Bohemian Rhapsody


I NEVER EXPECTED THIS HOUSE
TO HOLD ME DEAR
THE STRONG PURE MAGIC
WAS SOMEWHAT CLEAR
A SPOOKY GARDEN
A BROKEN FENCE
ALL SORTS OF TRASHY
EVIDENCE
SORTED OUT
BY FORMER PASSENGERS
THOSE WHO
DEPARTED
LONG BEFORE
MY FIRST VISIT,
IT CAME
WITH THE RAIN
ON A DAY CALLED
OUT
TO SEARCH FOR
A PAD,
AND SO I WAS GLAD
TO ROAR UP
THE HILL
TO UNKNOWN PLACES
EXPLORING SPACES
FAR FROM THE PAST,
THIS BECAUSE
I WAS TOLD
BY YOUNG AND OLD
THAT THE SUN BELT
WAS THE BOMB,
A PLACE WHERE
LIFE EXISTED
WILD AND TWISTED
BETWEEN
THE CITY AND
THE ROADS,
TUCKED AWAY ON
WINDING STREETS,
REPLETE WITH
OLD RUSTIC DUMPS
SET BESIDE
MANSIONS,
GARDENS OF DELIGHT
FEATURING HOT FLOWERS
AND TREES,
THE HEDGES GROWING
IN A STRONG CHILLY
BREEZE,
UPON ARRIVAL
I SNUCK ABOARD
SLIPPING PAST THE
WORKERS
WHO WERE WAY TOO
BUSY TO NOTICE ME,
AND I COULD SEE
THE INSIDE OF
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
FOR MYSELF,
WITH TIME TO WANDER
IN ROOMS SET BACK IN
THE GARDEN,
FAR AWAY FROM THE
ROAD,

LET TALES BE TOLD
OF THOSE WHO
PLANTED THESE TREES,
AND FROLICKED AMONG
THEM,
PROBABLY YEARS AGO,
AND SO I FELT A WARMNESS,
A RHAPSODY OF HEAT
THAT FAMILY FEELING
THAT MAKES THINGS
COMPLETE,
THE OLD PINK BATHROOM
WITH A TINY BLACK DRESSER,
THE BIG NEW AREA WITH
WINDOWS GALORE
THAT TURNS OUT TO BE
A WILD SHOW ON THE SCORE,
AND LATER I FOUND
WAY DOWN ON THE GROUND
(FLOOR THAT IS)
A TINY SWEET ROOM
MOST LIKELY A PLACE
WHERE SOMEBODY SNUCK
OUT, AWAY FROM THE
RACE,
AND EVEN A SPACE
FOR THE WASHER
AND DRYER,
ALBEIT A SHAMBLE
OF INCOMPETANT
DESIRE,
AND UNDER THE HOUSE
FROM A TINY DOOR
WAS THE ROARING
HOT FURNACE
AND SO MUCH MORE,
SOMEBODY FIXED UP
AND MADE THIS
A BOHEMIAN PLACE
THE PERFECT JOINT
FOR AN ARTIST’S EMBRACE,
AND WHAT A SURPRISE
WHEN I OPENED MY EYES
TO A HUGE CLIMBING YARD
WITH A STRANGE BLACK CAT
THAT VISITS OCCASIONLY
WHO KNOWS ABOUT THAT,
AND I FIND MYSELF
ROASTING ALMONDS
TODAY,
WRITING ABOUT
THE FINE PLACE
WHERE I STAY,
OLD TREES
AND STRONG BREEZE
EMBRACE ME THIS WAY,
AS I PREPARE MYSELF
TO GO OUT
AND PLAY!

©JW WINSLOW 8/1/2021

The Land of Dyanna


ENTERING THE SPACE
WHERE SHE LIVES
AND BREATHES
ONCE MORE
IS ALWAYS A KINGDOM
AND NEVER
A CHORE,
A MAGICAL TIME
A WOMAN
IN PRIME…
BEAUTIFUL
WONDERFUL
CRANKY
AND BOUNTIFUL,
CLOSING
YOUR EYES
WILL BRING THE
SURPRISE
OF THE
LAND OF DYANNA,
SHE HOVERS
IN FIELDS OF
CLOVER,
OR MAYBE
WE’D BETTER
START THIS OVER:
(BECAUSE A BRIGHT
GIRL AND
THE LIFE OF
OF STRONG WHIRL
IS REALLY
DYANNA’S
WORLD),
GOING FROM
POET TO WRITER,
BIG SUR
TO BRIGHTER
AND TOUGHER
OUTLANDS,
PERHAPS WITH
A HOLLYWOOD
SPACE FOR
HER STAND,
I WRITE OF THESE
PLACES
AND FAMILIAR
STRONG FACES
BECAUSE THEY
ARE REAL
TO ME,
ETCHED IN
MY HEAD
AND ALSO
ON PAPER
DESCRIBING ADVENTURES
AND PRIVATE
DETENTIONS
OCCURING AS
IF THEY WERE
TRUE,
YOU KNOW
SOME BELIEVE
WHEN THEY
FINISH THE
READ
THAT THIS IS
THE STORY OF ME,
PERHAPS AT
SOME TIMES
WHEN MY LIFE
IS A CRIME
SET IN THE MAGIC
OF INK,
BUT FABULOUS,
NO…
I’M NOT,

