Best Carnegie Poems
I met her in a pawn shop on a warm summer night
When running from the rubble of my shattered life
To sell a broken dream that would never come true
An engagement ring to pay for the rent that was due
There she lay sleeping in a battered rosewood bed
Heart strings breaking in a rusty sea of velvet red
So hauntingly beautiful, she took my breath away
Violin - an old reject who would change my life that day
So I bought Violin and lived out on the street
And played Rhapsody in Blue as coins fell at my feet
And soon we had a little flat high above the Bay
And every day, I got better with every note I played
Today I am a maestro playing Carnegie Hall
My name in lights blinking on a Marquee Wall
For it was I who saw myself in Violin
A tarnished soul and the beauty buried there within
Author: Elaine George
Written: 2013
Categories:
carnegie, beauty, change, engagement, imagination,
Form:
Personification
Remember long ago Decembers?
When first you saw Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite?'
Sitting motionless, spellbound, at the dancers' feats.
Remember long ago Decembers?
When first you saw Van Cliburn or Yitzchak Perlman compete?
Carnegie Hall SRO, hushed, marveling at musical mastery so sweet.
Remember long ago Decembers?
When you saw your first Disney animation?
Cinderella ... Snow White ... or Pinocchio perchance?
When you left the cinema, you just wanted to up and dance.
For isn't it true?
When you wish upon a star
Won't your heart's desire always come to you?
Categories:
carnegie, childhood, dance, desire, heart,
Form:
Rhyme
My baby
is an up and coming young thing
My baby
got a lot of talent,
and boy can she really sing
My baby
got stage presence like nobody’s business
My baby
is gonna be a big, big star,
and have a lot of fans blowing her kisses
My baby
is gonna be on every magazine,
heard in every car
My baby
is gonna be a drop dead,
one big, big superstar
But me, myself ...
I’m not gonna go far
My baby and me
ain’t together no more
I sadly had to let her go,
told her to chase her dream
That’s what true love is,
that’s what it really mean
I couldn’t hold her back,
be onery selfish like that
I encouraged her to fly,
now look where she’s at
My baby
is turning into a big, big star
My baby
is quickly rising up the charts,
right straight to the moon
But me, myself ...
I’m not gonna leave
this small town none too soon
I know my baby
is gonna meet somebody else
in her star-studded world
But they better treat her right,
‘cause she was first my girl
My baby
is gonna be on every magazine,
heard in every car
My baby
is gonna be a big, big superstar
But me, myself ...
I’m not gonna go too far
People think I’m gonna be mad
at my baby, but they’re so wrong
My baby
said I was the first one to believe
And she’s gonna remember me,
sing about me in one of her hit songs
My baby told me
if there was anything I need,
to hit her up on the phone
My baby
is gonna go far, real far
My baby
is gonna be heard at Carnegie Hall,
and every honky tonk bar
My baby
is gonna be on every magazine,
heard in every car
My baby
is gonna be a drop dead,
one big, big superstar
But me, myself ...
I’m not gonna go far
I’m gonna be seeing the same ole faces
My baby
is gonna be seen in so many different places
I’m gonna be in this here same ole town
My baby
is gonna be jet set globetrotting all around
My baby
is gonna be a big, big superstar
But me, myself ...
I’m not gonna go too far
Categories:
carnegie, encouraging, lost love, song,
Form:
Lyric
"Colorful language is the best way to recreate the incident as it happened and to picture it for the audience". Dale Carnegie
______________________________________________________________
O, colors, enthrall us through their splendor
Infuse the mundane world with vivid shades
Dazzle with hues and send a melody so tender,
No harp plays a role in tunes or serenades.
Lush velvet stains lips and hands with blackberry
Ripe grapes drenched in bright, blithesome lands
A colorful kaleidoscope lies in a flower vase—airy,
A sparkle that imbues the shadows and expands.
Olive and amber—ripening akin to wheat,
Grating upon nerves, a symphony so sweet
I love color, from flaming reds to vivid greens.
Royals flaunt purple, a sight that sheens.
Flaming reds and vivid greens—I adore
Royal flaunting purples, I simply can't ignore.
If I were the color blue, I would sing a halcyon song.
Leave you frantic—recalling your youth for days long.
I hold my breath as sapphire skies spread.
Vast quietude, serene—filling my head
Rainbows, prisms—tinsel glitter galore,
A wheat harvest of yellow—a sight to adore
Ripples and runs—floats and flies,
Subtle shades and sheen, colors that mesmerize.
