Best Tupelo Poems
Oh, splendorous, spectacular, resplendent autumn!
Boldly you dye cypress ~ flaunting ochre, cinnamon,
Yellowing sugar-maple, glazing tangerine emotions,
As scarlet winds warble in accents of majestic aspens,
Responding in purple whispers, tupelo leaves flutter
Reminiscing in revelries evoked by red-oak crimson
Lingering in blazing meadows, enchanting red maple.
Oh, autumn! fly me there, into depths of the season,
Frolicking upon gamboge hills, wrap me in your vision,
Tour with me dazzling terrains of flamboyant foliage
Composing deep pleasure in brilliant changing colors,
Hang your portrait upon cobalt cliffs of ruby horizon
Painting blushing hearts in amber hints of setting sun,
Mindful still of wistful shudders quivering barren trees
And unsung withering yearnings of falling golden leaves,
Aspiring blossoming kisses--on lips of flowering spring.
Categories:
tupelo, autumn,
Form:
Free verse
In depth of woods how autumn dazzles, swirling beauty of ornate décor,
Waltzing with ochre hickory, birch; whirling flaxen moods of sycamore,
Gracing my view upon blazing foothills, where vistas gamboge scroll,
Bedecking maples, swaying rhythms, with fiery red of shimmying knoll.
Zephyrs of west rustle demeanor of black tupelo, fluttering leaves gold,
Glistening burnt orange of sugar maple, revelers in sundown behold,
As remnants of gilded twilight beams, glimmer in purpled afterglow,
Weaving motifs of fall in tapestries idyllic, of blushing eventide aglow.
Autumn’s grandeur glows, as crisp frost gleams, mellowing overcast days,
Where gelid winds shudder trees, foretelling imminent wintry malaise,
Meandering with leaves falling gently; carpeting dyed, chromatic meadows,
As the arena of fall’s resplendent show, shimmers in elongated shadows.
Harvest Moon enamors sights, appealing to fervor of romantic glance,
Enthralled watching dance of stars, attuned to tenor of cosmic expanse,
Gliding over a charming night, wooing souls glued to autumn’s ruby fire,
Flaunting pizazz panoramic~ a farewell of fall-splendor, in cerise attire.
Turning life’s pages of albums, treasured memories rekindle seasons past,
Thankful for the abundance of goodwill~ heavenly blessings destiny cast;
As conversations savor aroma of pumpkin pies; buttery, nutty, apple tarts,
Spending time with family, friends; exchanging missives of kindred hearts.
Categories:
tupelo, autumn,
Form:
Rhyme
VIVA LA ELVIS
In Tupelo Mississippi, twin baby boys were born,
To Gladys and Vernon Presley, but sadly one passed on.
They named him Jesse Garon, their hearts so full of pain,
And then came Elvis Aaron, a breath of sweet refrain.
One heart beating for the two, their spirits intertwined;
To restore faith and hope and joy to dear ones left behind.
Elvis grew from babe to boy his heart set on a goal,
From boy to man to legend; The King of Rock n’ Roll.
He lived in humble dwellings, his Pa his Ma and he;
Playing his guitar, singing songs, pure golden melodies.
Country, Gospel, Blues and Jazz the rhythms of the soul,
And Rock n’ Roll, the very core of hearts both young and old.
While rising up to stardom, his pelvis did he swing;
Some church folk banged the gavel to crucify ‘The King’.
Their efforts came to nothing, as fans from near and far,
Surged on with huge momentum, to win that holy war.
So once again he stood there, gyrating at his will,
Until the day he heard a call that made those hips stand still.
Called to serve his country, the nation’s rising star,
And while along that journey, he sadly lost his Ma.
On the first of May, a bride’s bouquet, a blush of summer wine,
Elvis wed Priscilla; his beautiful fraulein.
Soaring in her lover’s arms on the wings of destiny,
Nine months later they were blessed with gorgeous Lisa Marie.
The happiness they shared together wrapped in melody;
Like a poet’s dream, a symphony, a lover’s rhapsody.
Then fate stepped in and dealt a blow that tore the dream apart,
And in its wake it left a trail of tears and broken hearts.
‘The King’, on stage and silver screen, he took the world by storm,
A real hunk of burning love in a GI uniform.
He rocked the house to loud applause, he played the matador,
And danced with pretty Hula girls in the Hawaiian sunset glow.
August 16, ’77 was the day ‘The King’ had died,
But forever lives the Legend, born on 8/1/35.