WHILE SHE PAVES
THE WAY
FOR ME TO SAY
THAT SUCH
TYPES
LAND IN ORBIT
CIRCLING
PLACES AND
FAMOUS STRONG
FACES,
LIGHTS IN KLIEG
AND CAMERAS
FLASHING,
A WHIFF OF IT ALL
IS REALLY A
FALL FROM
REALITY,
AND SO YOU
AND ME
ENJOY THE
BACK SEAT
OBSERVING THE
TREAT
ANXIOUS TO
MEET
THE BIG CHEESES,
OFTEN FOUND
IN MANY
PIECES
LIVING HARD
IN LA LA LAND,
POSING FOR
PHOTOS
TO MAKE
A STAND,
AND I REMIND
YOU
(TRAILING BEHIND
YOU)
THAT LIFE IS YOURS
FOR THE KILL,
SO MAKE IT
YOUR OWN
AND LEAVE IT
ALONE,
CIRCLING THE ORDINARY
PLAIN CANARY
INSTEAD OF
A GLORIOUS EAGLE,
DYANNA HAS
DISCOVERED
AND WILDLY
UNCOVERED
THE SECRET OF
SIMPLICITY,
LIVING QUIETLY
AS YOU
AND ME,
ARISING FOR
HEADSHOTS
ONLY WHEN
ASKED,
POSING AND
SMILING
SOMEWHAT AGHAST,
SHE HANKERS
FOR PEACE
AND THE SHOUTING
TO CEASE,
JUST LIKE
YOU…
(AS WE SAY
AND YOU DO),
WATCHING
AND WAITING
FOR IT ALL
TO COME TRUE!

©JW WINSLOW 7/1/2021

Chasing St. Vincent


AN UNLIKELY STORY
(THIS ONE)
BUT STUCK IN
THE GLORY
OF ROCK
AND ROLL…
OR BETTER YET
THE RISE OF
A STRANGE
SEXY
TALENTED
LADY
WHOSE
CHOICES
REMIND ME
OF SOMEBODY
CAGEY:
SHE FIRST
APPEARED
ON A TRIBUTE
TO NIVANA,
TAKING THE PLACE
THE BEAUTIFUL
SPACE
ONCE HELD
BY KURT,
UNTIL HE
DESTROYED HIMSELF
INTO THE DIRT,
BUT WE LOVED
HIM ANYWAY
WANTING
TO SEE HIM PLAY,
AND SING THE
PAINFUL
TUNES,
WHICH WE
NEVER SEE
ON ZOOM…
SO THE PRODUCERS
GOT CLEVER
AS THE BAND
GOT TOGETHER
AND CHOSE
ANNIE CLARK
OUT OF THE DARK,
SHE WAS IN A
WHITE/BLOND WIG
WITH THAT
ROCKING
GUITAR
SO BOLD AND
BRAZEN…
SHE FIT
LIKE A RAISIN
AMONGST THOSE
NASTY ROCKERS
BELOVED BY
MANY,
THE ONLY WOMAN
WHO EVER
SANG THE ANTHEMS
WITH HER
LONG SLENDER
LEGS
ADEPT FOR
DANCING,
I RARELY RECALL
THE NAMES OF
THEM ALL,
BUT SINCE I
LOVED “ALL APOLOGIES”
AND THE WAY
NIVANA PLEASED
I SAVED MY
MEMORIES
OF ANNIE
FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS,