Crimson and azure—glowing with grace,
The purity of white is a vague oasis to embrace.
A streak of gray brought heaven to earth
Crackled turquoise, vivid glow of calm sea worth,
As a slow hawk stoops—prey in the deep,
The sunflower droops; a lazy wave creeps.
The wind sleeps—swirling in dazzling links,
And loops, creating a symphony that never sinks
The crickets chime their pauseless rhyme,
And the colors run—toward the sun climb.
Before the wind feet, in the wheat, they stun.
The green of elms—a sage discourse troll,
Hemlock green, oaks, and juniper trees spun,
A color symphony, one actor—this world scrolls,
A never-ending show of beauty and poetry.
Crafting a lasting metaphor of beat and symmetry
A magnificent show of shadows and brightness.
O, hues, how you seduce my air with lightness.
Categories:
carnegie, analogy, appreciation, beauty, character,
Form:
Rhyme
Can I take your ear and tell you what I’m doing here
And will you stay to hear me through… as I relate my tale to you
All the people sleeping here are free forever of all fear
For one, I’ve left a red rose which I water with a tear
So look around at all the plots at all those final resting spots
And nettles of which there are lots, and dead plants stood in pots
But here you’ll see a cross of wood in memory of someone good
Who’d run to me, with wide spread arms and kiss me where I stood
I wonder, does she see me now and does she walk beside me now
And when I come to take my bow, will she be there somehow
I’d hoped and planned like any man, I bought for her a baby grand
And though I bought it second hand, I knew she’d understand
And she had practiced night and day, and, boy, that girl could surely play
She’d play Carnegie Hall some day… and then she went away
She was my day, she was my night, she was my dark, she was my light
She was the reason I would fight, in situations tight
That old road leads to nowhere; only drunks and lovers go there
And she pushed me clear before a drunk took her without a care
I wonder, does she see me now and does she walk beside me now
And when I come to take my bow, will she be there somehow
So now I tread my path alone, not many numbers in my phone
And all my music is a drone, my world is monotone
And all my loves and all my hates are memorised like awful dates
Aside from she I speak of who now dwells beyond his gates
My hourglass has emptied slow but now I feel it’s time to go
Please witness this, my final throw; I want the world to know
That as I walked this unlit road until approaching headlights glowed
I wore my darkest clothing out of fear they might have slowed
I wonder, does she see me now and does she walk beside me now
And when I come to take my bow, will she be there somehow
Categories:
carnegie, heartbroken, i miss you,
Form:
Lyric
Hours after hours of practice
Making sounds that are polished pearls
Connected by a thin string made up of
Accelerando, arpeggios, and articulation
O, what wonderful colours you have!
Measures after measures of music
Playing with deep emotions that flow
Sometimes, the stream in the green meadow on a sunny day
Other time, the ruthless ocean during a thunderstorm
O, what diverse sentiments you convey!
Days after days as time passes
Never failing to sooth the heart and the soul
Inspiring in a way that builds and constructs
Confidence, courage, pride, and esteem
O, what comfort you provide!
Rehearsals after rehearsals with the full orchestra
Stepping onto the stage of the world famous Carnegie Hall
Performing in front of a full house audience, the cadenza
In Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underwood Overture
O, what memorable experiences you bring!
Categories:
carnegie, appreciation, music,
Form:
Ode
Recruit Division
I never applied to join the Army, a nice man phoned me,
He said I was the type they liked, with a steel certainty,
Plus he happened to mention the nurses on the way,
And the simple matter of doubling up my pay,
I signed.
So after having passed some sort of fitness tests,
I puffed quite a bit, but certainly tried my best,
I found myself, as many a medic knows,
To the town of Ash Vale, near a certain lady rose,
I’d signed.
Now as I walked, fashionable hair dishevelled,
There ahead of me, was a soldier whose back was upright and level,
So I called out, ‘Sorry to bother you mate, is the way for the Keogh camp gate’?
And the RSM made it very clear, that I would find it and him, certainly quite near,
Now I’d signed.
Within the breath of a watching gnats eye,
My hair was gone, no time to wonder why,
Everything seemed to happen with rapid and specific shouts,
Part of me was now wondering, a modicum of doubt,
Why I’d Signed?
Over the months to follow, each day a tired tomorrow,
I learnt about guns and bangs and running for fun,
Whilst far out on the expanse of the drill square,
A Russian yelled ‘Moy Et’ with a certain disposition,
Signing was my decision.
