Leavelle was cuffed to the killer of JFK
Live television a grey matinee
Ruby rushed forward with his 38
Conspiracy believers lying in wait
All fathers are flawed, that’s a given
He drank and he pawed and by ego was driven
But what can we do, they’ve all we’ve got
Julia’s dad was the Sultan of Swat
Edda’s dad doted on his daughter
Millions of Jews led to the slaughter
By Godfather Hitler and sweet Papa Goering
She could never accept he had no moral bearing
All of Jimmy Nelson’s partners were wooden
They stood by his side through bad and good and
As he bent their will to his vision
Furthered the art of ventriloquism
Rosie Ruiz in the Boston Marathon
A record time! Out of nowhere she won!
Her first race so how would she manage?
A taxi affords a certain advantage
Charles Van Doren who was on the take
Claus Von Bulow who got a break
Maida Heatter: “Queen of Cake”
Carlos Sanchez (Juan Valdez was fake)
Respect I suppose is hard to get
When you get so little work as an architect
His career might have picked up steam
But Pei paid for that pyramid scheme
Lee Iacocca – Ford top banana
Swiss Miss maker Charlie Sanna
King Kong Bundy “a walking house”
Russi Taylor – she was Minnie Mouse
He covered the first presidential debate
Sander Vanocur, oh he could bring on the hate
Tough questions and the VP grimaced
But “enemy of the people?” even Nixon had limits
Not breaking news when she passed
Unless you were one of her girls
Joyce Wagner left a legacy to last:
Love your children – change the world
Patrick Day killed-in-the-ring boxer
And that this is legal is absurd:
Carroll Spinney was a pretty grouchy Oscar
Who is pretty sad about losing Big Bid
The Lost
Many trans women of color were murdered
Bee Love Slater – an unfamous victim
An epidemic but barely a murmur
The beat of our nation’s racist rhythm
Valeria Ramírez, Jakelin Caal
Found drowned in Rio Grande mud
Some say that Trump’s hands are small
But all I can see is the blood
Looking Ahead
2020 has come for a visit
Good manners no longer apply
To stand idly by we are complicit
Will we just watch our democracy die
Each one of us make a decision
2020 grant us perfect vision
It’s down to us
I was expecting a fabulous poem about Ram Dass. I didn’t find it here, although there was a picture. Is it’s in on its way?
Iconic photo of Leavelle with Oswald and Ruby. Leavelle certainly does not appear to be surprised.
Capturing a life in a single stanza or sometimes even a single line? Do you mean for your readers to figure out the references like a puzzle, do the research ourselves and discover the pathos in each life?
Today I did look up every one of these people’s stories – diverse, fascinating. I understand why you read obituaries. Those you’ve listed under The Lost break our hearts.
Thank you for adding to the universal call for action in the new decade suddenly upon us.
What a project! You put a lot into this, and managed to make the news of one loss after another inspiring and thought provoking. Thanks for including my humble but highly fashionable mom among the icons!
Denny,
Thanks so much for sharing your wit, thought and spirit. It always gives me pleasure.
Paul