WONDERING WHAT
HAD BECOME
OF THE WILD HEARTED
PLAYER
AND HER BRAND
OF GUITAR
UNTIL SHE
APPEARED
ON MY MUSIC HORIZON
DANCING WITH DUA
TO A HUGE
HALLELUJAH,
TWO PAIRS OF
LONG LEGS
AND VOICES MATCHED
LIKE POWDER KEGS,
THEN CAME CONCERTS
ALL DRESSED
IN HOT PINK
(SHUTTERING
THE PLAYERS
IN FUNNY GRASS
LAYERS)
BUT NEVER ONCE
WAS HER
PERFORMANCE
A BORE, SHE LOVED
RAGGY CLOTHES
AND A LIPSTICK
GALORE,
BUT MAINLY SO
DIFFERENT
ALWAYS A BALL
TO WATCH
HER PERFORM
AND PLAY FOR
US ALL,
AND NOW I SIT
HERE
AWAITING HER
MERCH
(ALAS, IT HAS
FLOUNDERED
DESPITE
A GOOD SEARCH),
I GOT A BIG
HOODIE
AND A PROMISE
OF MUSIC
NEW AND QUITE
STRANGE
(SHE WILL NOT
REARRANGE)
OR TAKE
OF THE BIRTHDAY
CAKE,
POPPING OUT
TO SLITHER
AND WITHER
THE BRIGHT RED
LIPS
AND FINGER TIPS
PLAYING THAT
FINE GUITAR,
BUT WHERE IS
MY DISC, GIRL…
I CANNOT
WAIT
TO GIVE IT
A WHIRL:
TO MAKE MY
HEART
BEAT
AND MY BLOND
LOCKS
CURL!

©JW WINSLOW 5/1/2021

Grit


IT TAKES
A LOT OF ENERGY…
GRIT
THEY CALL IT,
ATTITUDE
GRATITUDE
AND A GOOD
SHOVE
FROM A FRIEND
TO FIRE UP
TRUE GRIT:
LIKE THE
JOHN WAYNE
STORY
ONE OF GLORY
WHERE HE
DEMONSTRATES
STRENGTH
GUTS
AND WILD CUTS,
DOES ANYONE
REMEMBER THAT…
THE BIGGEST
COWBOY OF ALL
A REAL TRUE
HERO
WHO FLEW
THROUGH
MY MIND
EARLY ONE
MORNING,
AS I POKED
THROUGH SOME
AMAZING PIECES
OF ANTIQUE:
VERY FANCY
VERY CHIC,
IT WAS TIME
TO SORT OUT
THE KEEPERS
FROM THE ONES
WE WILL OFFER
AT A BIG SALE,
KIND OF LIKE
A FAIRY TALE,
STUFF UP AND
DOWN THE
DRIVEWAY –
THAT’S THE PLAN,
AS MY MIND
FLEW BACK
IN TIME
RECOGNIZING
MY MOTHER’S
GLOVES,
SOME ODD LITTLE
PIECES
MEANT TO DECORATE
COLLARS
WORN YEARS AGO
AND EVEN SO
MAYBE COMING
BACK
WITH THE
WILD ASS OUTFITS
DANCING NOW
THROUGH
PAGES OF FASHION,
THESE THINGS
I PERUSE
OFTEN AT NIGHT
BUT SOME WERE
FORGOTTEN
TODAY,
AND CAME INTO
PLAY,
I WAS STIRRED
WITH THE
QUAINT SCARVES
AND FUNNY SMALL
BELTS,

SHE WAS SUCH
A SHORT
LITTLE THING,
MAKING MY
SOUL RING
WITH MEMORIES
OF GRIT,
FOR I WAS
A RASCAL
IN MIDDLE
YEARS
STOMPING
THROUGH
HIGH SCHOOL
WITHOUT ANY FEARS,
DEVELOPING COURAGE
TO LEAP OUT
ON MY OWN,
JUST COULDN’T WAIT
TO BE FULLY
GROWN,
AND ALL OF
THIS TENDED
TO USHER ME IN
TO THE MOOD
OF A REBEL
TO MY MOTHER’S
CHAGRIN,
SHE CALLED
IT GRIT
AND BLAMED MY
POOR FATHER
FOR THE FIGHT
IN HIS DAUGHTER,
THESE VERY
STRONG FEELINGS
JUMPED OUT
TODAY
AS I SORTED THEM
ALL AND PUT
THEM AWAY,
THE FIRE THAT
BURNS
IN YOUR PASSIONATE
HEART
BECOMES A STRONG
HABIT
WHILE BARELY
A PART
OF THE LADYLIKE
GLOVES
WORN BY MY MOM,
I LOOKED AT THEM
GRATEFULLY
AND TOUCHED
THEM QUITE
TENDERLY
FEELING THE GRIT
IN MY SOUL
REMINDED OF
DAYS WHEN I
WASN’T APPRISED
OF HOW IT ALL
WORKS IN THE
WORLD,
BUT NOW I
RECALL
THE BEST OF IT ALL,
FINDING MYSELF
AS A POWERFUL
WOMAN
ALLOWED TO
FIGHT BACK
WHEN HIT WITH
ATTACKS,
I DREAMT OF IT
ONCE
WHEN I WAS
SIXTEEN,
AND NOW I AM
HERE
AT THE END
OF THE DREAM!

