LENNON

John, as I stood over Julia's grave
in Allerton Cemetery, I understood
a little of what you were about:

an unmarked grave, just like my
great grandmother's in the same
cemetery; faded teddy bear tribute.

The night the car took Julia
away from you, liquor stinking
on the off-duty cop's breath.

Julia -- knickers on her head
-- adult and child all in one.
Leather-clad rocker's mum gone

but not! -- not! -- not forgotten!
No room for sentiment, except
in your songs, somehow;
the girls screamed anyhow.



Christopher T. George

Note: "Lennon" isn't the poem that I entered for the performance category of the Lennon competition. That poem is another one that I hope will catch the judge Carol Ann Duffy's attention by being (I hope) equally sensitive and evocative of Lennon's story. That having been said, if I make it to the announced slam event on November 6, "Lennon" would be one of the three pieces I would plan to perform. The three poems make up what might be thought of as a "Lennon Cycle" as it were.

Chris