Now behind that drill square ran the main London line,
So we would be doing things, everything looking fine,
When the London train would pass, thundering on time,
And I tried not to grin at the phrase, ‘I left you in this position’,
Glad I signed.
I discovered a new world of dead fly biscuits,
Often so hungry the compo was worth risking it,
And how far a bed could fly, without seeming to try,
Or how proud I was as my bulled boots, not asking why,
I’d signed.
There was the nine second rule, certainly a gas,
Although they’d not mentioned they would take off the mask,
As each of us fit and healthy blokes,
Laid on the grass, throat burning chocked,
But I signed.
Finally a day arrived, escape from the camp,
Helping my granddad walk up the ramp,
Parents watched on as their son stood up,
Second best recruit, but no second cup,
Proud I’d signed.
Andrew Carnegie, Reminiscing Aldershot, 14th Jan 2017.
Categories:
carnegie, graduation, grandfather, men, military,
Form:
Cinquain
A Vibrant Night
At night
When the city is
Lit with lights and literature
Locals and visitors
Ambiances and silhouettes
Dances with the wet backdrop
And the foreground
Maybe a new York playground
The smell of the sound of savory sausage
Sizzling on the nights grill
Salivating tongues and painters pallets
Dancing trees an autumn light breeze
Brushes by as the train underneath
Zooms pass passengers asleep
It's so unique
The smell that permeates
Pizzarias and eateries
It's so late....but that's okay
Let the night be our theater
Now who's that musical man over there
Playing his sultry song all night long
He sounds like Carnegie hall
Her dress is fighting the wind
His necktie is flagging the taxi
She's tipsy, he's dancing like Fred Astaire
Keeping her balanced,
Smells the mocha in her hair
Their equilibrium meets with the stare of each other
Falling into each other embracing humming that man's song smiling...
Anton Brockenbrough
Categories:
carnegie, autumn, food, hair, imagery,
Form:
Alliteration
"Good Morning Heartache"- Billie Holiday
Born to heartache was Eleanor Fagan
in reform school by 9 in Baltimore, Maryland.
At 11 years old she was almost raped.
But she was blamed and jailed for the case.
When 14 she was arrested again,
for her and mother's prostitution game.
What a sad life for a child, you might say.
But this heartache gave birth to Lady Day.
She sang with Artie Shaw, Count and the Duke.
She sang of "southern trees bearing strange fruit."
In her voice you could tell what pain was all about.
It was catharsis for her tragic life sung out.
She suffered the pangs of drug addiction,
with frequent busts, arrests and convictions.
A pearly white gardenia graced her ear.
At Carnegie Hall, she was something to hear.
As she lay ill the law came in again.
Handcuffed to the bed, her life came to an end.
So, "God bless the child, that got her own,"
our Billie Holiday whose heartache's gone.
2/12/17
Eleanora Fagan, professionally known as Billie Holiday, and Lady Day was an American jazz musician and singer-songwriter with a career spanning nearly thirty years. She died at 44.
Categories:
carnegie, dedication, life, music, star,
Form:
Heroic Couplet
O young Lochinvar is come out of the west,
Through all the wide Country this guy they detest,
And save armpit noises he talent had none,
He thought they were funny and thought they were fun.
He thought that his 'talent' would make him a star,
But no one did care for the young Lochinvar.
He left San Francisco and charged straight ahead,
To Lower Manhattan is where he was lead,
But ere he was granted his first interview,
Producers were tipped-off and everyone knew,
His act was so silly and really bizarre,
They wouldn't audition the young Lochinvar.
Yet boldly he walked into Carnegie Hall,
And tried to astound them and tried to enthrall,
He made armpit noises and tried to impress,
(The day was quite sunny, but here I digress),
They dropped him in feathers and rolled him in tar,
'Twas nearly the end of the young Lochinvar.
"I won't be discouraged", he told them that day,
And then made his mark as he waddled away,
With sticky black footprints of feathers and tar,
He walked to the corner and bought a guitar,
Thinking, "I will be wonderful, I will go far",
But life would get worse for the young Lochinvar.
He took a few lessons, the Chet Atkins way,
With that and his armpit he started to play,
The audience booed him and tossed him outside,
He fell on his ass and it injured his pride,
And Lochinvar whispered, "Twere better by far,
Had I stayed with the armpit and scrapped the guitar."
