Modern Poetry Edition #71 {Sonnets}


 

Look, this wasn’t even close. Rocky Raccoon by a mile! And a half!

I verified that this is the first MPulitzer awarded to a poem with a “hoe
down” reference. Surely, "Britney mentioned a hoe-down?", you’re
thinking. I know, I know, but she did not!  I checked.

Anyway #1, Rocky is cool, and a bona fide modern poem.
Don’t believe me? Just google “rocky raccoon meaning” and
see all the commentary.

Anyway #2, that’s it. As you can tell my witty banter muscles
are starting to atrophy (starting?!). Guest editor anyone? You
could even do Christmas Poems if you must.

Happy Holidayz!

--Sean

Modern Poetry Edition #71 {}
[12/1/08]
(Just Like) Starting Over by John Lennon
Suite:  Judy Blue Eyes by Crosby, Stills and Nash (Stephen Stills)
**Rocky Raccoon by The Beatles (Paul McCartney)
Year of the Cat by Al Stewart
Peg by Steely Dan (Walter Becker, Donald Fagen)

**Winner of MPulitzer

 

Whoa!  Think the Pussycat Dolls can handle this group of nominees?!  Not even close.  Now that's some poetry right there.

The BCS (Bowl Championship of Sonnets) certifies that each nominee is better than Texas *and* Oklahoma, regardless of who takes home the Big 12 crown.  I will tell you that the computer algorithms *LOVE* Rocky Raccoon, so if you AP, Harris and Coaches poll voters want to see something else win the prize, better vote early, late and in triplicate each time.

Enjoy it, cause this may have to last you till Super Bowl Sunday.  As always you can look at the MP here:  http://www.macdart.com/mp/default.htm

These ones are so dang good you can just pluck a line from each and smash 'em together and end up with something pretty decent.  Like this:

"(just like) judy, the racoon, the cat and peg"
Our life together is so precious together,
Chestnut brown canary, Ruby throated sparrow... Sing a song don't be long, Thrill me to the marrow
Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil, But everyone knew her as Nancy
But the drumbeat strains of the night remain, In the rhythm of the new-born day, You know sometime you're bound to leave her
Peg...It will come back to you  ...  It's your favorite foreign movie

--Sean

 

(JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER
John Lennon

Our life together is so precious together,
We have grown - we have grown,
Although our love is still special,
Let's take our chance and fly away
somewhere alone,

It's been so long since we took the time,
No-one's to blame,
I know time flies so quickly,
But when I see you darling,
It's like we both are falling in love again,
It'll be just like starting over - starting over,

Every day we used to make it love,
Why can't we be making love nice and easy,
It's time to spread our wing's and fly,
Don't let another day go by my love,
It'll be just like starting over - starting over,

Why don't we take off alone,
Take a trip far, far away,
We'll be together on our own again,
Like we used to in the early days,

It's been so long since we took the time,
No-one's to blame,
I know time flies so quickly,
But when I see you darling,
It's like we both are falling in love again,
It'll be just like starting over - starting over,

Every day we used to make it love,
Why can't we be making love nice and easy,
It's time to spread our wing's and fly,
Don't let another day go by my love,
It'll be just like starting over - starting over,

Our life together is so precious together,
We have grown - we have grown,
Although our love is still special,
Let's take our chance and fly away
somewhere alone.

Starting over

SUITE: JUDY BLUE EYES
Crosby, Stills and Nash (Stephen Stills)

It's getting to the point
Where I'm no fun anymore
I am sorry
Sometimes it hurts so badly
I must cry out loud
I am lonely
I am yours, you are mine
You are what you are
And you make it hard –

Remember what we've said and done and felt
about each other
Oh babe, have mercy
Don't let the past remind us of what we are not now
I am not dreaming.
I am yours, you are mine
You are what you are
And you make it hard-

Tearing yourself away from me now
You are free and I am crying
This does not mean I don't love you
I do, that's forever, yes and for always
I am yours, you are mine
You are what you are
And you make it hard-

Something inside is telling me that
I've got your secret. Are you still listening?
Fear is the lock, and laughter the key to your heart
And I love you.
I am yours, you are mine,
you are what you are
And you make it hard- And you make it hard-

Friday evening, Sunday in the afternoon
What have you got to lose?
Tuesday mornin', please be gone I'm tired of you.
What have you got to lose?
Can I tell it like it is? Help me I'm sufferin'
Listen to me baby-Help me I'm dyin'
It's my heart that's a sufferin', it's a dyin'
That's what I have to lose
I've got an answer
I'm going to fly away
What have I got to lose?
Will you come see me
Thursdays and Saturdays?
What have you got to lose?

Chestnut brown canary
Ruby throated sparrow
Sing a song don't be long
Thrill me to the marrow
Voices of the angels ring around the moonlight
Asking me, said she so free
How can you catch the sparrow?
Lacy, lilting, lady, losing love, lamenting
Change my life, make it right
Be my lady.
Doo doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo

ROCKY RACCOON
The Beatles (Paul McCartney)

Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young rocky in the eye, rocky didn’t like that
He said I’m gonna get that boy
So one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon

Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon’s bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy
Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy

Now she and her man, who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a showdown
But Daniel was hot - he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner

Now the doctor came in, stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said, Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it’s only a scratch
And I’ll be better, I’ll be better doc… as soon as I am able

Now Rocky Raccoon, he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon’s Bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky’s revival.

YEAR OF THE CAT
Al Stewart

On a morning from a Bogart movie
In a country where they turn back time
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime
She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running
Like a watercolor in the rain
Don't bother asking for explanations
She'll just tell you that she came
In the year of the cat

She doesn't give you time for questions
As she locks up your arm in hers
And you follow 'till your sense of which direction
Completely disappears
By the blue tiled walls near the market stalls
There's a hidden door she leads you to
These days, she says, I feel my life
Just like a river running through
The year of the cat

Well, she looks at you so coolly
And her eyes shine like the moon in the sea
She comes in incense and patchouli
So you take her, to find what's waiting inside
The year of the cat

Well morning comes and you're still with her
And the bus and the tourists are gone
And you've thrown away your choice and lost your ticket
So you have to stay on
But the drumbeat strains of the night remain
In the rhythm of the new-born day
You know sometime you're bound to leave her
But for now you're going to stay
In the year of the cat

PEG
Steely Dan (Walter Becker, Donald Fagen)

I've seen your picture
Your name in lights above it
This is your big debut
It's like a dream come true
And when you smile for the camera,
I know they're gonna love it (Peg)

I like your pin shot
I keep them with your letters
Done up in blueprint blue
It sure looks good on you
So won't you smile for the camera?
You know I'll love you better

Peg...It will come back to you
Peg...It will come back to you
Then...The shutter falls, you see it all in 3-D
It's your favorite foreign movie

I like your pin shot
I keep them with your letters
Done up in blueprint blue
It sure looks good on you
So won't you smile for the camera?
You know I'll love you better

Peg...It will come back to you
Peg...It will come back to you
Then...The shutter falls, you see it all in 3-D
It's your favorite foreign movie