Pepper’d Memories

 

Yes — I was the walrus
so too the fool on the hill
I was the nowhere man
sometime I feel nowhere still

but when the Fab4 took the stage
and raised their voice in song
they roused my golden slumber
my spirit sang along

I strolled to strawberry fields
along sweet penny lane
and when miss Rigby died
I felt McKenzie’s pain

stowed in the submarine
and sailed beneath the waves
down with the octopus
among the coral caves

and when the sergeant
struck up his lonely hearts club band
I fell in step by step
to march off to Pepperland

but before I’d hit the road
I ended up wounded in my bed
a delinquent name of Maxwell
took a hammer to my head

he’d come through the bathroom window
I forgot to shut it tight
I should have known better
but it’d been a hard day’s night

my friends had called for help
doctor Robert came in time
I’d said doc don’t let down
he did not — and I feel fine

cops searched helter skelter
looked here there and everywhere
but they found clues for no one
I said let it be I didn’t care

leaving home, you won’t see me
I said heading out the door
when I saw her standing there
my lover from the night before

oh darling let’s go day trippin’
I want to hold your hand
down this long and winding road
it won’t be long to Pepperland

now we’ve come together here
me and my sweet belle Michelle
she’s been writing paperback novels
the kind the drugstores sell

we have no plans to get back
we’re swept up in the allure
of Lucy and her diamond skies
on our magical mystery tour

even with George and Johnny dead
that old magic’s not yet slipped away
because old Paully‘s discovered AI
so a brand new tune is on the way

it will be so very cool
to hear them once again
to remember those wondrous days
get to relive them now and then

*
rob kistner © 4/5/11
expanded version: rob kistner © 6/13/23

Poetry at: dVerse

 


https://youtu.be/oz3JlMhgfq0

Rebel Rebel

…I republish this piece today in fond memory of John…

 

“we all shine on, like the moon, and the stars, and the sun”

 

Rebel Rebel

•

I’ll not listen
not be shackled
not be handled
not be ruled

I’ll not be managed
nor be played
manipulated
or be fooled

you sure as hell
will not tell
me

who
what
where
when
how

or why

what you offer
I’m not taking

your extended hand
I am not shaking

the world I walk
is of my making

and

I will not have it
any other way

your iron fist
I destroyed it

your sage advice
I avoid it

you can
rant
rave
condemn
and preach

your approval
I do not beseech

I seek only
my good counsel

I’ll not succumb
to might
or muscle

not be swayed
by your slick hustle

I am a man
of my own mind

and I will live
as my own man

this is all
I want to be

well-traveled
loved

and free

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

_____________________

image at top entitled: “Lennon”

10/9/40 – 12/8/80

• • •

 

…inspired by writing prompt #54, found at “readwritepoem”.