THE BEAT

I heard the news today...

George Harrison expects

to die, just like all the rest.

My sweet lord.

I laid down by the water

and watched the stream roll by

a clear flow babbling the news,

splashing over those dark

green rocks, moss waving

in the rills sparkling

enlightenment of nothing

in particular.

So what else is new?

I ask.

And the water laughed.

Author's Note

From back in 1998...

Reviews

[carl]

nice write - enjoyed the word play and the reference to Harrison - I'm a selective fan of The Beatles - always liked Day in the Life - especially the line "Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" Probably we should take to heart and imitate the water's response to the news - be well - carl

[Vol]

Carl,
I'm no fan of The Beatles at all, however, their lyrics are some of the best ever written and almost anyone who covers their songs does a better job. Have you seen the movie, "Across the Universe?" it is time well spent.
Vol

[carl]

I am familiar with the title but know have not seen it. I agree my selective attraction to the Beatles is limited to those pieces that have interesting lyrics Eleanor Rigby and Day in the Life as an examples.

[carl]

opening myself up for criticism my all time lyricist is Bob Dylan - I am a rabid fan of Mr Dylan

[Vol]

Major poet who could play the guitar

[Mistress G (This Accoun..]

Vol, just beautiful! I could see that! Lying by the river and watching the beauty of the water splashing against the rocks, the spray of the cool, fresh water. I've done that in the foothills of Virginia. It's an awesome experience I'll never forget. I hope it never changes.

[Arundass TP]

Beautifully written poem. Loved it

[Vol]

Thank you so much for saying...

[John the Baptist]

I expect to die, too. Of course, I assure the reaper that it's definitely fine by me if he takes his time.

[Vol]

Everybody wants to go to heaven, just not right now...

[Dylan Macadham]

What's old is new again in time's babbling flow.
...How'd I do? :)

[Vol]

Dylan,
I gave up on time a long time ago (um, er...) I don't even believe there is such a thing.
Vol

[Dylan Macadham]

Thanks, Vol :), but I asked: How'd I do re summarizing your message?

[Vol]

Dylan,
What happened to my answer? It was good one... now it's gone... will try to reconstruct.
Time is tricky, ask the quantum physicists who say the past is as indeterminate as the future. But then they also say time is non linear, so everything that has or could happen, is happening right now. It is also a Biblical concept, in several places we are told God knew us before we were made, and Jesus sait "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was, I Am." That's what I love about poetry, we all see something cool this time, and something else entirely different the next time. There is no wrong answer.

[Vol]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/why-does-time-even-exist/vi-BB1r9dKt

[Dylan Macadham]

Thanks for clearing it up!😂🤣

[poetgurl]

I like how you used reference to his songs, I liked George Harrison.
I enjoyed this write. Nicely done

[Vol]

When they first appeared on the scene back in sixty-three, all the girls liked Ringo, and Paul because he was the cutest. I always liked George because he was the quietest.
Vol

[poetgurl]

I liked when he went solo the best. His voice was amazing

[Vol]

For real. The Beatles were amazing songwriters, and I always liked that about them, but when other artists cover their songs, thy always do them better. Have you seen the movie "Across the Universe?"
Vol

[poetgurl]

No, I don't think I have.

[Vol]

Poetgurl,
It came out in 2007. Someone gathered a ton of Beatles and strung them together into one story and made a musical out of it. Some of the best performances I've heard. Absolutely worth the time. And if you have never seen the movie "Hair," you need to.
Vol

[poetgurl]

I've seen it, I have been looking up movies on Amazon, I found it, and going to order it. Thank you

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

you might not have met him, but he has given you so much joy. that is the work of artists, and that it is why we must grieve their loss. this sentiment was captured beautifully in this short verse. 'green rocks, moss waving in the rills sparkling' an amazing line. i could really see this place, i could stand there and cast my eyes at the water. there is something about water that soothes bleeding hearts. this was a great piece, thank you for sharing.

[Vol]

Thank you, Ern,
It's a real place next to a little white church in Kentucky.
Vol

[Stella Armour]

There was always something deeper about George, in inner and more self - knowing being than the others. He had that special aura of peace that flowed into his music.
As the others lapped up the publicity he never seemed to seek it, maybe he never needed to be approved by the masses .... a lovely state of mind to be in, playing his own beat.

[Vol]

Exactly! I wrote something saying the same thing to another friend a few days ago...
Vol

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I like the reference to his songs....and to his search for inner peace...."Tell me what is my life without your love, who am I without you, by my side"-----
My favorite Beatle...you capture his essence here so well.
j.

[Vol]

He was the quiet one, the only one who looked "real" to me...
Vol

[Poetic Beauty]

Sounds like a page out of a mythology book only parts of it are real

[Vol]

PB,
Thank you! Are you frozen solid? Buried in snow?
Vol

[Poetic Beauty]

Very little snow but very cold temperatures

[Vol]

PB
They're saying we'll get slammed in the morning. up to five inches... Snow thunder, tooread morePB
They're saying we'll get slammed in the morning. up to five inches... Snow thunder, too
Vol

[Poetic Beauty]

Thunder snows are cool but it typically means a boat load of snow

[Poetic Beauty]

We are at 10 degrees right now. Tomorrow a little warmer high of 29. No snow til Friday maybe 1-2 inches at most

[Vol]

Oh, my gosh! I went to feed the chickens this morning, and when I came back inside, I was a girl.

[Poetic Beauty]

That’s because you are not use to the cold lol well winter here is always cold but I still strongly dislike it.

PS maybe next time put pants on before trudging out to feed the chickens. Man sticks don’t like becoming lady bits lmao 🤣

[Vol]

PB,
Hahaha! There are many reasons to not feed the chickens while naked no matter the weather. Even when the widow next door offers encouragement and a warm blanket...
Vol

[Poetic Beauty]

I can’t imagine a chicken mistaking it as a worm

[Lorry]

Every time I think of George Harrison, while my guitar gently weeps starts playing in my head and it takes me back to the first time I came across the white album. I can remember everything about that day, who was there, what we talked about and even what type of biscuits we had with our tea, but I can't remember what I was thinking five minutes ago or what I was about to do after reviewing this.
And don't worry Vol, I'm sure in some culture or another water laughing at you is a good sign. Either that or it's that texas weed!
Maybe you should hold back on that and try some of that Californian lo-cal diet weed they thinks so good! 😃

[Vol]

Lorry,
Hey, man! I've got a couple copies of the white album... Of the four, I liked Geortge the most, kind of background and in the shadows of the others, but ther was something a little deeper, more mature about George, of By then, John, Janis, Jimi, RFK, and MLK were all dead and something went with them I don't know the name for. Ain't nothing to be don for any of that now, so
https://www.facebook.com/watch/v=253491829126616