"aretha" poems
Aretha Louise Franklin
Labeled "The Queen Of Soul"
She was expressive in her music
There was a story waiting to be told
Her voice was fierce and powerful
The sound was succinct and sharp
She was one to open up your mind
And give light to those stuck in the dark
Uplifting and exhilarating
Willing to enhance one's vision
Embracing love, life, freedom, and happiness
And carrying out her mission
When in a state of sorrow and pain
She still found a way to persevere
Her inner strength was profound
The messages in her songs were clear
At the age of 76
She has sadly passed on
The legacy of Aretha Franklin
Will continue to be heartstrong
Aug 18, 2018
Aug 18, 2018 at 4:04 PM UTC
There you were:
Second to last track
Side 1, “Atlantic Soul Classics”.1987
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. (Take out the TCP)
The power, the control, the energy,
Never heard a **** thing like it.
Then that Cliff Richard Show footage I saw on some old BBC clip show (yeah, I know…Cliff, eh?)
“Don’t Play That Song” in crackly black & white
Sorry for the language, Sister.. but **** the power of your piano playing in that moment made me realise that you were not “just a singer” but a full-on force to be reckoned with.
Like Sinatra you studied lyrics like a monk deep in illumination and then blew the song away with your received otherworldly knowledge:
Eleanor Rigby
The Weight
The Dark End of The Street
Border Song
Bridge Over Troubled Water
I Say A Little Prayer
Oh, these were your songs, now. Don’t let anyone forget it.
But there was something more to you than all of this.
The way MLK kissed you with beaming pride at some long, forgotten award ceremony.
The way you sashayed African culture when you stepped out in public.
The way you ripped up your own records when you tread the boards & faced your humbled audience.
The way you stood by Angela Davis when she was hooked up on some stupid jackshit Hoover charge.
The way you verbalized the black American experience not just through countless moments of sheer liberation but in the solemn way you stepped up to the piano on Amazing Grace
You comforted this whiter-than-white Paddy on more than one occasion and forged a path of hope in many of his troubled waters.
Oh, God we will miss you & your power – all of it.
That once in a millennia voice whose measured restraint & joyful release touched millions.
You will never walk alone.
Farewell Queen.
You are finally at peace.
Thank you, thank you Ms. Franklin
Sean M. O’Kane
16/8/18
Sep 12, 2018
Sep 12, 2018 at 5:21 PM UTC
When you first heard Aretha sing, did you know just what she meant?
Or did you ponder the words, in your mouth.
Cloying.
Stuck to your tongue with cement.
R. E. S. P. E. C. T.
I've got no idea what it means to me.
Jan 3, 2023
Jan 3, 2023 at 5:36 PM UTC
You can’t beat that musical beat,
From tinkling triangles
To blaring horns.
A quick ditty
Or grand symphony.
Music can mould mountains,
Oceans and plains.
Make you feel any emotion
Or atmosphere.
When songs and poems marry,
Their offspring are awesome:
“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality…”
Mercury magic.
Those rhythms run like chugging trains.
They fight pitch battles
Within our brains.
Drums keep beating,
Guitars whine.
Ever repeating
All through time.
Chuck Berry with his rock and roll,
Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul.
Elvis truly was the King,
Want some crooning?
Play some Bing.
Beatles, Queen or Stones,
Who really cares?
Roll over Beethoven
Bach or Lennon
On your dancing squares.
I know that rap can give you the blues,
But there’s so much music
You’ve got plenty to choose.
Musical memories adorn our minds,
Warm associations
Of nostalgic times.
Paul Butters
© PB 4\3\2019. Last stanza added 6\3\19.