His mamma smiled and gently beckoned to her second born,
While holding close the one she’d lost that fateful winter’s morn.
The joy he brings to us down here can never be replaced,
Though many keep on trying in vain to fill the empty space.
His spirit fills all Graceland, to watch o’er kith and kin,
In the Heavenly sounds of Dixieland … I hear God joining in.
Elaine Randolph
Copyright ©2009 Elaine Randolph
Categories:
tupelo, dedicationheart, lost, day, heart,
Form:
Ode
Summer
Sabra
chocolate orange
Singing taste of tupelo mead
memories
still tease and test my thirsty tongue
I stand in chocolate mint
Alone
Categories:
tupelo,
Form:
The sixties gave us a generation of young
Folk with many questions Why?
Where have all the flowers gone, and is the answer really
Blowing in the wind?
A young man named Dylan tried to make some sense
Of this whole thing,
Yet the nation and world needed more then the words
Peace and brotherhood though it sounded good in a song
It didn’t stop the endless rows of crosses on
Arlington's lawn
The youth watched a young man pledge his word the
Glow of a candle would light the world but we still ask
The question has anybody seen our old friends Abraham Martin and John?
As the young man from Tupelo sang if I can dream of a better
Land well let’s hope one day we can.
Categories:
tupelo, history, remember,
Form:
Rhyme
When Elvis sang he rocked and he rolled.
His fans jumped up and shimmied, I'm told.
The folks in Tupelo
got all shook up below,
like devils and demons got a hold.
Categories:
tupelo, music,
Form:
Limerick
I went out to a bar last night
It was empty except for one
So I struck up some conversation
Askin “man where are you from?”
He said “I’m from Two Pillow, Mississippi
A small town, deep down South”
Clearly he was Southern
As he drew words from his mouth
“You mean Tupelo?”
I asked within a grin
“No sir” was his response
And where his story begins
He said “Daddy slept in one bed
Momma slept in another
I was eight years old
Knowing they didn't love each other”
“They never carried conversation
Neither kept too many friends
I'd always hoped they'd make up
You know, someday make amends”
“They never argued in front of me
That was a blessing in itself
But I grew up way to fast
My childhood placed upon a shelf”
“I suppose that’s how I came to be
The man I am today
I’ve learned a lot in my short years
And don’t let much get in my way”
“But the thing I cherished most
Slipped through my fingertips
As she walked away from me
I couldn't come to grips”
“So I sit here with this bottle
Telling strangers how I feel
Letting life get the better of me
As I slip between the wheels”
As he told his story
I stared down at my drink
The things he was saying
Really made me think
I thanked him for his story
Wished him best of luck
Pulled my keys out of my pocket
Headed for my truck
I drove home in a hurry
Hoping she was there
Wanting to tell her how I love her
And I’ll always care
"I may not be the best man
Yeah, most times I’m an ass
I’m yours for this lifetime
My love will always last"
~JJR 04/17/16
Categories:
tupelo, love,
Form:
Rhyme
To think of what I need
Beside ye beside me
A sip of tupelo mead
A wide world to ride a sea
With only ye t' heed
Your guiding star abiding
A man of simple needs and deeds
On course to tack and heel
With every mood you feel
Trim sail and come about
Or simply let it out
To hang leg locked and shout
With all the joy of living
In winds of chance with thee
Categories:
tupelo, wife
Form:
Imagism
Dappled sunlight filters
Through emerald green leafs
Some of them translucent
And hang like summers eves
I lean against a tupelo tree
And whittle on a stick
Alone at last it seems
But the cacophony of sound
Is deafening in the woods
For life is all around
A box turtle waddles through the grass
A fox is on the run
A wood thrush shuffles among the fallen leafs
A hawk is on the wing
Yet peace is all I feel
Because God is everywhere
Categories:
tupelo, nature,
Form:
Free verse
lights is a beautiful sight
music in the air , no has forgotten you've been there.
laughter of the children smiles upon their faces, little cars and barbie doll cases,
watching as little boys and girls began to pace,
lace and ribbons every where, pretty paper , even cut into squares,
smiles and song , paper and ribbon ,
knowing so many people have given
laying wake in their bed , dreams of candy canes in their heads
little ginger bread houses , in their visions, there;re to
little to make their decisions, christmas stocking hanging ,
around the tree, on christmas morning little children on their knees
smiles and laughter , giggles and song , make their world get alone.
