Kristofferson

a poem about love and music

 I used to read Sylvia Plath to you,

And Charles Bukowski, and Langston Hughes,

The greats loomed in our heads while we slept.

 

I used to hold your hand,

And it was always cold,

It gave me goose bumps.

 

I played you Kris Kristofferson,

And you just played me,

With the skill of someone who had done this,

So many times before.

 

I wanted to tell you all the things,

That Kris, and Sylvia said so effortlessly.

 

I wanted to stop the music,

Stop the poetry,

And scream at you to feel like that for me.

 

I never quite summoned up the courage.

 

I never managed to inspire,

That same poetry from you.

 

I still remember the day,

You gave me back my scratched up Kristofferson cd.

 

I’m glad you gave it back,

You never understood my taste in music anyway.

Reviews

[Pax Analog]

Very cool to see ol' Kris appreciated by another generation. Haven't listened to his stuff in years, tho' I recall his lyric touch. . .that business about a poet, prophet, picker, preacher being "a walking contradiction, partly truth, and partly fiction, takin' every wrong direction, on his lonely way back home."

What one tends to call Dylanesque, tho' all us songwriters, known, unknown, semi-known, with a certain poetic pulse in our veins, are prone to roll out such lines from time to time. Dig the Bukowski quote on your profile too. You seem to be addressing this to a poet of some sort who won't favor you with and inspired response. If so, what a frickin' fool! A woman's beauty of mind, face, body, soul is the greatest gift to the world. A guy who can't respond with his whole heart to that is as good as dead.

Well, you did say the dude's hand was always cold. Brrrr!

I guess Sylvia's spirit was around for the elegy.

I wish you much happiness in all your creative endeavors.

[Lewis Findley]

WOW Amanda, This is GREAT! Just Like A Star is Born all Over again. LOVED IT!

[Celestine Astraea Fires..]

Wow, you know I have done the same thing except with my own poetry and other artists. You have personified feelings that I have had or will have with this poem. Great work!

[JohnL]

In your Bio, you say that you are not big on punctuation and capitals etc. Well in this, all appears perfect and one of the things I, as an advocate of meticulous punctuation have learned from reading the work of others, is that sometimes it doesn't matter. Have a look at the work of Emma for instance. She certainly knows the how, but sometimes chooses to flow right through the poem with minimal punctuation and the work is wonderful.
This poem is fascinating in its grasp of relationships that just aren't going anywhere. The clinging to one successful facet while the rest isn't there and never will be. The use of Kris Kristofferson as the main component of the developing antipathy is brilliant and disguises only thinly what lies behind; the Sylvia Plath, Charles Bukowski and Langston Hughes resting 'cold hands' on the relationship too.
You have sent me a friend request; thank you. I would like to read and review some more of your work and have you look at some of mine first to see how we get along. I enjoy the friend contacts as I like to have established contact rather than a constantly changing list (I think we'll be OK).

[pal]

Love just happens.. demands and commands have no inspiration for the hearts..

yet we continue on the same tracks..

very well penned poem.

bravo
pal

[emmajoy]

I've read this twice and twice it's reached deep, deep inside me .. the words are direct, simply put and yet express sooo much: 'I never managed to inspire, / That same poetry from you.'

There's immense artistry here and although subtle, is easily shared : ' I wanted to stop the music, / Stop the poetry, / And scream at you to feel like that for me.'

Thank you, thank you for sharing.

[Nephil]

Yay Sylvia. Yes, I know quite a bit what it feels like when you suddenly realize that you and your significant other don't see eye to eye.

Excellent write.

-Ian

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

Well done ending to a relationship if your desire for understanding was truly not appreciated or understood. Whether this is about you or not - it still rings very true to many relationships. I can empathize. Well expressed.
Thank you.
Light,
Siddartha

[Michael X]

You connected with the flow and subtle dynamics with ease,
This takes the reader back just as a memory would, loved it,
thanks for sharing such talent.

[Wicahpi]

"I wanted to stop the music,
Stop the poetry,
And scream at you to feel like that for me."