Best Duke Poems
John Wayne, once said...
"Well, I can do it, but I don't know about my horse"
Well, if anyone can do it...
It would be "The Duke", of course
Until one late evening, with the sky half blue
Clouds of orange, deep purplish...too!
When another cowboy went along with the ride
Said, "I can do it too, but with my horse by my side
Duke, thought for a minute, then he said
"Cowboy, what's your name, son"
The cowboy replied-
"Tom Cunningham- And I can handle a gun"
So, the Duke thought again...
And with his patch on his eye
He said, "Okay, Tom Cunningham...
But watch out for the cacti"
So, they rode while the sunset
Till it rose early morn
Then, they rested 'neath the cacti
Man-handling the thorn
They both proved they can do it...
And they did it, no doubt
They got a butt full of cacti
And they let out a........SHOUT!
Dedicated to Tom Cunningham
I woke up from the cradles of slumber
My morning eyes opened slowly
My mind frolicked and sang with peace
Remembering your words
So kind, so memorable were they!
So sweet, so genuine are you!
The mere thought of you takes away the assertive blue
It is a wonder I have come across your mind
It is a blessing like no other—a true, treasurable find!
And there are no words that can truly give you the honor you deserve
But take these, please!
And know there is so much more. . .
So much more that I wish to offer you
Your never-ending thoughtfulness and attention
Has filled me with unremitting appreciation
You really are a beautiful light to my world
Cheering my melancholy with joy
I have never found someone quite like you
And that is the beauty of it all
Finding the gold
The sunlight smiling for your marvelous shine
Finding truth
There is just no other like you!
I would never turn my eyes away
There is just no possible way
That is a blessing I count close to the heart
Finding you, such a rare piece!
Finding you in a churning world of excitement and chaos
Finding you with such delight and gratitude
Thank you so much, Duke!
Thank you for being you!
-Dedicated to a very fine poet named Duke Beaufort-
i tried to notice without noticing.
i tried to fit in by not standing out,
but i knew i was different.
their walls much bigger.
their yards much nicer.
in elementary it seemed everyone
was in the same class: lower class,
but this was junior high across town,
on white burb avenue
and i was poor.
they weren't.
of course i resisted.
i mixed and matched the clothes i had
as if i was a designer preparing
for the new season.
they let me into their world
for a little while.
i hung out in huge basements,
chilled in hot tubs with bikini clad young hotties,
taking part in all the gossip.
until my illusion wavered
and they slowly pulled back--
as my clothes got holes in them,
as my shoes wore down,
as i grew out of all i had gotten
that one time my mom took me school shopping.
goodbye, Stephanie Bach.
goodbye, Anne Murry.
goodbye, Lori Larson.
years later i would remember them
at the most inopportune moments--
drunk in a dive bar in Harlem
talking to an ugly girl i was thinking about doing,
in the dirty bathroom of a crack house before i
put the pipe to my lips,
in line at the welfare office.
i think i was bitter for a while,
thinking about how they all probably owned homes
not far from each other and how they would
throw little upscale cocktail parties
around the holidays and kiss each other
on both cheeks when they greeted
but at the same time trying to stay hip by listening
to commercial rap and sexy pop music in their suv's.
yeah, bitter
drunk, and very early in the morning,
i came across a tiny neighborhood jazz bar
where a trio group had their hands
on the heads of everyone and was shaking them
to the electric sounds of their primitive instruments.
a boxing gym had less bobbing and weaving
than that jazz bar on the corner of 106th and broadway.
cats were healing up in the place that night.
my head was going ten rounds while my eyes were closed
when those girls popped up only for a second,
but they didn't fit the scene,
so for the first time, i felt sorry for them
before i forgot about 'em.
later, outside, the sign that said 106th st.
had another one below it that read
duke ellington boulevard
i stared at it, making room for a new memory.
goodbye, Stephanie Bach.
goodbye, Anne Murry.
goodbye, Lori Larson.
The French sail
To the Riviera
From the metis
To Canada
They became Acadians
And settled in Port Royale
Their lives were famine and conquest
But that didn’t hurt morale
The British were closing in
To evict the Acadians from the land
But they stood strong, and refused to yield
The British took control, and so began the great upheaval
Heed the wind
that rocks the sea
That carries the Acadians
No one be free
It’s a cold moon
an old man looks upon
The only home he ever knew
And now his world is gone
His wife had died in labor
He had to start again
He found another wife
Had two children while his first bred was a man
They travel on the Duke William
The sickness takes many down
He feels the sickness coming in
Before his life be drowned
The ship moored off Canso
After the violet sank
Duke William would follow in Tow
His old life returns to the age
His son lives on
To move to Cajun’s wood
For the Acadian spirit carries on
To the future of his brood
Danny pleaded with his daddy for a German shepherd puppy,
But papa instead, suggested a cuddly kitten or a harmless guppy.
Danny won the battle and they visited the local city pound,
And the lad selected a pup named Duke to be his faithful hound!
Duke was just a little feller when they rescued him from the shelter,
But as time moved on he grew, creating all kinds of helter-skelter!
They became the greatest of pals as they roamed about the town,
And if anyone messed with Danny, Duke was quick to take 'em down!
Duke was a rowdy creature and liked to chase the neighbor's cats,
And dig in the neighbor's flower gardens, driving people bats!
He made 'deposits' that were not appreciated on many a pristine lawn,
And disturbed neighbors by barking all night long until the early dawn!
Duke fought all other dogs and was renowned as the city's canine bully.