©JW WINSLOW 5/1/2021

Marty


THERE WAS ALWAYS
THIS GRIN
FULL OF
CHAGRIN,
TWO SEPARATE
FRONT TEETH
BEHIND A
BIG SMILE,
IT CAME WITH
THE ATTITUDE
OF HIGH SELF
ESTEEM,
ASSUMING THAT
ALL OF US
KNEW OF HIS
SCHEMES,
TALL TALES
WHILE YOUNG
BEGAN QUITE
EARLY,
NOTING THE
SIGNS OF HUMOR,
(FOREVER
BEHIND
BRIGHT
RUMBLING
RUMOR)
I GUESS IT
WAS CLEAR
THAT HE WANTED
OUR LOVE,
WHILE PROVING
TO BE QUITE
A SCOUNDREL
EARLY IN LIFE
IT BECAME
A BIG JOKE
TO WATCH THE
NEXT ACTION
READY TO POKE,
HE GAMBLED
HE DRANK
HE WORKED LIKE
A DOG,
AND BECAME
THE BEST PAL
TO HIS CIRCLE
AND ALL
THE FINE YOUNG
LADIES
WHO TURNED INTO
ONE,
HE MARRIED HER
QUICKLY
BEFORE SHE
COULD RUN,
AND SO
FOR THE YEARS
THAT HE
LIVED OUT
THESE DREAMS
ALWAYS
SURPRISING
GOLDEN CLAD
SCHEMES,
HE CHARMED
AND WAITED,
ANTICIPATED
WHILE FLYING
HIGH AS A KITE,
IT WAS BOUND
TO BE THERE
ALTHOUGH
HE WOULD SWEAR,
WHILE BEGGING
A BED FOR
THE NIGHT,
OR ROLLING
WITH JOY
UP TO THE TABLE
WITH KINGS AND
JACKS
A WINNER
WHEN ABLE,

I ALWAYS
REMEMBER
A VISIT HE MADE
TO MY SINGLE
GIRL HOUSE
IN LAGUNA,
PLAYING WITH
KIRBY
WEARING HIS
DERBY,
WATCHING ME
MAKE SALAD
DRESSING,
THE BLESSING
OF WHICH
WAS THE
CONSTANT
APPROVAL OF
WATCHING MY
DATES
COME AND GO,
LAUGHING AT
COURTSHIP
AND ALL THE FINE
GUYS
UNTIL I GOT SNAGGED
BY A SWEET ROMEO,
WHAT A SURPRISE…
AND NOW SO
MUCH LATER
I CANNOT DISTILL
THE THINGS THAT
HE DID
WHILE RUNNING
THE HILLS,
WE CHASED HIM
AND
EVEN TRIED
TO REPLACE HIM,
AGAINST A
DETERMINED WHIM,
WHILE HIS FAMILY
ERASED THE SON
OF RELUCTANCE,
ONLY TO COME
BACK AGAIN,
BUT MOSTLY
BETWEEN
AND DIRTY
AND CLEAN,
HE WAS A DEAR
FRIEND,
LAUGHING
AND TELLING
UNTIL THE
NEAR END,
REFUSING TO
ADMIT A DOUBT
OF THIS
CRAZY
LIFE
COMING ABOUT,
AND NOW
HE’S GONE,
AND WE ARE
SAD
BECAUSE THIS
MAN
WAS NOT SO BAD,
JUST HIMSELF
AN ORIGINAL,
WITH A VIRGINAL
LAUGH
FOR A FUNERAL,
HE PUSHED THE
LAST MOMENTS
OUT TO THE END,
HANGING
ON TIGHTLY
WHILE HE
COULD DEPEND
ON THE LIGHT
FROM ABOVE
TO SEND HIM
SOME LOVE,
WAITING FOR
THE ANGELS…
AND NOW THEY
PLAY POKER
AND DICE
IN HEAVEN,
WITH MARTY
THE WINNER
HE THREW
A BIG SEVEN…
GOD BLESS YOU
WILD MAN
ENJOY WHILE
YOU CAN
WE SEND YOU
A RAINBOW
AND HOPE THAT
YOU LAND
IN A CRADLE
OF DREAMS,
JUST AS YOU
WISHED FOR,
YOUR LIGHTNING
JUST BEAMS…

©JW WINSLOW 4/1/2021