Cowtown And Mary Jane

1972 found me a guitar plug
away from Jim Dandy and dappled
with light that ignited history.

In Cowtown music swam through the smoke
to listening ears where bodies
drank communion wine full of notes.

Mary Jane passed the peace pipe
through the culture splash of
east and west until unity blossomed.

Breathing fog until memories were locked
I danced with the devil on Saturday nights
where rebellion was rich with words of peace.


©Susie Clevenger 2014

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At Real Toads Kerry had us caught up in flashbacks. Mine took me to Kansas City, MO and the Cowtown music theater. It was a standing room only venue that gathered some of the greatest talent available in its three short years. My husband and I met the guys in Black Oak Arkansas and ended up being local roadies whenever they were in the area. Kerry says: Create That Flashback Moment!!

Comments

Anonymous said…
What a great memory!
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Oh nothing like memories of live music. For me it was a coffeehouse in the 80's - but everything organic and no stimulants of any kind, hee hee. I LOVE "where rebellion was rich with words of peace". Wowzers, Susie. Perfection!
Marian said…
oohhh, Mary Jane she's trouble. love this vision of you, Susie.
Jim said…
Nice, Susie. In my thinking it is an unusual poem for you. I liked the last verse best and seemed to be able to identify a bit from one of my former lives.

My flashback from your poem is to a 'coffee house' in Huntsville, Alabama back in the 70's. We sat on the floor all around the room, leaning on the four walls. I don't remember any coffee but we were passing bottles of wine along, sipping as we willed. No glasses.

And, no, Mary Jane was absent from this one. At least this time. I was making my only visit, being an out-of-towner.
..
Anonymous said…
This says 1972 through and through!
cosmos cami said…
That last stanza has great impact and really finishes off this fun, reminiscent piece.
Anonymous said…
Ha! All the contradictions so much fun here--and so cleverly worked in. k.
Ella said…
I love your memory and you n' hubby Roadies! Fun to read and imagine~
I too love this line, "where rebellion was rich with words of peace" -yes, you captivate the mood so well!
Kerry O'Connor said…
Such an atmospheric piece, Susie, filled with warm memories. I think your last line says it all.
Helen said…
Dancing with the devil, passing the peace pipe ... so many great lines in this flashback.
(my guess is you may have inhaled?)
Susie Swanson said…
I love your memories Susie. I can relate to them so much. Awesome poem.
Music (especially enhanced!) evokes such strong memories.
Susan said…
Coded and open both come together here in ways that are also reminiscent of the time! Mighty fine. You might enjoy reading my early '70s poem: http://apiarymagazine.com/please-let-introduce-susan-chast/#more-15727101
Mark Kerstetter said…
Sounds like a place I'd like to have spent some time in back in the day. What I like most about your poem is how concisely you convey the contradictions of the time and indeed of rock 'n' roll.
Heidi said…
Your poem read like a song to me.
Anonymous said…
we could use some words of peace again ~
hedgewitch said…
Fun memories, Susie. Things really seemed so much simpler, so much less ugly back then. Love that 'guitar plug away from Jim Dandy' Way to say it.