Short Joplin Poems

janis joplin
hanging out with me
and bobby mcgee



posted on July 4, 2018...

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Janis Joplin brought is a lot of musical love in but a few years
When she retired from this earth, there were so many fears.
Her car was unique, painted like a colorful, artistic cartoon.
I picture her sweet owner, on the moon, giving a croon....

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blue granny glasses 
bubbly lava lamp
yellow happy face
Mamas and The Papas 
Karen Carpenter
Embroidered blue jeans 
Flowered shirt for men 
Janice Joplin 
decorated Volkswagen bus 
Hip hugger bell bottoms 
Shag carpeting 
Hypnotherapy
1960's...

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Deep down inside her earthen throat
God fashioned a pearled railroad...
Her freight train soul gifted the world
a bouquet of thorns and blue hearted roses.
An existence of devilish fire and heavenly rain
Shot glasses of needles and stem rose champagne.

...

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ripples
      of fun
on repeat,
recur
       round 
and around
tap 
    dancing
before
      my eyes
yet
    in
        my 
            mind
the melody
is
becoming
unforgettable 
...on....repeat...on..
...repeat

Inspired by Scott Joplin clip of entertainer...

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In West Port Arthur
the winds blew hard
to carry her away
The times were ripe
Big Brother raw
that crossroads by the bay
Her dive was deep
through Kozmic Blues
a legend to unfurl
But not escape
that Ball and Chain
—still searching for the Pearl

(Ode To Janis Joplin: November, 2023)
...

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His fingers make this quitar sing..
His lyrics grab by the arm and ring..
A tall dark God with poetic words..
Hold a crowd with just a surge..
The national Anthem never heard this way..
Set standards and to all who will later will play..
Gone to fast as most legends do..
Jamming up in Heaven with Lennon
and Joplin too.....

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Gone is the era of the Renaissance Man
Who delved into Milton, Voltaire and Rosseau
Knew the difference between Cezanne and Gaugin
Could parse a sentence and quote Henry Thoreau

Came Woodstock, he was buried deep in time's sands
Covered over by Joplin and Country Joe...
Social media's dug man's hole even worse
Alexa and Cortana ~ My lips are pursed...

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In '29 -- Betty Boop 
 In '34 -- Marx Bros. 'Duck Soup'  
  In '39 -- Benny Goodman's Jazz Group
   In '49 -- Chevrolet Hardtop Coupe
    In '59 -- the Hula Hoop 
     In '69 -- Joplin, Hendrix, and Woodstock's musical groups
      In '79 -- psychological encounter groups
       In '89 -- Jordan, Magic & Larry, and NBA hoops
        In '99 -- Chicago's Loop
         In 2009 -- tea party splinter groups
          In two-oh-one-nine -- Will it be Poetry soup?...

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Riders on the storm
Left us too soon
Where have they gone
Oh just one more song

Jim Morrison
Jimi Hendrix
Amy Winehouse

Riders in the storm
Changed our lives
Showed us a different light
Once shining so bright

Marvin Gaye
Janis Joplin
John Lennon

Riders on the storm
Once so strong
Took us to
The other side

Whitney Houston
Tupak Shakur
Kurt Cobain

Riders on the Storm
Burning candles at both ends
The flame has died
Oh just one more song...

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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....

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"I'm sorry for burying my face in your lap Janis Joplin."
Joplin's reply, "Water under the bridge Jim Morrison."
This is an apology that occured in Rock n Roll heaven.
Jim Morrison did in fact
in a drunken stuper so did collapse
and bury his face in Janis Joplin's lap.
Joplin was shocked and knocked him further unconscious
over his head with her bottle of Southern Comfort,
but I imagine that these two Rock n Roll legends
have patched things up and are now heavenly friends again....

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