero
Before they force me to hand over the reigns
Okay I'll admit it, my mind's a bit strange
Methinks I've been out far too long on the range
So giddy up old fellow
My trusty old caballero
Before they force me to hand over the reigns
Rememberance ain't easy but its tearing us down
The weaknessess inside of us is scattering all around
I never would have thought you would be gone so fast
but it must have been your time when we heard you had past
we want to make things easy for us to follow through
the fact that things don't follow right without you
walking through the hallways eyes filled with grief
But now your in heaven my feelings are relived...
This is a poem for Alexander Eduardo Caballero... Tragically killed in a vehicle accident on
September 4,2009... he will be missed but never forgotten we love you alex...
I love a man who’s rash
and who carries lots of cash.
If he has a little flash
that only adds to his panache.
I dug into my stash
to provide a birthday bash
for my caballero with his sash
who really made a splash.
My dreams have turned to ash
when my lover made a dash
and took off with my antique Nash.
My heart can’t survive the gash.
Buffalo skull on the desert,
White from the wind and the sun,
Sometimes I feel like that buffalo skull—
I really don’t need anyone.
Buffalo skull on the desert,
Spider makes a home in its head;
Sometimes I feel like that buffalo skull
When I think of those last words you said.
You said to me, “Adios, caballero, we’re crossing the border,
A posse’s close on our trail;
We’re wanted for love, and there’s a price on our hearts—
We’re fugitives from somebody’s jail,
And our ponies are starting to fail…”
Buffalo skull on the desert,
Gila monster scurries by;
Sometimes I feel like that buffalo skull
Under the dry desert sky.
Buffalo skull on the desert,
Might make a good souvenir;
Sometimes I feel like that buffalo skull
On a fence post so far from here.
There once was a smooth caballero
Whose back was as straight as an arrow
The women all swoon
By the light of the moon
And love his decorated sombrero