Quadberry's Creamsicle: a ghazal for Barry Hannah
A spectral kid named Swanly, delivered shivery Delta banjo licks
with mad love. Eyes rolled back, to the whites of Barry Hannah.
In the irreducible jet stream, fighter pilots whistle "Born on the
Bayou." Cryogenic curly cues spell a sonic boom: Barry Hannah.
Those tiparillo-smoking slot machine catfish, made a riverboat tilt
whiskers and silver, - - - when they all lined up, for Barry Hannah.
Some hummingbirds absconded with a Missoula log cabin, mid-
February, "This ain't your Dot, not anymore," said Barry Hannah.
Dark night in North Vancouver Detox; with a shaky penlight
I got awfully high on four lonesome stories, by Barry Hannah.
A bevy of hippie glow sticks. So anti-Star wars. Yet, a Pensacola
Rainbow Gathering : lime, dervish, penumbra, cerise ... Hannah.
Eighteen-toed eager alien bonfire, in an Antares arroyo, they sighed
over a sleek meta-parchment, the only, brought back : One - Line
Epitaph for Barry Hannah.
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Author's Note
Inspired by a prompt from Kathy Fish
First appeared in Fried Chicken and Coffee
Other stories by Dennis Mahagin
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A wonderful cauldron of music & image, Dennis -
"A bevy of hippie glow sticks. So anti-Star wars. Yet, a Pensacola
Rainbow Gathering : lime, dervish, penumbra, cerise ... Hannah."
Great piece. Ghazal is a strong form & works well here.
Sam, thanks. :)
some great use of language--
hummingbirds absconded.
i got awfully high on four lonesome stories by barry hannah
eighteen-toed eager alien bonfire...
way to go, dennis.
Thanks, Len :)
I'm glad the poem still
speaks to smart readers!
D
Yay! I love this, as you know. And I knew you'd write the perfect poem for Barry, Dennis. Star.
Thanks, Kath ;)
Now if somebody would only
buy me Barry Hannah's New
and Collected Stories for
Xmas, I'd be all set!
xoxo
A winning idea and poem. Original diction. Like very much.
Favorite stanza:
"Dark night in North Vancouver Detox; with a shaky penlight / I got awfully high on four lonesome stories, by Barry Hannah."
*
Bill, thanks :)
i knew barry hannah a bit as he taught where i was studying, but i would never have imagined him going to the rainbow gathering.
it's touching to see such a rousing poem for him, with such carefully chosen sinewy language, surprising detail.
Oh, I would have loved to have known that guy. One of my idols, for sure. Thanks, Tantra! --D