Inspired by the Gospel song, “Precious Lord, Take My hand,”
by Thomas A. Dorsey
Prerequisite to Peter’s leadership
On the boat, on the sea,
Jesus walks next to me.
It was calm on rough seas as Christ’s feet
tests our faith, opens eyes.
Not a ghost, no disguise.
Refrain: This your rock, O my Lord, you lead me
“Can I come, can we talk,”
I ask Him as He walks.
He says, “Come,” walk to me; wow my feet
on surface, I receive,
still the wind does perceive.
Refrain: This your rock, O my Lord, you lead me
The persist of pied waves
scared me straight, I’m not brave.
As I sink, I cry out to the Lord.
“Help me, please!” A strong grasp.
“Thank you, Lord,” as I gasp.
Refrain: This your rock, O my Lord, you lead me
Safe and sound, as we rock
in the boat; we’re His flock.
Our shepherd brought our boat straight to shore.
We’re in awe of His works.
There’s no doubt, there are perks.
Refrain: This your rock, O my Lord, you lead me
Still warm hands, unsettling.
Christ’s whipping, deafening.
Deny Him? How could I! How I weep.
He forgives readily,
As Christ loves steadily.
Refrain: This your rock, O my Lord, you lead me
Firecrackers will ever crack,
And you will always have my back.
Do you think, when we took that car,
We might have gone a bit too far?
I don't think when you drove that loop,
We went too far with the coupe.
Anyway, there's no way to prove -
You see, the tires did not move.
We need not be doing time -
Dancing to Dorsey is no crime.
Tires not moving, it was hearsay -
No crime to dance to Jimmy Dorsey.
I could say the very same
Of dancing to Harry James.
I like Glen Miller! D'ya know a
Place we can do the Balboa?
Country bike rides, sharing clothes -
What wonderful times were those!
We shared them with our kid brother
Who hit one pitch after another.
Just three kids out in the sticks -
Edie, Esther, Buddy Hicks.
The neighbor brought her weirdo kids in today.
Why would she? We have nothing kid-like to do or play.
They ran right over to my Christmas tree and said look at this.
One was holding my treasured tiny doll named Little Miss.
Put that back immediately! I said in my meanest oldest way.
Her mother said “sorry,” but why did she bring them this day?
Hey! This ornament is GLASS! The little one said. It broke in his hand.
He began crying to beat the Tommy Dorsey Original band.
Do you have a band-aide? The mother asked. My husband got up.
I wanted him to say no as I watched one of them grab for my pup.
That’s it I said to the mother. Please take your little darlings home.
My husband handed them a band-aide as I finished my tome.
Some called the radio station demanding they throw them out of the studio.
Others called to brag about their talents, their arrangements, their sass.
Boswell sisters had been singing together since their Vaudeville days as teens.
Connee played sax and trombone,
Vet played banjo and guitar and Martha held down the piano.
They were popular in their hometown of New Orleans, playing with big bands.
Dorsey Brothers, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman all knew them.
These sisters blended “blackness” and “whiteness”, natural for them.
They loved to rework and rearrange popular songs; they were musicians.
They appeared in a film with Bing Crosby and Cab Calloway.
This led to thirteen appearances on the Bing Crosby Show.
Ella Fitzgerald patterned her style after Connee Boswell.
As did the Andrew Sisters a few years later.
The Boswells had a profound effect; incorporating scat, jazz and swing.
Was just a young'un in the big band era
But it seems just like yesterday
Listening to Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey
Still love it right to this day
Miller's Modernaires, and Dorsey's Pied Pipers
With their smooth harmonic blend
Chattanooga Choo-Choo and The Trolley Song
Brought me so much pleasure no end
Guess I was influenced by my older sisters
Was not even ten at the time
It just goes to show the impact they had made
For those long ago days I still pine
It wasn't until Elvis debuted in fifty-six
When Rock'n Roll took over
The Big Band era came quickly to a halt
And ended it's popular exposure
Don't even know what is popular today
Or even if they've given it a name
Guess I'm just an old guy living in the past
Progress is the name of the game
There's few people that are irreplaceable in this lifetime/ It don't matter if they've cussed you out or committed a crime/ It don't matter good or bad/ right or wrong/ you could see em every week/ or not even a whole decade long/ but that person does something to you when they're around/ they have that certain aura that lets you know they are down/ they always get your praise/ I'm talking love and respect/ they do whatever's needed/ even if it means keeping you in check/ their good heart and good vibe can brighten up your day/ Irreplaceable is just another word for Lashay/ And Ms. Dorsey just seeing your strength is wild/ Nobody in this lifetime should have to bury their child/ 35 years old/ beautiful/ with three daughters just the same/ All of us have been burnt before/ but very few have been put through the flame
Was just a young'un in the big band era
But it seems just like yesterday
Remember listening to Miller and Dorsey
Still love it right to this day
Miller's Modernaires, and Dorsey's Pied Pipers
With their smooth harmonic blend
Chattanooga Choo-Choo and The Trolley Song
Brought me so much pleasure no end
Guess I was influenced by my older sisters
Was not even ten at the time
It just goes to show the impact they had made
For those long ago days I still pine
It wasn't until Elvis debuted in fifty-six
When Rock'n Roll took over
The Big Band era came quickly to a halt
And ended it's popular exposure
Don't even know what is popular today
Or even if they've given it a name
Guess I'm just an old guy living in the past
Progress is the name of the game
© Jack Ellison 2014
PREACHING SUNDAY
In the old country church,
Preaching Sunday was quite a big deal;
In just a few words, I’ll give you a feel.
