John Lennon

On Hearing of the Death of John Lennon (1940-1980)

                            

                                    I heard the news today, Oh boy,

Down there in lonely canyons of Manhattan

Dropped to earth, a falling star,

And trails of chords left patterns

On an empty sky.

 

Here comes the sun, and over blue horizons,

Quells the nightmare fever chart of love,

Iceflows melting on the bathroom floor

And rhythm’s beat on bone, softens

In the sad glow of age.

 

Love, love, love, incessant descant

Drives the world in slow mutations.

Nothing was the same again, they said,

Returning their gold medallions

In the dilatory post.

                                               

You know it ain’t easy to get us some peace!

But this is crazy, should have told you, man!

That limelight damages your health.

And now, suspended ‘twixt heaven and hell,

Poor guru, old brown shoe, farewell.

Robert Barry

9.12.80