POEMS - With Tongue In Cheek

[keithgood838]

A NIGHTINGALE & AN APHRODITE

To hear the Monro-mellow larynx croon
of the night London streets were paved with stars,
and of the poor frown-wearing puzzled moon
seeing Ritz-dining angels, a few bars.
The homeward steps that were danced light as air
in high spirits homage to Fred Astaire.

To hear you sing of the pledged kiss of spring
that makes the cold winter seem overlong,
equalling the breathless hush of evening
that trembles on the brink of a true love song.
Singing the angel-glow that lights a star,
dear Matt, I wait till I am where you are.

Keith Good

[Eman]

Nicely done Keith, and I love the use of imagery.

[ROBERT M.]

That was very nice Keith

[keithgood838]

Thank you Eman and Robert. You both probably know
that Nat King Cole has memorably recorded A Nightingale
Sang in Berkeley Square, and surely All The Things You Are
is a truly exquisite love song. Matt's Portrait of my Love
is in similar vein. I guess we are lucky to be able to enjoy
such a life-enhancing popular music songbook.

[Eman]

Keith, before I really dug deep into my parents record collection, I first heard A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square by The Manhattan Transfer who I absolutely love. Yes we are blessed to have a life enhancing songbook. I'm just so glad that it's diverse and of different genres also.

[ROBERT M.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofg8vUDGWQI

[keithgood838]

Thanks for posting this version Robert, however Manhattan Transfer
only performed some of the song, they missed out the most poetic
lines viz:
'When dawn came stealing up all gold and blue
to interrupt our rendezvous,
I still remember how you smiled and said:
"Was that a dream, or was it true?"'
'Our homeward step was just as light
as the dancing of Fred Astaire
and like an echo far away
a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square.'
Robert can you work your technical wizardry
to post the Nat King Cole version?

[ROBERT M.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpjFUaHdUWQ

[keithgood838]

Thanks Robert, in the absence of a version by Matt,
Nat's is arguably the best version available. A London lad singing
a song featuring his home town, with fewer gratuitous grace notes,
would have been the perfect combination.

[Eman]

Wow yeah that is the most poetic version Keith. Thanks Robert. I guess the Manhattan Transfer were gearing for a more pop version geared towards the disco/pop crowd at the time.

[keithgood838]

OCTOBER

My ornaments are fruits; my garments leaves,
Woven like cloth of gold, and crimson dyed;
I do not boast the harvesting of sheaves,
O'er orchards and o'er vineyards I preside.
The dreamy air is full, and overflows
With tender memories of the summer-tide
And mingled voices of the doves and crows.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

October is a period for reflection
when water turtle-turns auburn-haired trees;
think how leaves make carpet-laying connection
with the creatively sedulous breeze.

from Calendar Characters

[keithgood838]

ALL HALLOWS EVE

The yearly day of foreboding is here
of Samhain and the rise of All Souls
when departed return from the dead
in the form of terrorising ghouls.
Now we leave out bribes of tasty fare
and a pass-on-by pumpkin-head light
lest we lie helpless prey in our beds
to the fiends that strike fear on this night ...

Keith Good

[Eman]

Awesome Keith, love the creepy but soft vibe of your poem!!

[keithgood838]

Glad you liked it, Eman.

DOUBLE STANDARDS

The full rigour of the law, imposing possible custodial castigations,
has been brought to bear on high-profile members of the British Press
for intrusions into citizens' private communications, allegedly.
Arms of the American and British governments, no less,
have been proved to have eavesdropped on the private communications
of citizens worldwide but have got off scot free.

[keithgood838]

A poem for Remembrance Sunday:

THE LANDINGS
(6 June 1944)

Death whistles round their ears
as yet more young lives he seeks;
bowed by expectancies not framed in years,
their measure is nineteen days to three weeks.
One in six boys storming Normandy's beaches
his Abaddon destination reaches.

Valour defying death without recoil
thus sweeping a scourge from Continental soil.

Keith Good