Born on a cold day
with the moon shining on him at night,
crying as a newborn child
he saw the light.
In a ghetto he screamed
for the first time.
He was raised happy as he could be
without other chances, but fighting.
Knowing nothing else,
he learned that he was the best.
He grew up strong,
after being hit one day after the other,
engaged with a guitar
as his best friend.
He had been successful rolling
down to Mississippi with love
for the whole world.
Going up to Memphis
you can be haunted by his voice.
Going back to Memphis,
you will be returned to sender,
the king will open the mail box
Humble beginnings
Rising to top of the pops
Song heartbreak hotel
Dubbed as the King of Rock and Roll
Elvis the pelvis also sang soul
Of Hispanic origin
Blue eyes sent girls in a spin
The hearts of old and young he stole.
Memphis idol's funeral, adoring fans in thousands pass casket.
Contest: Charlie Hai-Lim-Ku
Sponsor: Charles Messina
Date: 31st January 2022
Pulling against the grains, no matter which way they go
For one reason or another, always the sand seems to blow
With postures of hunchbacks, price of constantly stooping low
Hard work moving mountains, and these guys left us quite a show
Pushing on with steely grit, forced back with inert flow
Staring directly into the sun, eyes blinded by a searing glow
One step forward one step sideways, quite staggering, I know
A labour of love and hate, built pyramids, thousands of years ago
By
David Kavanagh
Although it bothers me,
I don’t mind.
I mean life isn’t exactly a long time
When you think about it &
I can always tell when you’re in
A bad mood.
Why else would you bite someone’s
Head off, followed by their arms
Then their legs.
But for your enjoyment I am here,
Your devious smile.
If I was in your position I would
Probably do the same, except more
Viciously,
But I love you just the same.
That’s why I give you so many pieces
Of me.
Although all you want to do is grind
Me between your teeth,
I leave parts of me behind.
To watch the funny faces you make
Trying to rid me from your teeth,
Then someone comes along and asks
What are you doing.
Soaked in emotional bondage,
Ticklish to the touch, laying on the couch
Of your tongue.
On a lighter note, I love when you squish
My body together with your fingers.
You have no idea how funny you look
To me.
Our shared moment of pleasure,
Until the bag is empty & your reaching
For another.
Your deepest desire, your favorite snack
Many moments recalled in pain
Even as everyone wonders in vain
Martin lay motionless at the Lorraine
Photos pour popular chords of disdain
His was a hallowed history to gain
Innocence into infinity’s drain
Seasons secure will never be slain
==========================================
Featured Poem on Poetry Soup - April 4, 2021
On the Savannah, animals co-exist
Why can't we, what did we miss
Part of our brain
Missed the last train
Twas the last train to Memhis sealed with a kiss
Of Civilization and Disenchantment
by Michael R. Burch
Suddenly uncomfortable
to stay at my grandfather's house ?
actually his third new wife's,
in her daughter's bedroom
? one interminable summer
with nothing to do,
all the meals served cold,
even beans and peas...
Lacking the words to describe
ah! , those pearl-luminous estuaries ?
strange omens, incoherent nights.
Seeing the flares of the river barges
illuminating Memphis,
city of bluffs and dying splendors.
Drifting toward Alexandria,
Pharos, Rhakotis, Djoser's fertile delta,
lands at the beginning of a new time and "civilization."
Leaving behind sixty miles of unbroken cemetery,
Alexander's corpse floating seaward,
bobbing, milkwhite, in a jar of honey.
Memphis shall be waste and desolate,
without an inhabitant.
Or so the people dreamed, in chains.
Published by The Centrifugal Eye and The Centrifugal Eye Fifth Anniversary Anthology. Keywords/Tags: Memphis, barges, bluffs, Alexandria, Pharos, Rhakotis, Djoser, Alexander, waste, desolate, river, boat, city, bible, boy, childhood, grandfather
Went to Tennessee with my niece,
ate Memphis ribs sitting in peace.
Barbeque in the South,
still watering my mouth-
where Elvis sang his first release!
howmanysyllables.com
Syllable count: 8-8-6-6-8
State Limerick Poetry Contest
Kevin Shaw
July 23, 2019
Wasted broke in Kankakee,
down from Montreal
I’m half way to Memphis,
with no one left to call
Guitar strings bust or missing,
motel clerk at my door
I’m half way to Memphis,
bathroom window as before
The years have run their distance,
all memories in default
I’m half way to Memphis,
the songs all packed in salt
And one last time I’m leaving,
the highway cold and black
I’m half way to Memphis
—no way of turning back
(Memphis Tennessee: September, 1991)
Just jumping in.
Everything comes to a halt.
The first few moments don't seem as bad.
Depending on length.
The line of cars.
In a sea of metal
Something wow happens.
Metal crashes into metal.
Causally passing by.
Everyone is okay.
Making sure to see what happened
They drop speed.
The police attempt to make it through to the scene.
Little to no debris.
No never-mind to the expensive cars brought to a halt.
The Mercedes Benz, the Porsche out of place slow moving along.
A Black Nissan Sentra with two kids playing in the backseat.
The other side is free to go as they please.
Compared to most places this is nothing.
Try New York. Atlanta. Texas to name a few.
You just jump in, moving from point A to B.
Life is admittedly too short to walk a great distance.
A two car pileup a few miles ahead.
Bumper to bumper no one gives space to breathe.
A Cadillac honks in frustration.
The Black Nissan honks back in attempt to get over.
Inching closer to maneuver it's way in front.
After everyone takes a glance at the pileup.
Traffic is back to normal.
The two kids continue to play like nothings happened
IN MEMPHIS
In Memphis, a stage delivers Elvis.
Excitement for girls - thundering pelvis.
They throw panties and bras,
Plenty of oohs and ahs.
In Memphis, the girls, hopelessly zealous.
9/16/2017
A leaf blew downtown
Amongst hands pages flew
Floating about a clean breeze
you walk by me everyday
not a word....not a glance
always on your cell phone
always smiling....always happy
i often wonder who it is that causes your heart gymnastics
eyes sparkle....cheeks blushing
every ring from that phone is a warm rose to your soul
you walk through me everynight
i might as well be a ghost admirer
always wishing....always hoping
always thinking....always praying
always humming that dusty springfield song
though i prefer....just a little lovin....from early mornin' to crack of dawn
my world wouldn't be half as bad
actually, somewhere in there will be a shocking smile....for once
I remember you standing high above that big muddy river
The wind dancing with your soft white cotton dress
Revealing tanned straight legs standing on green summer grass
The golden sun dripped into your fiery hair as the shadows of
Dusk silently approached
I watched you, a picture of innocence, of unreality
As the evening grew long shadows you turned and smiled
It was the last time we were together
Memphis the fish wanted to be a whale
Went to theater to see Luis Buñuel
He married Juan Simón's daughter
Invited Harry Potter
All went to Hogwarts to eat sleep and swell
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