Mar 4, 2019
Mar 4, 2019 at 11:46 AM UTC
I miss Vicki
Poetess sublime
Nature is her nurse
She wrote her essence every time
I don’t know why she left
Like Aretha, made me cry
Whatever drove her off
I just want to say good-bye
Her comments-wise, encouraging
With love she shared her best
You’re sorely missed, Dear Vicki
Farewell Dear Poetess
Aug 19, 2018
Aug 19, 2018 at 9:11 AM UTC
Sweet sweet powder
Sweet sweet powder
Cutting keys wit flour
****** man of the hour
It’s the sweet sweet powder
Sweet sweet powder
Lookin down from the tower
Homeboy, I got all the power
It’s the sweet sweet powder
Like I’m raven from the bowery
I be hittin fools wit trash cans
Wake em up in bout an hour
With that sweet sweet powder
Shootin three ***** like crowder
Hollarin hella louder
Like Aretha in the shower
Got that sweet sweet powder
That I’m given to the *******
Never ****** with those snitches
That are wearing goodwill britches
No I roll with the
Sweet sweet powder
Been running through the ditches
Eating salty ham sandwiches
You act like I don’t know riches
I know that
Sweet sweet powder
Be cutting keys wit flour
I’m da man of the hour
Jumpin in the shower
With the sweet sweet powder
On the ivory tower
Pimpin tricks by the hour
Holding all the ****** power
Got that sweet sweet powder
Now wit that sweet sweet powder
I get ******* like a Scotty
****** Baio was hottie
But with that sweet sweet powder
He coulda ****** gotten Molly
Little Ringwald in her prime time
Slap that *** like a hate crime
Sweet sweet powder blowin my mind
I got that sweet sweet powder
Fuckim man of the hour
Rollin with robin trower
Acting like a lil bow-er
With my sweet sweet powder
Turning trick by the hour
Showering with power
Giving ******* flowers
Got that sweet sweet powder
Jan 25, 2016
Jan 25, 2016 at 5:09 PM UTC
you can be john mayer,
and i will be your aretha.
bend your strings,
i will flex my pipes.
we can make music,
maybe even love.
the two are so close together,
so why pull them apart.
what do you say maestro?
wanna make a melody together?
Feb 5, 2011
Feb 5, 2011 at 11:23 PM UTC
kindness
respectful
grateful
greatness
the
willingness to forgive
Motown Motown
we
say
goodbye to you
Aretha
dress
in
silver and gold
return home
the
Queen of Soul
you
will never end
let
your light shine
again and again
Aug 31, 2018
Aug 31, 2018 at 12:48 PM UTC
Felix Calvalari and the Rascals singing Groovy.
As I ride along.
What a lovely uplifting mood song?
Of two people enjoying the mood.
And the Beach Boys singing Don't Worry Baby.
Stating everything is going to be alright.
How can you not love a lady like this?
Who gives off great confidence.
I truly believe, I could never love another.
After loving her.
David Ruffin's blended truth behind the lyrics of this Temptations song.
If I lost her in any way.
I would try something new to reconnect.
The Miracles truly spoke the truth about the things love will make you do.
I guess I'm in a sixties type mood.
When words solely spoke straightly to you.
I understand the woman's that seek respect.
Otis Redding wrote the song addressing it.
Altho' Aretha seems to get the credit.
What can I say about the two Dions?
With Dion Mucci singing about Donna the Primma Donna.
The type you probably couldn't get to ride a honda.
And then Dione Warwicke singing about singing about praying.
Oh, yes I'm in a sixties mood.
When words solely spoke to your heart.
When the Beatles stated don't let me down.
Them words was a message needed to be heard.
And papa never had a brand new bag.
I'm still trying to figure out those James Brown words.
Well, I relax for a few minutes.
Until I get ready to play another song.
Cause for the moment.
I'm just enjoying these sixties songs.
