When Leonard says “Sh!” the entire library is silent as a church.
The first time I saw this Lion-brarian, my heart gave a wild lurch.
Who is checking out books? I whispered to another 4th grade friend.
The Lion-brarian was next to me, and I thought my life would end.
I said “Sh!” Leonard said, and this time it felt like a threat.
That was six years ago, and I have not been back yet.
Leonard was getting a date for the ladybug ball
He watched for her, through the weeds so tall
But she was walking with his best pal Jim
So, he decided to go away, and give her to him.
But wait, there is no other ladybug you like?
This was said to him by his godfather, Mike.
Not really, Leonard said, but it is okay.
The night of the dance, he stayed away.
Leonard Simon Nimoy
the Enterprise did employ
he logically was very proper
and was able to live long and prosper
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill
a Prime Minister with many a skill.
Though his ideals by some were not favoured,
his victories by many were savoured.
Ft Leonard Wood Mo.1961
Combat Engineers
Miracle Man
10/18/2024
Most days we awoke feeling quite asinine,
choice wasn’t to get up or remain supine.
The bugle was telling us rise and shine,
fall in formation “cruits” and ditch the whine.
After a five mile hike you’ll be feeling fine,
with their way of thinking we wouldn’t align.
Our canteens contained water tasting like brine,
with spit shined boots each cleaned his carbine.
K.P. and cleaning grease traps is hard to define,
another duty intended to harass but was benign.
Just one lousy gig got us a barracks confine,
but finally after 9 weeks we were on cloud nine.
All this happened with purpose and by design,
to make men of boys that would toe the line.
Leonard Bailey’s tombstone was cryptic
“one gathered in unison of solitude”
some thought they had solved the riddle
was it devised by Leonard himself or his wife?
It was inscrutable to most.
Very few thought they understood it.
No one agreed.
Best tombstone in the cemetery.
And the most visited.
In the heart of melodies, a a luminary arose,
Leonard Bernstein, whose brilliance still grows.
A maestro with a baton, a poet with a score,
In his music, he found what life yearned for.
With passion ablaze, he'd command the stage,
Each gesture a dance, each note a page.
From the grandeur of Beethoven's embrace,
To the jazzy rhythms that set hearts to race.
His spirit ignited in melodies profound,
With every crescendo, a world was found.
In the symphonic tapestry he'd unfold,
Beauty and chaos in harmonies bold.
From the streets of "West Side Story," a tale so bold,
To symphonic journeys, where stories were told.
His love for music, an unending flame,
In every note, he carved his name.
Yet behind the spotlight, a quieter scene,
Where strains of family life, at times, grew keen.
With a wife and kids, he sought to find,
Balance amidst the chaos of his creative mind.
We children gathered around the table.
The aromas were rich and dense, we fidgeted.
But we had one last thing to do - before we began the feast.
We all, in our places, held hands, smiling, as my dad began to sing
- and, after a beat, we all joined in.
** To the tune: “Rudolph the red nose reindeer*
“Leonard the big leg turkey
had two great big turkey legs
and if you ever saw them
you would actually say, “they’re big.”
All of the other turkeys
they would laugh and call him names
they never let poor Leonard
join in any turkey games
Then one foggy Thanksgiving eve
The pilgrims came to say,
“Leonard with your legs so big”
“How’d you like to join our Thanksgiving gig?”
Then how all the turkeys loved him
and they shouted out with glee
“Leonard the big legged turkey,”
“you’ll go down in history.” (like the light bulb)
“you’ll go down in history.”
“you’ll go down well with graveyyyyyyyyyy.”
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
.
I have not prayed enough to be like you,
I have not loved enough to write like you.
The night is my god, stars my angels
I'll never touch,
while the darkness that hides in my pockets
my lover, but we may speak to one another
in the ten minute afterlife of my brain,
trying to catch up to its dead body.
The conversation agreeable
until you joke that my heaven
is your hell, and I realize
the real Leonard Cohen more sophisticated
than such humour, proving
we all really die alone.
From: People More Famous Than Me (Published 2022)
I will miss you forever Leonard Dabydeen ji...my Guru, my mentor, my guiding light....
How do I tell my heart today
To say goodbye to you dear Leonard Sir
You've been there when the storms hit high
You've been the guiding light as a beacon bright
You're the one whose words sparkle as the stars
And sprinkle the serene tranquil charm
Your songs of love and faith and devotion
Sung from the deepest depths of your heart
You are the one who dared to dream
And strengthen the bonds of humanity all around
A pillar of strength, of dedication, of will
You've been the one who paved the way
For the generations to come and the hearts that love
The power of your words shall forever shine
And brighten up the path as the eternal flame
I miss you today and shall miss you forever
You're my guide, my mentor, my comrade, my guru
Your words shall resonate forever and ever and ever
And continue to inspire, to illumine, to enlighten all !
(For Leonard Dabydeen ji... 1948-2022)
When you died
My heartache reached my bones.
You seemed an old soul, but ageless.
Your death caught me by surprise.
Your deep, long, full voice
never to sweep through a room.
Never to fillet my soul
or plunge cold reality into my heart.
The lingering lines of your poetry
lay siege to my essence
and unlock the hidden door
from which all poets pen.
Your life of anguish and peace,
dance partners in the pattern of life,
open me to the possibility of both.
Sorting the discord to a song,
you lived the dichotomy of life
and spun the contrast to a single sphere of light.
As I ripen, opening to your music,
I long to align my life with yours.
To sit in meditation with your teacher,
to pen the lessons of life in compassion of others.
The world will be less the world I love
With you absent from the stage.
Exit Right, Empty Stage
End of Final Act.
he sang poetry
sonorous enchanting tone
metaphorical
Leonard Cohen, my man and my doctor
Your lyrics and music heal
Hallelujah to You.
Leonard he is and Leonard he’ll be.
Born one fine day in a hollow oak tree.
When he came out he started chasing me.
A tiny little brownie built like a pee wee.
He and I once went on a little growing spree.
We planted flowers with relish and warm glee.
Never knowing how much fun it could be,
Brownie Leonard, sunlight, water and me.
He is gone right now, visiting Waikiki.
I cannot wait until my brownie returns to me.
money, money, money !
a lot of money!
money for me, to be me !
sum money ! money, money !
let peoples prayers be channeled to mine!
all those who wish to be wealthy
want me to have money !
the world is waiting
for me to be wealthy.
money, money, money !
all those who prayers are heard
are praying for me to have money !
Related Poems