White gloved ushers monitor each bench and pew,
Wearing uniforms starched to look like brand new.
Little girls decked out in ruffles and bows,
Sit with mothers in hats sharp
From their heads to their toes.
The minister quotes scriptures With deep breaths
And long pause,
He makes so dramatic each and every clause.
At the end of the message, when some hymn is sung,
Shouts ring out between every rung.
There’s some jerking and fanning and some falling out,
Small ones wonder what all the commotions about.
When everything’s over and the service is done,
Everyone enjoys a grand feast on the lawn.
Copyright 2008 Patricia Neely-Dorsey
from Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life In Poems
#southenlife #southenpoems #countychurch
My love for you
Is like the kudzu,
That surrounds us in this place;
Changing the landscape of my life
Forever;
It is Unyielding ,
Unrelenting
And cannot
Be contained.
2012 Patricia Neely-Dorsey
from My Magnolia Memories and Musings-In Poems
#southernpoem #kudzu #kudzupoem #southernlove
SOUTHERNERS REMEMBER
Southern folks remember when
All of the stores in town
(except maybe a few gas stations )
Closed on Sundays...
Everyone went to church
And the preacher was always invited
To someone's house to eat after services.
We remember when
Cars pulled off to the side of the road
As a funeral procession passed...
And when the whole "village"
Really DID help raise the child .
2012 Patricia Neely-Dorsey
from My Magnolia Memories and Musings
#southern #southernpoems #southernculture
SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT
When you visit your favorite soul food spot,
Along with your faithful friends,
What you'll eat any given day,
On your tastes it all depends.
The selections are quite varied
And the menu might read like this:
For breakfast Country Ham and Eggs,
With biscuits and cheese grits,
For Lunch : Neckbones, Catfish,
Smothered Chicken,
Pork Chops and Pigs Feet.
Everything looks so delicious,
And these are just the meats.
The vegetables you might enjoy,
include greens, squash, and black-eyed peas;
Or you might want fried corn and pinto beans,
Along with macaroni and cheese.
What ever it is that you decide,
It's sure to hit the spot,
It'll come to your booth,
Fresh and piping hot.
Be prepared to sit a spell,
Cause you won't want to move;
For you will have dined most sumptuously,
As your clean plate will prove.
2008 Patricia Neely-Dorsey
from Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia- A Life in Poems
#southern #southernlife #southernfood #southernfoodpoem #soulfoodpoem
(Southern) SUMMER SUN
Streaming Rays of Beaming Light
Gleaming Rays of Dazzling Bright
Is the Southern , Summer Sun
2012 Patricia Neely-Dorsey
from My Magnolia Memories and Musings in Poems
#southern #southernpoems
Somebody's always singing
Them Monday Morning blues songs
Them sho' nuff done me wrong songs
Them stayed out all night long songs
Them moaning, groaning love songs
Them bear your heart and soul songs
Them feel it in your bones songs
Them make you weak and strong songs
Them letting go and holding on songs
Them totally yours and mine songs
Them everybody knows songs...
We ALL love them blues...songs
2012 Patricia Neely-Dorsey
from My Magnolia Memories and Musings -In Poems
#blues #bluespoem bluesmusic
FRONT PORCH
(Hospitality Headquarters)
Just the spot
For taking in a cool breeze
And watching the world go by
Friends and neighbors out
For a leisurely stroll
Stop and sit a spell.
"Lemonade"?
"Iced Tea"?
“Co-Cola?”
"Did you hear about...?"
"Do Tell!"
"You Don't Say!"
"My, how the time flies"
"Y'all come back, now"
"You here? "
2012 Patricia Neely-Dorsey
from My Magnolia Memories and Musings -In Poems
#southern #southernpoems
BACKROADS
Rocky,
Dusty,
Bumpy,
Curving,
Twisting,
Turning
Tree-Canopied pathways;
The Short cut
The Scenic Route
Or the long way home.
2012 Patricia Neely-Dorsey
from My Magnolia Memories and Musings in Poems
#country #countrylife #countrylifepoems #southernpoems
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.