Sep 25, 2012
Sep 25, 2012 at 9:37 AM UTC
One day
My children will
Stop by
On their way
To somewhere else…
To
Kiss their old mama
See what I need
Fuss at me
For not eatin’ right… or
Stayin'
Out or Up
Too late…
If
By chance
I don’t open the door
Cuz I’m busy
With
A Good Smelling Man… and
Aretha Frankin
Sippin’ wine …And
Smokin’ Cigarillos…
They will blow up my phone…
And be all upset... Reprimandin’
My old self
When I finally answer
Speech softly slurred
(Aretha... moanin’ in the background)
Cuz I didn’t check in
In a timely manner...
Makin’ folks worry…
I will simply smile the learned smile
Of tried and tested mothers …
And have
A little more wine…
And
A little more Aretha…
And
A little more good smellin’ man…
One day…
Jan 20, 2012
Jan 20, 2012 at 1:26 PM UTC
A nontraditional background
white and black or other
Created by your false narratives
Not my father or mother
But, am I less?
A Skin tone that is visibly filled with melanin
Seems to determine my ability to succeed
I worked hard to deepen my knowledge
But that’s not enough or so it seemed
But, am I less?
A mind filled with culture
Aretha Bob and Diane
Created by my Afro roots
They became more then society plan
But, am I less?
A society built these walls around me
But everyday I knock them down
Your casual racism isn’t ok
Just because your cousin is brown
But, am I less?
We got civil rights so I suppose I should be happy
But isn’t that the standard procedure
Don’t reduce my oppressed community
Because the mass media delivers you fear.
But, am I less?
I am more more then this society offers
I’m going to preach all week til you hear me
Because I’m more then what you say I am
I’m capable of greatness and I’m not even free
I am not less.
Apr 11, 2019
Apr 11, 2019 at 12:12 PM UTC
Singing Oh Happy Day!!
Sister Act Oh Happy Day HD
h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zT8AyfsFmA
Oh Happy Day - The Edwin Hawkins Singers
h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfGDvDGE7zk
Oh Happy Day
h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cJJGgRlQi8
seeing since I am at the Hawaiian Brian's shop and there are um, no speakers to be found, lets just plaster a few and hope one sticks with some true grit and giddy *** my trigger girl.
Aretha Franklin: Oh Happy Day
h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb7D-W-QW-8
Jul 17, 2015
Jul 17, 2015 at 10:49 PM UTC
Find a beautiful piece of art. If you fall in love with Van Gogh or Matisse or John Oliver Killens, or if you fall love with the music of Coltrane, the music of Aretha Franklin, or the music of Chopin - find some beautiful art and admire it, and realize that that was created by human beings just like you, no more human, no less.
Mar 27, 2015
Mar 27, 2015 at 6:16 PM UTC
The hippie days were rather hard
For a young guy just starting out.
Off- brand jeans and crew-cut hair
Didn’t carry all that much clout.
I was into show tunes and Elvis,
The Beatles were great and new.
I lucked right into the Troubadour
And fell in love with Elton too.
One of my ladies loved Airplane
The other loved the Monkees
The problem was that only one
Was ever approved by junkies.
But I was so squeaky clean
That I was only into cheap coffee.
I swear I could get high as a kite
On Russel Stover’s fine toffee.
But something changed for me
The day I first heard David Bowie.
It sounds kind of childish now
But he was special and so glowy.
He pointed out some dichotomies
Between what was said and done.
At that time we needed something
And Bowie was obviously the one.
I didn’t stick there with his genie
But his genius opened some doors
And affected my art and my poetry
Way back then and forever more.
So then it was Prince, The Doobies,
Aretha Franklin and Annie DiFranco.
And, of course, the one-hit wonders
About eighteen hundred or so.
It wasn’t always about music
This social code of mine.
But music underscored it all
Made even politics toe the line.
We made changes in civil rights
And even affected an evil war.
There is no reason to doubt it.
Music will continue to change more.
