Take a Sad Song

I didn't know who Jude was
but I remember thinking
there were a lot of instructions for him to follow
and some I didn't understand
like "let her under your skin"
but still
when I heard that song
from the back seat of the car
I knew
it was my favorite
I had never paid much attention
to the radio before
I was only about five
but when that song came on
I listened
Somehow I felt like it was telling me something
important
Maybe it was coincidence or
maybe it was synchronicity but
I have spent much of my life
trying to take sad songs and
make them better.

submitted for Poets United, Thursday Think Tank #90, Music

The Critic

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The critic gives a bad review

Another play won't get its due

"The leading actor tried too hard

He isn't worthy of the Bard!"

The actor's back on waitstaff crew.

The painter unveils his new work

Our man critiques "It has a quirk!

"His recent work is amateurish!"

Dismisses it with a flip flourish

Walks away with a smug smirk.

The critic loves to boldly bash

The new composer's piece-"It's trash!

I couldn't stand a single note!

The woodwinds bleated like a goat!

I'd prefer to hear cars crash!"

The singer gives it all she's got

The critic says, "Her voice is shot!

She shouldn't be up on the stage

At her geriatric age!

Bring on a girl who's young and hot!"

The writer publishes his book

Reviewer barely takes a look

"The plot is dull, the language stale

This author's work will surely fail!

One more word I cannot brook!"

Others' work the critic judges

Their successes he begrudges

He lives only to berate

For his own art he can't create

Through such a hollow life he trudges.

submitted for Poetry Potluck-Muse, Art, Music, and Poetry at Jingle Poetry

Thank you Jingle for all of these awards!!!