New Moon to Full Moon
Awake again at two AM. My mind is buzzing.
Like a honeybee attracted to a new queen’s hive.
The sounds of the night were so still
that I heard the whisper of the wind sigh.
Which led me to reminisce about those days
passed when the balladeers stood on stages
above grassy fields.
Belting out songs of truth.
The fields were blanketed not with flowers,
with America’s youth reposed.
The legions of legends following the news
reported about the life and strife of the everyday commoner
filled my thoughts with song after song.
Good times, bad times, just in-between times.
My room, lit by the moon, is cast in shadows
as my mind fogs over as I hear from memory,
Leonard Cohen re-awakening me.
Giving me a snapshot in time of the world,
opening my eyes to a universe of possibilities.
His words gave a voice to my voiceless self.
At times, Cohen quotes Yeats while bringing alive
my youthful understanding through the lyrics of the Paradise,
the Belson heap and Savior’s breath that made me feel
as though I was a trusted sojourner of his clan.
The second act, as the full moon
could be known to be, brings to mind a contemporary –
a rebel, a devil, a fearless fellow – who told it like it was,
the times are a-changin’ -
Bob Dylan, a young man from the
land of ten thousand lakes brought music
calling the politicians out like never before.
It was telling it like it was - ‘twas a dark day in Dallas -November ’63!
and the Beatles were coming a was going'a hold your hand,
while proclaiming Wolfman Jack was back.
Like a Rolling stone, headed to Key Largo
my mind continues to wander as I wonder
where are those songwriters and poets
who know it is time to – tell it like it is?
Instead, we have talking heads that have a master’s degree
in communication but never have stepped into the ghetto,
rode the subway, been homeless without soles on shoes.
Neither have they worn rags with holes nor foraged a meal
from a dumpster!
What do they know about the vile, deceitful,
the cruel, and the mean?
Certainly not these Mr. Green Jeans.
Give me a balladeer, he or she – that simply doesn’t matter –
but please give me a balladeer
who will sing out their well-chosen words
and give us a new voice that will carry us from
the new moon to full moon, once again.
by JLR 4/5/2022
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Author Notes
A free verse tribute to two of my favorite legends of music and a shout of praise who, at eighty years old still, tells it like it was.
the Paradise, the Belson heap, and Savior's breath - songs from Leonard Cohen Live in Dublin in the summer of 1971
Land of ten thousand Lakes - Minnesota
The times are a-changin' - Bob Dylan's original song by many famous musicians.
'twas a dark day in Dallas -November - 63! - Lyrics from Murder Most Foul
Like a Rolling stone, Key Largo are two of Dylan's more popular songs.
My very special thanks to The Answer in the Wind by cleo85 on FanArtReview.com
who gives her very best through her art!
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