Nov 10, 2015
Nov 10, 2015 at 4:45 PM UTC
Surely there was fire in that place
Long dragon tongues of flame
Tasting everything in sight
Leaving it burning cinders
Incredible heat wafted from
The prophet
Sweat bullets dripped then burst
Covering his face
Blanketing his broad shoulders
With salt liquid warmth
Every eye in the arena
Trained on him
No, they could not look away
They'd sold their souls
Happy with the bargain
Even if not quite
A fair exchange
He sang of proving one's devotion
Jethro Tull sings Aretha Franklin
The sweat made it work
And the flying tongues of fire
That set upon the heads of
Everyone in the building
Forced them to speak Hopelandic
So everyone could understand
So no one understood
But the prophet
Who sang songs of desolation
Songs of depression
Songs of dislocation and isolation
Heavy weights to bear
And not a dry eye in the house
Smoke rose through those windows
Firemen never came
Crowley paid lackies to keep the doors
Locked from the outside
So
The prophets demise
Buried in several feet of ash and soot
His last words:
"So Be It"
Hundreds upon hundreds of his
Disciples
Mouths stuffed with debris
The tongues of fire ascended
When the last pulse tapered off into stillness
Suzi Quatro didn't break a sweat
Heavy axe slung laying 'gainst her shin
Bruised but hidden by spandex
Old men and dogs in the audience
Leering, craving different meats
Suzi doesn't notice
Fonzie's still a few years down the road
Suzi's got credentials
Winkler ain't weakened them yet
And with those credentials
She's gonna rock
She's gonna make 'em forget about
The prophet
And all the heavy **** he was always
Layin' on 'em
She said "Watch me play bass guitar"
And whipped out 50 classic bass riffs in a row
The people who had followed her in
Seemed impressed
But not nearly as amazed as they were
By the sight of countless tongues of flame
Descending upon their congregation
The end result being
Remarkably similar to the incident with
Flaming tongues and the prophet
What it all means
Nobody knows
Best not to interrupt good rock and roll shows
Mar 30, 2015
Mar 30, 2015 at 12:12 AM UTC
By: Cedric McClester
What can I say?
That hasn’t been said
About the Queen of Soul
Now that she's dead
Her music lives on
Inside my head
Along with the memories
That her songs have fed
R- E- S- P- E- C- T
The Queen of Soul
Will always be
Aretha Franklin
Don’t cha see
She’s the only one
With the authority
To be the Queen in her sorority
There’ll be tears
Of sadness
And smiles of joy
That those who morn her
Will employ
She was one of kind
The real McCoy
With a living legacy no one can destroy
Let’s each thank God
For the gift
Of Aretha Franklin
The legend the myth
And the good memories
That she left us with
May her journey to heaven
Be restful and swift
Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved.
Aug 16, 2018
Aug 16, 2018 at 12:09 PM UTC
Why do you take the great ones?
You come with your death notes
And without any prior warning
You leave scores of people crying
Why leave the ones that are dumb
Why can't we have a referendum?
I don't think it's fair to remain stoic
Maybe you will see truth ,the logic
And the reason to reconsider things.
Nobody likes what your visitation brings
Stop taking the people we love most.
Take a break from job and read this post
Tell me afterward if I'm right or wrong
We are tired swaying to your funeral song.
Today you took the great Kofi Annan
Almost on the same date you took my Nana.
Day before yesterday you took Aretha
Like you took my dearest Aunt Martha.
©IvanBrooksPoetry
Aug 18, 2018
Aug 18, 2018 at 8:55 PM UTC
I read about Martin.
I read about Malcolm.
I read about Rosa.
I read about Muhammad Ali.
The people that started a revolution to solve a resolution.
I read about Harriet.
I read about Charles Drew.
I read about Nat Turner.
I read about George Washington, Carver.
Some many still re unaware of to this day.
I read about Sojourn Truth.
I know of Thurgood Marshall.
I read about the Count, the Duke, that's Ellington.
And Aretha and James Brown too.
All apart of the movement of African Americans fight.
All faced injustice for trying to do things right.
