MONTEREY POP

THERE IT WAS
READY FOR MY EARS
THE MUSIC ROLLING
IN FROM THE FESTIVAL
OF A LIFETIME
MONTEREY READY
TO CELEBRATE
ONCE MORE,
I CUED IT UP
AND LISTENED TO
SOME AMAZING
SOUNDS OF THAT
ERA,
WHERE JANIS SNAGGED
THE SPOTLIGHT
AND ERIC BURDON
SANG ABOUT ALL
THE BANDS
WHO TORE UP
THE BIG STAGE
AT THE FAIRGROUNDS:
BEFORE WOODSTOCK
BEFORE ANYONE HEARD
HENDRIX
THEY ALL CLIMBED
ABOARD,
AND I TURNED IT
UP TO FIFTY
BLASTING THE
WALLS AND BOOKS
THE MIRRORED DOOR
OF A HOUSE MOST
CERTAINLY AROUND
AT THAT TIME,
THE MUSIC
OF SAM COOKE
AND THE DEAD,
SHINING THROUGH
RASTY CHORDS
AND RESONATING
WITH CLAPTON
AND RUBBER LIPS,
KEITH AND THE BOYS,
“SOMETHIN HAPPENING
HERE”, BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD
SHINING FROM THE SHORES
OF BIG SUR,
THEY STARTED AT ALL
THE RIGHT PLACES
AND LANDED TOGETHER
IN THE HEARTS OF A
COUNTRY HUNGRY FOR
HOT LICKS
AND NAKED CHESTS
FLOWER POWER
MUSIC THAT
CUT THROUGH
THE CRAP AND
MADE YOU STAND
UP AND SCREAM,

THE DOORS
RASTY/NASTY
PLAYING THE BARS
OF THE LA WOMAN
@ WHISKEY A GO GO,
I CLEANED THE
HOUSE AND
STOPPED IN MY TRACKS
AT THE SOUNDS OF
THIS MIX, KNOWING
THAT WE ARE GOING
TO CELEBRATE
AGAIN
THE GATHERING
THAT STARTED IT ALL,
WHERE DID THEY
GO,
WHERE ARE THEY
NOW,
AND WHO ARE WE
THAT RESIDE IN
THE CROWD
REJOICING AT THE
FREEDOM
NEVER TO COME
AGAIN,
WHERE MUSIC
AND GIN MIX
WITH HENDRIX,
THE BURN HOLE
IS STILL THERE
(THEY TELL ME)
LEFT BY THE
MASTERS
OF MONTEREY
FOR SOMEONE TO
POLISH UP,
MAYBE THE WHO,
OR YOU,
HALLELUJAH,
WE WILL BE
THERE THIS TIME
IN SPACE AND
RHYME,
T’WOOD BE A CRIME
TO MISS
A SWEET KISS
OF HISTORY,
AIN’T THAT
A SIN:
JANIS, PLEASE SING
SUMMERTIME
AGAIN!

©J.W. WINSLOW 5/1/17