Author: poetryfest

Performed by Val Cole

Performed by Val Cole

A while ago on the radio
When I was the boy disc jockey
And part time genius
I locked myself in the studio
And began to play the Fab Four
So that all of Indiana
Or at least Peru
Could hear.
After a bit the listeners became callers
And all they said was“play more Beatles Genius!
Play more Beatles!”
And I did until the boss unlocked the door and cut me off.

I wish all four were still alive,
The boys from Liverpool.
I could use some new tunes to be
“The sound track of my life.”
I know it’s a cliché
But Ringo, Paul, John and George
Seemed to know my heart.
When they sang, “I want to be a paperback writer”
They were talking about me.
I knew them and they knew me
Though we had never met save through music.

When John Lennon died of fame, by gunshot
I had a guitar in my hands
Playing one of his songs.
I could not believe what I had heard.
John Lennon Dead?
It couldn’t be!
A gunshot wound?
Not possible!
He was “Give Peace a chance”
In bed with Yoko in Amsterdam to stop war.
He was the one who bought farms with his wealth
Because Cows and Sheep had no part of war!
He was “Imagine all the people, living life in Peace.”

How the fuck could he be dead of a gunshot wound?

And now George – the quiet one
Whose Krishna Krishna, Harè Harè
Called the soul in us to touch the face of God.
He was eaten by cancer but on him,
(Another peaceful man)
The price of fame brought crazies
To attack him in his bed
As if he weren’t dying fast enough.

We have Paul and Ringo still
But the four are no more, and it makes me want to cry
But I don’t anymore.
I just Play more Beatles
The soundtrack of my life.

I’ve endured pain & I know what it’s like to struggle.
Refusing to be a statistic while rumbling in this jungle
Felt like I was drowning, gasping for air.
Reaching for a safety net that wasn’t even there.
Naysayers in my ear, made me almost lose sight.
Manifesting affirmations because I got to get it right.
Game airtight in this game called life.
They say I’ve changed, but life changed me.
Never second character always giving, main character energy.

Back been against the wall more times than 2.
I make it look easy, but you couldn’t walk a mile in my shoes.
I’m like a wilted flower but still I bloom.
Success is my only option, failure no room.
Finally discovered broken crayons still color
Destined for greatness, get my strength from my mother.
See I’ve been doubted before, that motivated my drive.
You can tell I got motion; you see how I glide.
Key in the ignition, geared up ready to drive.
I mean of course I done failed, but I got up every time.

See my scars tell a story!
It’s like the old saying goes, “No pain no glory.”
My past was my building blocks.
Nowhere left for me, but the top.
Threw dirt on my name & flowers grew.
Striving for success as if on queue
See delay does not mean denied.
Journey been lopsided yet I survived.
With a smile on my face, took my lick and I strived.
Don’t count me out, pressure applied!

It seems I’m right here
lying in your bed
with everything but fear
waiting to be fed.
Under your firm hands suddenly is clear
this could be a game
that could leave in tears.

I already know what is coming next
my heart is beating fast inside my chest
you know what I want
there is no need to guess
I want you to undress.

I know where you are aiming first
could be here
could be there
but baby I didn’t come to rest.

So, I grab you by the throat
look you in the eye
and let you know you can suck my breast
then comes your hand touching the rest
pressing against me, gentle caress
going inside me
making me wet
making me moan
making me blessed

There once was a boy
Who hid in the Moon
And it served as his comforting
Lunar cocoon.

He sat inside watching
The stars pass on by
With dreams that he too
Could inhabit the sky,

But the moon was too small
And he outgrew it quick,
While the thought of departing
Had made the boy sick.

So he stayed far too long
Cracked the moon like a shell,
And his arms and legs dangled
Immobile and swelled.

The boy remained stuck
In the Moon’s gravitation
And dreamt of departing
To quell his frustration,

But gravity wasn’t what
Kept him in place,
Rather his fear of falling
Flat onto his face.