I read about Althea Gibson.
And the Civil Rights protesters fighting against fools.
Some, we see still operating like they still trying to rule.
I hope those reading this has learned something too.
Feb 8, 2015
Feb 8, 2015 at 8:24 AM UTC
Dust Springfield's music in the background,
playing a cool smoothing tune.
Which speaks directly about us.
You don't have to say you love.
Simply, because you can.
And if you wants to stay.
Then I accept your decision.
Petula Clark, soon is heard explaining,
don't sleep in the subway.
Or the pouring rain.
Once, where I have been before?
I don't wants to go again.
Then, we hear Dee Dee Warwick proclaiming,
I'm gonna make you love me.
Which brings to our face a happy feeling.
And soon her sister Dione Warwick's comes on too.
With, I say a little prayer for you.
A expressive emotion we do concerning each other nightly.
With all these ladies on the compact disc.
I'm getting this impression you're trying to tell me something.
Especially, when I hear Aretha Franklin's with,
I've never loved a man the way I love you.
I can only say.
What Marvin Gaye said decades ago.
If this world was mine.
I would also place at your feet.
You been more then good to me.
You been the love I needed.
I guess our life is a song.
Dec 15, 2012
Dec 15, 2012 at 10:48 AM UTC
i hate aretha franklin
(except for her hat)
and i hate old ladies
who leave lipstick stains
on otherwise perfectly
clean used coffee mugs
(i'm looking at you joan
because i know al, bob and ray
don't wear lipstick and kayla
drinks ***** chai so it's not her)
and i hate sunshine and
i hate rain and i hate people
but i also hate being alone
and i hate how loose these
jeans are but i hate how big
they make me feel
i hate dishes and potatoes and
***** floors and daily specials
(except the jambalaya but i'll
make exceptions for mckenna)
and i hate being tired and i
hate feeling down and i don't
hate myself more than usual i
just hate being in a funk
(why does caryl have to go and
leave me with only one coffee cake
i'd like to throw a long handled
spoon like a harpoon through the
biggest window available or just
the one with pedestrians outside)
Feb 24, 2017
Feb 24, 2017 at 9:58 AM UTC
The special
Agent Fat lip
The Happy Man
1-2-3-4 Cut huge
Lip- 4 Action
TVor RV trailers
Gold finger on his
dinners set
((Step Beyond))
Honeymooners
((Chippendale -Moonshiners))
X-men slip up lip
Love their
ladies lips
4-Max I phone
Late bloomers
Bunked into
God Amen
Like a rich soul
Tentative I millions
The curiosity
killed the
Old Meiser Goat $
He had
Italian horns
Maxine's lips burned
The Will-Smith
Wild West
College girls
of Sorority
Love of
the Venus
I beg you to
make money
Maxine's lips
of Men to charge
Of Mars money
turned minus
Varsity loves Visa
Max is the man
Going once to
Bottom lip
ten million
Mona Lisa
Multitasking
Never smiling
Secret lips slant
Italiano Piza
So why would she
even
shred his French
lady onions?
The British tea
party
Alice went
money maddocks
Bitcoins bird flocks
Mr. Smart money hand
Why the wrong man
Getting Stuck
Mr. Bull **** Buck
The Agent double
007
Agency lifted
money 666
Smiles of
sanity
No-one was pure____
((Olive Oil))
Minds 14 karats
money or nothing
Pots and pans
Chicks 4 free
The Millions of madmen
Cigarette lady revenge
Maxine's lips
was counterfeit
Her biggest fan the
Pure one virginity
Gave her most
freedom serenity
Dutchess master plan
Gucci men lips
found guilty
Red be hearted
fanlight
Max I-million wanted
to get out of the heat_____$$$
His stubborn
partner
in crime big loss
Her vivacious lips
Tangled web trillions
He was ******
I cannot believe
it's not butter
Spreadsheets
The maid's swept
up the cash
millions went in
her mother's trash
Maximum
Overdrive
Belle Sacrifice
yourself
Respect
yourself
Ringing the
Ben Frankin
singing bell
Aretha
Max line 4 Bella
The lip sign summit
Nickname ****
The Darkman
yellow taxi
Max, I million ended
up in Hawaii
To the max extinct
Nowhere near
basic instinct
Lips leopard impact
Cigarette lady making
Diamond rounds
Bulletproof purse
Max, I million
Explosive words
Is she and his
money
flames
May 22, 2018
May 22, 2018 at 2:35 PM UTC
Today the Queen of Soul has passed
And all the fans she has amassed
Feel saddened by this latest news,
Since she was one we hate to lose.
