I am highly entertained
though I see through the window what lies there:
yes, dark cloud hovers above our street
like a piece of rag.
But we admire contraries.
I am entertained because I hear rag -
all about pineapple, reflection,
stoptime, a paragon, a maple leaf.
You would never predict your treasure,
how so many of us listen to it today,
your music downloaded or on a compact disc.
So thanks, dear old Scott, for your ragtime.
I can see that dark, hovering rag of cloud
but hear you, Scott, I'm entertained.
The Joplin EF5 blew into Joplin Missouri the evening of May 22, 2011
Before this tornado had eaten its fill, 158 people went to heaven.
This EF5 was a mile wide; she was on the ground for over twenty miles.
No one was safe; there was a lot of terror, and few smiles.
Damaging four thousand homes, injuring over eleven hundred people.
Destroying the hospital, and eight churches, leaving not a steeple.
The costliest single tornado in US history, says a reference book.
Her death toll was the highest since 1947 if you want to take a look.
The Joplin EF5 was the first EF5 tornado since 1947, before I was alive.
I cannot envision the horror of this catastrophe, terrified of every EF5.
Twenty-Seven Club--not open to all,
nor is joining top of most people's list.
A club of sadness and shock midst the pall
of last birthdays--twenty-eighth was just missed.
Many well-knowns have passed at that young age,
to a better place, fans and music gone.
Rock stars overdose, leave a darkened stage
fans lay sweet bouquets, and then they move on.
Many don't look forward to twenty-six,
so fearful it might be their farewell year.
Feeling doomed to join Joplin and Hendrix,
yet still infuse the drugs they hold most dear.
This presents a huge conundrum to those
who want to keep their cake and eat it, too.
Can we feel sorrow when it's they who chose
a life expecting they'll pay club dues soon.
September 2, 2022
for Anthony Biaanco's The Twenty-Seven Club contest
All is Loneliness
Song title that tells the truth
About your life, Janis
Born in Texas,
You seemed more at home in San Francisco
Or Portland with your rock and your blues
Your mezzo soprano vocals
Lit up the stage
You were electric!
Full Tilt Boogie Band
Kozmic Blues and Big Brother
Would have failed without you
Cheap thrills
Pieces of My Heart
And Ball and Chain would have never made it
You were here a mere twenty-seven years
But what a legacy!
You brought us the blues in a big way!
Cheap thrills
Song title that reflects your
Heroin overdose death, Janis
days that brought me to worship
sounds of deity echoing through my room
music that deftly captured my ears and dreams
all we needed to release the discomfort
of war and plastic cages
was the experience of his Fender Strat
the feedback from that Marshall amp
her Big Momma Thornton howls
Ball and Chain, Ball and Chain
long may we love the real s--- left behind
abstractions melodically rhythmic to rock
these tracks take me to that door
where I pray someone will answer
let me enter the blues of their world and see
why such beauty had to end
Idle Eyes
How this became as I fought for my causes to hold you in my arms
Shut out is like shut up without an argument without a drink
Every bit of bad is worth a thousand goods
That imperfect fluff etched into my soul
Expectations with no chance of exhilaration
Thoughts of what would have been gave way to an old wise man I battle
The balance of justice and friendly talk
Now, finding the unlit cave dark and foreboding, expectations without life
I taste the apples sweet when I settle to gaze into the vastness of your eyes
In the end , to be close to somewhere that is where it should have begun
Beguiled to the point of abstractness
An illusion of your hand to balance the added weight of my heavy heart
You had me at honey, for the rest of my life
Our closeness proved merit for my love, but no one would hear of it
I felt great crush surrender to an enemy
That a lesson apparently repeated through life
This enemy incapacitated my free will .and to that end I feel closer
But further away from the truth in my soul
JOPLIN PHRASIS
Sarah dear,my sugar cane sensation
o morning glories!euphoric sounds
There’s something doing,you stand
good with me.There’s none to equal
a breeze from Alabama,my sunflower
show,I picture your face,I’m in dude’s
paradise.I’ll still be with you when
your hair’s like snow.Such pleasant
memories my lovin’ babe,time’s real
slow.For the sake of all,please say you
will..be my favourite.
From Scott Joplin’s song titles
Listen to me recite this phrasis on youtube under my pen name ichthyschiro
Devastation that's just multiplied by four
Lives lost, families strung and torn
Nothing remains the same as it was before
Businesses and homes crushed like fragile dreams
Lives lost, each one taken so quickly
This isn't real, isn't that what it always seems?
And yet I know I couldn't have prevented such a thing
Another NATURAL disaster
And for these volunteers, water and food is all I can bring
But I know this wasn't my fault, and that life is not a silly Game
I awaken every day to this reoccurring thought
"Will Joplin ever become the same?"
A path of destruction it left.
It went through the town,
Like a car fly's down the high way.
Destroyed almost half the town.
Home gone.
Family dead.
The High School destroyed.
A time of devastation,
On that dreadful Sunday night,
On May 22, 2011.
We are strong,
And we rebuild.
New schools.
New homes.
Pride building back up.
Old friends and family we lost,
Were never forgotten.
We all remember very well,
And now were ready to Rebuild,
The town we grew up in,
Joplin, Missouri.
That day we'll never forget,
May 22, 2011
HOPE is Helping and Serving,
HOPE is Here!
HOPE is Living and Breathing,
HOPE is Near.
HOPE is Rising,
Reach up for me!
HOPE is Giving,
HOPE is Receiving,
HOPE is Loving,
HOPE is Believing,
HOPE is Redeeming
For all to see.
HOPE is Hoping,
Dont give up on me.
HOPE is Persevering,
HOPE is Endearing,
HOPE is Praying,
HOPE is Cheering.
HOPE will not Fade,
HOPE will not Wilt;
For this is the town that HOPE built.
HOPE built it Before,
and HOPE will build it Again.
Joplin,Mosourie
The day started out so beautiful and warm.
Then the sky opened and out dropped a storm.
The day was filled with rain,lighting,hail and wind.
The scary part is everyone thought it was the end.
Everyone said the sound they all heard was a train.
This tornado caused so much devastation and pain.
The tornado came from the sky and took away lives
Dads,moms brothers,sisters,husbands and wives.
A home lost a car crushed a business gone.
They could see the devastation at early dawn
Some people gone some people still buried.
So if they can't walk they will be carried.
So we'll all work hard and help them rebuild.
Next storm we'll ask God for a shield.
Teresa Skyles
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