Paul Simon reunion
Duncan, my dear, take me to the Mardi Gras
to the outrageous hurricane eye
for the mother and child reunion.
Just because I was not born under African skies
not born in Puerto Rico doesn’t mean I don’t belong
in that Kodachrome Graceland of peace like a river.
Wartime prayers sung to an American tune—
there was something so right about that song
sung by Darling Lorraine.
You can call me Al if you like
the obvious child hearing spirit voices of father
and daughter—still crazy after all these years.
Can’t you hear that hearts-and-bones
train in the distance, while we sit here stranded
in a limousine of the late great Johnny Ace?
You be the boy-in-the-bubble
born at the right time, slip slidin’ away
into the cool, cool river. Adios Hermanos.
It’s late in the evening. He’s gone at last.
Now it’s just me and Julio down by the schoolyard
imagining what they’ll say:
“He was quality.
She was last seen wearing diamonds
on the soles of her shoes.”
© 2014 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)
*********
A lovely surprise phone call from the contest administrator of The Ontario Poetry Society (TOPS) delivered the news that “Paul Simon reunion,” above, earned an Honourable Mention in this summer’s Sparkle and Shine Contest.* Another entry of mine (“Christmas on the Wet Coast”—of which an earlier version was published on this blog, but prior publication was okay) earned a Judge’s Choice award. Both will find their place in the Sparkle And Shine Anthology due out later this year.
I was especially thrilled at the placement because the contest’s judge was Jan Wood, a friend of mine (no worries about favouritism hanky-panky though, as there was no I.D. on the poem entries) who is an amazing poet and a frequent winner in all kinds of Canadian places.
TOPS runs many contests, with reasonable entry fees, quite a few open to non-members. Check out the list of upcoming contests HERE and join in the fun!
This post is linked to Poetry Friday, hosted today by kids’ poet extraordinaire, Amy LV at The Poem Farm.
(And what, you may be asking, is a “Sparkle and Shine Contest”? The theme list on the contest guidelines almost reads like a poem itself:
Poems to be about fame, glitz and glamor,
poems about astronomy, astrological poems, horoscopes,
space travel, silver and gold coins or body or face paint, fireworks,
poems about fashion, celebrations, parties, start-struck poems,
poems about prisms, poems about shooting stars or falling stars,
poems about polishing shoes, glass, leather, furniture, silverware & tea services,
famous people poems such as actors, singers, politicians,
sports figures and authors and gem poems, such as diamonds, rubies,
emeralds etc. whether in a natural setting or in a jewelry setting. )
Violet Nesdoly 
Congratulations, violet! Paul Simon must have touched you deeply! Reminds me of how meaningful Leonard Cohen’s writing is to me.
Charles Van Gorkom
Sent from my BlackBerry® phone powered by Koodo Mobile®.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Charlie! I do enjoy PS. Downloaded a massive collection of his songs from iTunes a while back and find the lyrics interesting and poetic…yes, a bit like Leonard Cohen, who is also endlessly fascinating. (Also nice to see our friend Jan getting her due through TOPS, isn’t it!)
LikeLike
This is great fun, like a magical, musical quilt. Mark and I had the good fortune to attend an evening with Paul Simon and Billy Collins, and this takes me back there. Many congratulations and Happy Poetry Friday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Amy! That must have been some performance with those two characters. Wish I could have been there!
LikeLike
Congrats, Violet! I also had the good fortune of seeing PS perform live — he’s definitely a fabulous songwriter and his lyrics are endlessly interesting. Fun to see how you’ve cobbled bits and pieces together in your poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jama. It’s a lot of fun to ‘cobble together’ lines others have written, though truthfully, I always feel a bit like a cheater after doing it. 😉
LikeLike
Congratulations, Violet! I understand why the judge was smitten with this poem – it is a gem. =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bridget, thank you for your gem of a comment!
LikeLike
I recognize some, have seen Paul Simon, with & without Garfunkel. Love your poem & see why it is to be put into a “shine” book, Violet. Congratulations on both poems, and thanks for the links to other contests-maybe someday?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Linda! The theme of the contest captivated me. Am looking forward to the whole book of glittering poems.
LikeLike
Congratulations, Violet! It’s fun to see the lyrics put together in a separate narrative. I like the way you ended it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tabatha! I do enjoy piecing together these kinds of bits and pieces that another has written, but like I told someone else, it always feels a bit like cheating to me.
LikeLike
Paul simon is a favorite. I was singing every line. Congrats!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations, Violet, on both poems. I agree the Paul Simon Reunion is like a pieced quilt, obviously stitched together with love.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous! I am a huge Paul Simon fan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So late to this post… I must do something about my crazy schedule. But first I must put on Paul Simon’s “Rhythm of the Saints” and dance my congratulations around the living room! Congrats, Violet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Appreciate youu blogging this
LikeLike