As listeners, we did rejoice
When hearing her distinctive voice
And she's the person, I suspect,
We think of with the word "Respect."
For R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Shouted out, we'd all agree,
Says it all, what we all need
In life, in order to succeed.
Aretha sang it loud and strong.
She made an anthem of that song
And no one has improved it yet;
In tribute, we will not forget.
Aug 19, 2018
Aug 19, 2018 at 5:52 PM UTC
Performed by Aretha Franklin
Though you don't call anymore
I sit and wait in vain
I guess I'll rap on your door
Tap on your window pane
I want to tell you baby
The changes I've been going through
Missing you
Listen you
'Till you come back to me
That's what I'm gonna do
Why did you have to decide
You had to set me free
I'm gonna swallow my pride
I'm gonna beg you to (please baby please) see me
I'm gonna walk by meself
Just to prove that my love is true
Oh, for you baby
'Till you come back to me
That's what I'm gonna do
Living for you my dear
Is like living in a world of constant fear
In my plea, I've got to make you see
That our love is dying
Although your phone you ignore
Somehow I must explain
I'm gonna rap on your door
Tap on your window pane
I'm gonna camp on your step
Until I get through to you
I've got to change your view baby
'Till you come back to me
That's what I'm gonna do
Aug 19, 2018
Aug 19, 2018 at 1:17 AM UTC
Songs upon endless Songs
A Woman who illustrated fame
I am talking about Aretha Franklin that’s her name
Her life spans the globe
Ms. Franklin’s singing talent was a blessing starting in Church
Praises and Glory would be from the congregation
But it was the Lord’s name in appreciation
Yet Ms. Franklin’s honor followed and blossomed through the roots of her entertainment life
It was her music full of establishment and devoted commitment
Ms. Franklin’s singing even caught the attention of the White House
She sang with Pride and Dignity at President Obama’s Inauguration
Ms. Franklin’s singing was pure inspiration
But too the world it was total appreciation
But Heaven called Ms. Aretha Franklin home
It was her moment from Earth to come to Heaven to roam
Ms. Franklin was marveled with everyone she came in contact with
But now she will be communicating with Moses, Joseph, Paul, Isaac, Jacob and David
Ms. Franklin will be walking with the Biblical Greats
Heaven welcomed and the gates were opened in appreciate
So Heaven called and Ms. Franklin entered in
A soulful life that will begin
This is not Goodbye, but until we meet again
Heaven maybe so far away, but Ms. Franklin will always be in our hearts, but one day, a personal home we will all stay
Ms. Franklin will state upon your arrival, “Do you remember me”
You won’t have to think, but you will certainly see
You have inspired the world
Our hearts just swirl
Until last time, sing on as you are Heaven’s own and for all of us to come together in embrace and while on Earth get along.
Aug 16, 2018
Aug 16, 2018 at 6:53 PM UTC
I let my eyes glaze over,
I wish somebody would of told her.
Hurt people, hurt people.
Say a little prayer Mrs. Aretha.
Every dog has his day. Manipulation is a way.
Control my mind, you captured my soul.
I fall in love to quickly.
Nov 4, 2019
Nov 4, 2019 at 8:09 PM UTC