He went to a bar and he drank a few beer,
He thought it would help him and give him some cheer,
But all it did give him was heartburn and pain,
And from that day onward, was never the same,
He'd never be famous and never a star,
'Twas the end of the line for the young Lochinvar.
He moved back to 'Frisco and rented a room,
Was the height of the Hippies, with flowers in bloom,
At Ashbury Avenue, corner of Haight,
They thought he was wonderful, thought he was great,
Now people throw dollar bills into a jar,
It's life in the '60's for young Lochinvar.
Categories:
carnegie, humor, humorous,
Form:
Couplet
~Roger Williams~
(Acrostic)
R-oger Williams, his music is timelessly delightful.There's no
O-ther in the world like him.He started to play piano at age three.A
G-raduated of I.S.U.Drake University,and Julliard School of Music.Performed at
E-very major venue,Carnegie Hall,the Hollywood Bowl,and the White House.He's
R-eferred as the "Pianist for Presidents" because of his later performances.Roger
W-illiams was born, Louis Weertz,(October 1,1924) in Omaha,Nebraska,U.S.
I-n high school,became interested in boxing,but then returned to music
L-ater on,only after breaking his nose and other injuries many times.He
L-ater majored in piano,and then enrolled in the U.S.Navy,served in World II.
I-n 1955, he recorded "Autumn Leaves"and reached #1 on billboard music charts.
A-fter that,he did,Born Free,Godfather,Romeo &Juliet,Evergreen and many
M-any more.On October 29,2004,was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame
S-teinway Hall, found him celebrating his 81th birthday tickling the ivories.
Dorian Petersen Potter
aka ladydp2000
copyright@2015
July.22.2015
Author Note:
A dedication poem for the very wonderful and talented,
pianist,Roger William (Mr.Piano)
Roger Williams
(1924-2011)R.I.P
Categories:
carnegie, beautiful, celebrity, music, tribute,
Form:
Acrostic
Distressed, I attest,
Like not blessed,
A voice in my head,
Said out of bed,
So I was led to
A quiet church,
As owls sang out,
Midnight gone tombs,
And my tears appeared,
Death beckoned long
finger nails of distraction,
And so I gazed upon an open Abbey, with folk awake that caused a shake, God botherers with likely guitars, a melange of niceness where only grief was sat. So I drifted in, hiding behind tissues
of my own life lies, and sat prepared to run, quite prepared and scared, from that worse than death, the well meaning Christian. Then as I sank into the pews, staring up from rotten shoes, my woes, my blues, I saw floating in midair, a man, with dark blooded hair, and I knew then I was crazy within my distress, not blessed. But as that thought, which came to nought, crossed my elitist demeanour, I shared everything he felt, and at that moment, beyond compare, exquisite agony my problems became less than my being, now seeing Christ. Never one to take miraculous moments without scepticism, I stood disbelieving, a rescued Thomas who had seen, unseeing, still unbelieving.
So I walked with much chagrin
towards the font my eyes had
seen, to find rational reasons,
A reflection, some explanation,
for why of all people this soul
of mine, might be saved by
one whose face I had denied
for so long, that no song could
ever write my wrongs, and there
in a Pentecostal moment, I
gained insight into the wind
that came at night, where no
delight was held for me,
an agnostic changed now for
all eternity. A man unworthy
of that name, came to faith,
kicking, screaming at how
unfair, it was to find that God
was really there, and worse,
so much worse, he knew my
name, and despite my attempts,
cared enough to save my day.
@Andrew Carnegie, Bessay Lighthouse, 28th December 2016. A true story.