Everything’s getting blurry, fuzzy
Spinning around in a circle so fast
Colors zip through my eyes
Are you with me? I don’t know.
The night’s over before it’s even begun
And as I look out my window the sun
Is rising beautifully, horrifically.

I’m blinded by the glow of its uncertainty because
A new day is dawning
So quit with our wanting
And just focus on belonging
In this city, which worships perfection
Until we’re perfect, then suddenly
They’re all hurling tomatoes at us
Knocking us off the throne of the sun
As we tumble to our doom below,
Icarus.

When I fall, will you be there to pick me up?
If I vomit, will you hold my cup?
If you leave with the rising of the sun,
Will we break up?
Everything’s getting blurry, fuzzy.

It feels like I have the flu. Every part of me hurts. Tender to the touch.
But its not you. IT- IS – ME.
I sort after you, on purpose!
I told people that I wanted you, on purpose!
I met with you, on purpose!
I dated you, on purpose!
And even when you told me you was leaving
I kissed you, on purpose!
I wanted to get to know you, on purpose!
I allowed myself to share with you, on purpose!
I opened up to you, on purpose!
I argued with you, on purpose!
I played with you, on purpose!
And even when you told me you was leaving.
I cared for you, on purpose!
I laid down with you, on purpose!
I fell for you, on purpose!
IM-IN-LOVE-YOU on purpose!!!
Because you have been so honest with me from the beginning, that you are leaving
I suffer for you, on purpose!
I’m HAPPY for you, on purpose!
Im PROUD of you, on purpose!
But it doesn’t stop my heart from hurting for you, on purpose!
I did this to myself, on purpose!
If you ask me if I regret or would I do it all over again. I would say YES 100x over again and it will be done on purpose!
Every moment I spent with you it was on purpose.
I rather have been with you then not experiencing life without you, because then my life would of
FELT – LIKE – IT – HAD – NO PURPOSE!!!

Enterprising Edgar was his name.
He stole all the eggs without any shame.
Then he boiled, colored and hid them away
And sold them at the Black Market Café.
But Edgar’s caper came undone
When a bunch of children in search of fun
Found his eggs in bushes and under beams,
Each one so beautiful it made them all scream:
“This egg hunt is great! We must make this a habit!”
And that is when Edgar became Peter, the Easter Rabbit.
Now all the hens are paid and let out when it’s sunny.
As for Peter, well, he is loved but still has no money.

(Written for ‘An Evening with Shakespeare,’ presenting scenes from his plays.)

Opening ACT I

Enter clown. He addresses the audience:

Oh, Thespian Gods, accept our utmost thanks

For this sweet audience, come to view our pranks.

Dear friends, our most and heartiest welcome take;

Forgive our foibles, just for kindness sake.
The Writer’s genius you will surely see;
The awkward actors? Why, we’ll pardoned be
For all the flaws wherewith we gamely play.
Our fervent prayer is to the end you stay.
You needs must feel how much we prize and love
The cunning Bard, who frowns from up above
Lest dare our mouths pronounce unprettily
The dulcet lines he penned so wittily…
Dare I continue with this silly verse?
It adds naught to my wit –– nor purse.

Opening ACT II

Clown re-enters, strokes his chin and observes the audience settling down. He speaks:

Are you yet here? ‘Tis well, ’tis well, indeed!
For we have more to act, so pray pay heed.

We pored through all his works, perchance to learn

What pleaseth most, what we your hearts can burn.
‘Twas hard to choose from all his wondrous plays,
From all the rank and motley he arrays,
What’s best to show in clearest, sharpest light
His wisdom and his radiant genius bright.
The tragic Will, the witty William too,
The sweet, sweet Will alike we shew’d to you.
We now present, without too much ado,
Petruchio ’rayed in red and royal blue,

To wonder, ponder, how with conquest woo
The buxom, lucksome, plucksome, fucksome shrew!