Telephone 662 844 7165
BY Patricia Chambers
242 Bradley road
Tupelo Ms. 38801
Categories:
tupelo, natural disasters, caregiving,
Form:
Sweet blue rain
Filling up
An old pair of shoe
On the edge of
A dusty road,
In Tupelo, Mississippi
Categories:
tupelo, imagination
Form:
Haiku
MUSICAL PASSION
Music is the living soul
And beating heart of humanity.
It lights my fire of passion
Or tames my restless spirit.
Music calls me to live, taste, feel and see.
The spark of hope and change is ignited.
I hear the voice of the silenced and
Feel the anguish of the oppressed.
The soothing, soulful sounds of
Mangione’s flugelhorn makes me
“Feel so Good. “
The gritty, nasally voice of Dylan
Calls me to listen, for the answers
“Blowin’ in the Wind.”
The rich baritone of Cash
Warns me not to fall
In to the “Ring of Fire.”
Fogerty’s powerful voice
Invites me to dance with Willie and the Po Boys
“Down on the Corner.”
With Hank I can taste that
Home made “Jambalaya”
On the bayou.
Peter, Paul and Mary
Take me to that cherry lane
with “Puff the Magic Dragon.”
I can now call myself “Deacon Blues”
When I lose,
Becker and Fagan tell me.
I can taste the sweet
Tupelo Honey that flows
From the voice of Van Morrison
Jim Morrison said it for me
taking poetic license
music Light’s My Fire.
Categories:
tupelo, muse, music,
Form:
Free verse
THE MAGIC OF HONEY
IS IN THE AIR.
HONEY BEES,
ARE EVERYWHERE.
AROUND THE WORLD.
BLOSSOMING TREES.
YOU'LL FIND BUSY
HONEY BEES.
AMBROSIAL FLOWERS
OF COLORS AND SHADES.
WHERE HONEY BEES,
ARE BUZZING AWAY.
OVER A THOUSAND,
DIFFERENT HONEY'S,
SOME SO RARE,
THEY'RE LOTS OF MONEY.
SOME ARE SMOOTH,
SOME ARE CREAMY,
SOME HAVE FLAVORS
THAT ARE SIMPLY DREAMY.
OHIA LEHUA,
IS A HAWAIIAN FLOWER.
IT'S SAID THIS HONEY
HAS MYSTICAL POWER
MANGROVE HONEY,
IS VERY RARE.
YOU JUST CAN'T FIND IT
EVERYWHERE
THERE'S A HONEY,
THAT'S CALLED MAD.
THE STRANGEST HONEY
I EVER HAD.
BLACKBERRY, MAPLE,
TUPELO, PEACH.
NOT ALL HONEY'S
ARE OUT OF REACH.
SOURWOOD, FIR,
SAGE AND CLOVER.
LOT'S OF HONEY'S
TO BE FOUND ALL OVER.
BAOBAB, PITCAIRN,
EUCALYPTUS AND THYME.
THESE ARE AMONG
THE FAVORITES OF MINE.
RAINFOREST HONEY,
THERE ARE A FEW.
I'M SURE THERE'S ONE
THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU.
SOLIDAGO, MINT,
LINDEN AND LEMON.
HONEY IS TRULY
A GIFT FROM HEAVEN.
WHEN YOU RESEARCH HONEY
YOU DISCOVER FLOWERS
THAT GIVE YOUR HONEY
IT'S MAGICAL POWERS
Michael E. Harris
04082021
A very Special Thank You
To my Friend Damon Brown.
Who unknowingly,
Inspired this poem.
Categories:
tupelo, creation, heaven, imagery, journey,
Form:
Free verse
Red maple reddening still further
Yellow and green hug in arbour
Shadow of sugar maple in water
Pink murmur in aroused lake
Black tupelo in colour avalanche
Many a shade on the same radiant branch
Magenta and orange in chocolate romance
In blue paint the pigments break
Children are picking apples
Smiling the sombre chapels
Roads covered by dark maples
In cold wind a coloured shake
Under the brilliant yellow of Aspen
In the green rocky surrounding
Through kisses into a heaven
Foliage of love we make
Our orange desires breaking into
On Baldcypress a deep reddening view
Reckless waves in joy we plunge through
A crimson boat to take
_______________________________________________
September 21, 2017
Categories:
tupelo, autumn, boat, color, romance,
Form:
Verse
A choirboy from Tupelo
Soon saw his fame grow,
From a gospel sound
To world-wide renown-
Ends suddenly in Memphis town.
Categories:
tupelo, people, places,
Form:
Narrative