Dear Jorma Kaukonen
After Genesis
I guess everyone has a few songs
That shiatsu the brain
Thrum the blood
Swallow them whole
Your music charmed my heart
But where or when or why
Has fled into the dark barrens
I bravely call a mind
Was it some dallied afternoon
In an easy lover’s bed
Open window breezing lilac secrets?
While rejoicing newly discovered
Hawaiian pizza
Pineapple a shared connection?
On a random road trip
Lungs high on peace
Back-seat harmonizing a cassette?
Maybe a skewed remembrance
Of my mother’s affinity
For Don Ho and his ukulele?
No matter
You’re a delicious earworm
A musical endorphin I can’t explain
13 thoughts on "Dear Jorma Kaukonen"
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Mentioning Jorma Kaukonen in a title of a poem is pure gold! You had me from the beginning.
Love the sounds and energy in “shiatsu the brain/Thrum the blood/Swallow them whole “
Yes, my favorite lines, too!
Okay, I am glad to know everyone liked that because I also thought it was brilliant.
“shiatsu the brain,” dallied afternoon,” “musical endorphin”—I love how you name things! And I love what you “bravely call a mind!”
Great energy in your verse, Sylvia!
You had me with the title. I’m a fan of him and a fan of you.
Great poem!
I have several of those
I love this poem! The rhythm and the content align perfectly. Beautiful!
Music is magical and you have captured that magic in this poem.
“Was it some dallied afternoon\In an easy lover’s bed\Open window breezing lilac secrets?” was so well done. You’ve captured the phenomenon of music wonderfully,
What an intimate insight into what you bravely call your mind!
Gorgeous! This reads like a river. Jorma Kaukonen is new to me- I listened to Genesis after reading your poem and am so glad to get to “meet” him!