In Song and Haiku

Wouldn’t it be Loverly

My Fair Lady Sings

Oh two, oh three, oh fifty-six

New Haven Premier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG-3t5_O6A8

(My Fair Lady by Jay Lerner)

American Pie

Buddy Holly died

2/3/1959

On my third birthday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5ecvBaqHBk

(Don McLean)

Love, Love Me Do

British Invasion

Beatles on Sullivan Show

George gets my young heart

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=0pGOFX1D_jg

(The Beatles)

Windy

Everyone knows it’s…

First letter is upside down

Flip—song’s about me

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=wdyP_vAgC0c

(The Association)

Aqua Boogie

Never learned to swim

Swallowed up by the ocean

Got in over my head

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwndQ_C_OGY

(Parliament)

Fathers & Daughters

Daughters a blessing

Girl dad long before Kobe

Said we’d do it all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aTocwGK36A

(Michael Bolton)

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

Thirteen-year-old angst

Carole King sings Tapestry

Songs for my old soul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxWrUtbzlLM

(Carole King)

Where is the Love

Flack and Hathaway

Somehow know of my first love

Crushed heart, campus woes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcHPNUN-U8E

(Roberta Flack)

Home

Wiz spot degree earned

Kansas replaced New England

My last stop Texas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzlPge4he0E

(The Wiz by William F Brown)

Rock This Town

Gremlin car of choice

See ya KC, Austin bound

Tears gone, old love found

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=4xmLyPZVaXQ

(Stray Cats)

Walk of Life

This was not my plan

Thought I’d be a Broadway star

Not corporate suit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd9TlGDZGkI

(Dire Straits)

My Sister Rose

Was middle sister

Oldest flew the coop enraged

Close to one who counts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUAAWbcYAMc

(10,000 Maniacs)

I’ve Been Everywhere

Airport to airport

Traveled on company dime

Around world and back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNj6spCtUE0

(Johnny Cash)

Green, Green Grass of Home

I Erin Go Bragh

Call fifty shades of green home

Cliffs of Mohr backyard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQhKqlOccHE

(Joan Baez version by Curly Putnam)

Just Outside of Austin

Austin doesn’t look same

Concrete ribbons of highway

I can’t find my way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKRW4ioy1ns

(Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real)

Change Ya Life

Two-by-four event

Stop sign run left skull fractured

Became new career

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2QkIHai-CU

(Lalah Hathaway)

Marion, Madame Librarian

Books equal solace

Became a librarian

Let words do talking

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=sr98uS9grnE

(The Music Man by Meredith Wilson)

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

I write, edit, read

In Austin living my dream

Life a challenge still

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWXUWepSak4

(by Bobby McFerrin)

The Hallelujah Chorus

Join chorus again

Music is back in my life

Song is soul’s balm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c

(by George Frideric Handel)

Simplicity

My life simplified

I reside in what matters

Spouse, pets, nourishment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFc_atpQlFs

(Sizzla)

Best Friend (Yusuf/Cat Stevens)

I’ve turned off the news

Listen to birds sing outside

While I walk the dog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TWaB1-ts1k

(Yusuf/Cat Stevens)

You’ve Got a Friend

Family a choice

Blood is not the only bond

Friendship is comfort

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcJbzuyp6VY

(Carole King)

Woodstock

Never a Hippie

Until I turned sixty-five

Woodstock came calling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEBmKi2xmoU

(Joni Mitchell)

Paperback Writer

Those who can't do teach

Editor becomes an author

Short stories then novel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjZCViOokEY

(The Beatles)

Peace Like a River

Can I just sit still?

The art of doing nothing

Lazy or at peace?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj3_yB6dfOE

(Paul Simon)

Truth to Power

Take a knee in prayer

For God but not for country

Sacrifice a myth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCNcVyb3S4g

(One Republic)

Sacrifice

Football was our bond

Dad and I watched Joe Namath

‘Til Colin spoke truth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCNcVyb3S4g

(Elton John)

I Fought the Law

Culture is a vice

Judgement without certitude

Mob consent sentence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va1oppIGs1E

(Buddy Holly)

I'm So Tired

Retire is to sleep

Sleep is a respite from life

Insomniac curse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cqHtGb9WYM

(The Beatles)

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

Made many journeys

Retirement a new path

New skills on my terms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmxOUIddBm0

(U2)

Every Day is a Winding Road

For four decades now

Same home, same man, but I’m new

Not defined by place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBtaqBc2P_w

(Sheryl Crow)

Live Like You Were Dying

Fear or Faith: choose one

They won't occupy same space

Self-belief is brave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzruh76X5a0

(Tim McGraw)

An Atheist Prayer

Cover all bases

Four leaf clover, rabbit’s foot

Or cross, crescent, star

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owyMDHHC8B4

(Chris Shiflett)

The Circle Game

Through my life’s decades

I’ve added to Joni’s song

As Earth circles sun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9VoLCO-d6U

(Joni Mitchell)

And When I Die

When will be last breath?

Not known for longevity

Longest eighty-five

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ELQyfJ-yk

(Blood, Sweat and Tears)

Forever Young

My journey of song

Ages of recollections

Seven decades shared

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frj2CLGldC4

(Bob Dylan)