If you would like to know a bit about me and my poetry please click this link below:
https://youtu.be/Ic_V7aX4xbk
Categories:
carnegie, christian, death, faith, gospel,
Form:
Concrete
The concept of a top ten, is a wonderful choice
For Joe Flach's contest, your words become your voice
Typically for me, music comes first
Below are my ten, please read and rejoice
In alphabetical order, these ten you may have heard
If you know the tunes, please sing along to the words
If I ever win the lottery, I shall book the Carnegie Hall
And invite all the Soupers to sing and have a ball
AC/DC, from the album "Let There Be Rock"
"Whole Lotta Rosie" with whom Bon Scott defrocked
Black Sabbath, from the album of the same name
Black Sabbath being the track, tolling bells in the falling rain
Deep Purple, with "Made in Japan" from the year 1972
"Smoke on the Water" resonates, Montreaux through and through
Ferry, Bryan, a Geordie, "Another Time, Another Place"
"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" his voice in wonderful grace
Mellencamp, John Cougar, awesome with "The Golden Jubilee"
"Hot Dogs And Hamburgers" taking an Indian girls liberty
Pink Floyd, with their always inspirational "The Dark Side Of the Moon"
"Time" simply out of this world, eventually where we all go soon
Queen, Rock's Royalty, Queen II is the album for me
"Father to Son" to my father, I have grown up to be like he
Rush, the Canadian three piece, "Moving Pictures" from Toronto they are
"Red Barchetta" of Italian design, a gorgeous sleek sports car
Thin Lizzy, with their 1978 "Live and Dangerous" tour
"Emerald" with Gorham and Robertson, twin guitarists so pure
UFO - with their classic "Strangers in the Night"
"Love To Love" what a ballad, the Rock bands just get them so right
Categories:
carnegie, inspirational, music, on writing
Form:
Couplet
To: Mandy Jo
She called me her friend. She was one of the few.
She saw in me things that no one else knew.
I was backward and shy, a chess club bore.
I had tape on my glasses. Need I say more?
She was one of the “popular” kids at the school.
But she crossed the line, broke an unwritten rule.
Intrigued by her interest, seduced by her smile,
she freshened my outlook and polished my style.
She taught me to soar like an eagle would fly.
I gave her a shoulder when she needed to cry.
We promised that no matter where life would lead,
we’d always “come running” if ever in need.
She married a friend and moved far away.
Her homesick heart was begging to stay.
With nowhere to turn and no friends to find,
she created a place to escape in her mind.
With an inner-rebellion that raged deep inside,
she barely resembled that beautiful bride.
Her body was ravaged. A self-induced crime.
She’d withered away in such a short time.
She looked in the mirror and actually said,
“I’m so over weight. I wish I were dead.”
Prophetic words from the shell of a soul,
who engaged in a battle and lost all control.
As I ran down the hall to the emergency door,
a shake of his head said, “She’s with us no more.”
Anguish screamed out at this undeserved fate.
My promise was broken. I’d shown up too late.
I wanted to tell her but I was too scared.
I’d practiced the words that never were shared.
Why didn’t she stop? Why couldn’t she see?
Why didn’t I help her like she had helped me?
I saw in her things that no one else knew.
She called me her friend, but it wasn’t true.
In honor of Amanda Jo Abel (Carnegie)
Unfortunately, this is a true story of a very dear friend of mine. Anorexia is a devastating
and hard to understand disease. I do understand that there was nothing I could do, it doesn’t
help. The memories of her beautiful spirit does. Thanks Mandy, I’ll see ya' someday.
Categories:
carnegie, lifewords, beautiful, me, beautiful,
Form:
Couplet
New York, New York, the road in the fork
of the events, the places and folks who've buttered the pork
Like Rockefeller, Moynihan and Andrew Cuomo
Frank Sinatra, Louie Armstrong, John Lenon and Yoko Ono
Lenny Bernstein and Lenny Bruce
Cookie Monster, Rocky and Bullwinkle Moose
There's Radio City, Central Park and Carnegie Hall
Coney Island, Yankee Stadium -- Let's Play Ball!
The Brooklyn Bridge on the Hudson River
Lower East Side and the Village, for swingin' livers
Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and White Ford
Don't forget Casey Stengel and Yogi Berra -- Oh, my Lord!
Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and Phyllis Diller in curlers
Archie Bunker, the Meathead, Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller
Stooge-mania, West Side Story and Annie Hall
Kramden, Norton and the Honeymooners
You've seen or heard of 'em all
There's Madison Square Garden and the NY Philharmonic
The Times and Wall Street Journal -- news junkies tonics
Malcolm X, Dr. King, and Abe Saperstein
Julius Erving / Dr. J with a case of Afro-sheen
Baldies like Kojac and Yul Brynner, the King of Siam
Sam I Am, Son of Sam, Green Eggs and Ham
Harlem Globetrotters, the Apollo, Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Jay Leno, Ed McMahon and Johnny Carson, the great Jack Paar
There's Broadway, Times Square, Soho and Fifth Avenue
Isaac Stern, Pavoratti, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles singin' the blues ...
Make a list from the Statue of Liberty all the way up to Mars
~ You still might leave out a legacy of constellations and stars!
Categories:
carnegie, film, music, new york,
Form:
Rhyme