A judge gave Danny an option, before the town, Duke could further sully.
Duke could serve time in the slammer or join the army canine corps.
He chose to enlist in the canine corps and was disciplined in the art of war!
He served with honor and distinction but alas was killed in action,
And was later honored as a hero in his hometown with this transaction:
Though once considered a downright nuisance and the village kook,
A monument was erected in Memorial Park to honor dear old Duke!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
(c) 2015 All Rights Reserved
Limerick : Once a Queen stuck to Doddering Duke
Once a Queen stuck to Doddering Duke
Sent him on a mission with Lucky Luke*
Off on Jolly Jumper*
With Rantanplan’s* sister
Ever since Queen is free of/from rebuke.
Resources :
• Lucky Luke : a French cartoon héro, the caricature of the Far West sharp-shooter
• Jolly Jumper : in the Lucky Luke comic books, considered « the best horse in the world ».
• Rantanplan : in the Lucky Luke series, considered « the stupidest dog in the Universe »
© T. Wignesan – Paris, 2013
================
When Duke arrives,
don't be around...
No cat survives,
when Duke arrives.
Need all nine lives?
Don't make a sound!
When Duke arrives -
don't be around.
================
< Once came along an man named John Wayne
Winchester by his side causes more pain
Dusty trails ballroom brawls
Battlefield's muddy crawls
The duke of western inflicting gains
The Duke of Plouck sent out his spies for the information they might bring,
For he and the Duchess were on their way to visit with the King.
The King always liked it best when the Duke brought news of a plot,
He always enjoyed the conspiracy whether there was truth in it or not.
The Duchess of Plouck went to the shops and gathered the latest fashion,
Because she knew that with the Queen, clothes were her fondest passion.
So the two of them started for the castle loaded down with dresses and guile,
To see the King and Queen was their aim and to visit with them for a while.
Both were happy to have something to share as the Duke had uncovered a case,
And the Duchess of Plouck fondled her gift that was made of satin and lace.
The ride to the castle passed quickly by because they were on a mission,
And thoughts of praise and huge rewards became their fondest vision.
The Duke and Duchess were faithful subjects to the King in deed,
And any talk of wealth was understood because royalty will always reward greed.
Limerick : Once ***** Duke insisted on Serf Thigh rights
Once ***** Duke insisted on Serf Thigh rights*
So bridegrooms replaced brides on first nights:
Droit de cuissage* then free
Duchess claimed repartee –
Since newly-weds rush to castle in tights!
• In European feudal societies during the Middle Ages and thereafter
in succeeding centuries, it is thought that
the Lord of the Manor or Seigneur of the Serfdom arrogated for himself
the Droit de cuissage, i.e. the right to sleep with the bride of a serf on
the wedding night.
© T. Wignesan – Paris, 2014
On Saturday night in Waikiki
The teenagers turn rather freaky
Though blue as a smurf
They all love to surf
Like a Kahanamoku tiki!
John Wayne is the Duke
He justifies his shooting;
Bad guys run and hide.
A lone rider sits high in the saddle,
As the horizon's sunrise spreads across,
The open prairie.
Twin pearl handed pistols rest at his side,
As rusty spires clang against wooden planks,
At the deadwood saloon.
Legends cowboys whisper his name,
On the dry desert winds,
A giant of a man whom breathed
Life again into the legacy,
Of the old west.
His side swagger's walk trademark
On the larger than a life screen.
The duke truly represents the great
American hero on horse back.
Six shooters drawn at high noon's
Count down,
John Wayne's the trail dusts equalizer,
He always remained on the right side,
Of tin stars law.
The tumble weeds rolls along a dirt path,
As tall cactus stand on an arried canvas,
Life here is harsh and mean,
Where only the strong survive.
Bold individuals with the inner
Strength against god's forbidden land.
Harden men whom lived by one simple,
Rule I will do what ever it takes
To stay alive.
He'll join the ghost riders,
Forever driving the lords herds
Across the grand divides vast
Prairie sky’s as the sunsets
In the old west.
Alone figure rides high in saddle,
Set against a legends back drop,
Hell bound for glory,
In a cloud of gun smokes fog,
Behold the duke emerges,
With his hat on straight
And gun at the ready.
BY: CHERYL ANNA DUNN
Limerick : Once a Grand Duke in Londonderry
Once a Grand Duke in Londonderry
Thought he could run his own Grand Duchy
So he slammed door on Queen
Gave full vent to his spleen
Now he’s left with trillion debt treasury.
© T. Wignesan – Paris, 2013
There was a man's man, you could say he was grand,
who blessed the cinema screen and had millions of fans.
When he swaggered into a room, men stepped aside,
their wives and their daughters they would all try to hide.
He had something about him, some called it true grit.
Others would say, "What ever it is, I wish I had it!"
He stood around six-foot-four, larger than life.
If you crossed paths, you had better brought more than a knife.
On and off the screen he got his respect,
actors today, sorry to say, don't have that effect.
Willis, Deniro, Pacino and the Rock all rolled into one,
wouldn't come close to John Wayne and the things he has done.
Now I've seen all his movies, thanks to my Dad, his number one fan.
From Rio Bravo, Rooster Cogburn, Chisum and The Quiet Man.
That's just a few, to list all would take too much time
and drain all my ink and ruin my rhyme.
The Duke didn't lose many fights that he fought,
the man he portrayed was invincible we thought.
The battle called cancer he just couldn't juke,
but I'll always remember this pilgrim, known as the Duke.
10/12/18