Travels With John Barleycorn
A Nonsense Song
We took a trip
around the Horn
with Sweet Mary Jane
and John Barleycorn.
Some got sleep
and some got rest;
we found out who
could dance the best
under the table
and over the bed
in gold bright dark
in slippers of lead,
with arms upflung
with hair swung low,
sliding where only
the lost ones go,
with stars in our bellies,
too new to mourn
Sweet Mary Jane
and John Barleycorn.
~May 2013
posted for the 100th Open Link Night at dVerse Poets
Congratulations to the Pub, and all her Patrons and Staff, past and present.
Congratulations to the Pub, and all her Patrons and Staff, past and present.
"...oh my my, oh hell yes/ you got to put on that party dress.."
Optional Musical Accompaniment
Image: Author unknown, via Facebook.
If this is your image and you would like me to remove it or to provide attribution and credit, please e-mail me at the profile link on the sidebar.
If this is your image and you would like me to remove it or to provide attribution and credit, please e-mail me at the profile link on the sidebar.
Oh I want to sing loud... maybe later after a few beers we can have the whole pub celebrating and singing...
ReplyDeletelove the nursery rhyme, and love that party dress, too :)
ReplyDeleteOh the love of those two, dancing the night away. Lovely.
ReplyDeletelove the stars in the bellies...under the table and over the bed...i'm already getting a bit dizzy...ha..dance on..dance on...and i want such an indian dress...smiles...a bit magic in this...and thanks for all you've done in the pub hedge..good to see you..
ReplyDeletehaha... and here's the song i was looking for. :)
ReplyDeletebeautifully done!
Words that make you sing. Nice one.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young and first pulled into the world of singing, it was folk tunes that pulled me the hardest--this has that feel for me and pulls a bit in that wonderful way--lovely closing stanza
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this one. It does indeed have a nursery rhyme quality.
ReplyDeletehaha now that makes for a fun night...a little much of either of them and you might be lucky to remember any dancing come morning...smiles...lyrical and rather fun joy...smiles...
ReplyDeleteI am enchanted by this, and so would any child be.
ReplyDeleteI am swinging and sliding along with you ~ Like that stars in our bellies ~ Great to see you Hedge ~
ReplyDeleteLovely and I love stars in the bellies...a delight to read :)
ReplyDeleteLove this! The enchanting rhythm is infectious. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAh, I took that same trip, and it was a fair breeze in a fine land, at least for a while. I, too, like the stars and the party dress.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved "Suite For 20G" on your side bar.
Thanks,Shay. That was a great, truly amazing album--'Sweet Baby James.' Every song a pleasure.
DeleteThere is so much to enjoy here - I love the trip around the horn, which I think is a term traditionally referred to a trip around Cape Horn (hazardous waters) but, of course, has quite a different meaning here. I also love the idea of stars too new to mourn - kind of weird conflation of new moon for me in addition to the idea of stars being a symbol of something lost - maybe stars in the eyes.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lovely sense of exhileration and loss both - the bright gold the slippers of lead. Lovely. k.
Typoneses--referring to
DeleteMaybe Lucy's stars.
Ha.
k.
Those ones in the sky with diamonds? Could be...I wouldn't like to commit myself, but could be. ;_)I just finished reading a nice bit of Naval historical fiction by Patrick O"Brien--The Far Side of The World, which is all about one of those around-the-Horn voyages, sort of a rite of passage for a ship's crew, so you definitely nailed that part. Thanks for reading, k.
DeleteI think I've read that one,! Maybe. I read a bunch at one point. But my favorite are the hornblowers. C.s. forester. Well I love them both. K.
DeleteO'Brien's pretty good, though I have to say, his Naval jokes just fly right over my head. Haven't read the Hornblowers yet, but they're on my list.
Deletewhat a beautiful dance in life..thank you
ReplyDeleteThis is a real fun piece it makes me want to jump up on my dancing feet as it has a beat of it's own.
ReplyDeleteWhole lotta fun to read.
ReplyDeleteFun, indeed!
ReplyDeleteDidn't I see you in "Reefer Madness?"
ReplyDeleteHey--I'm not THAT old, dude.:P
Deletegreat fun to read!
ReplyDeleteIt's alive, Joy! And it moves smoothly, fun and easy! This sort of poetry is most difficult as simple language must be spot on and specific! You must have put in lots of thought in working this out! Great take Ma'am!
ReplyDeleteHank
Sweet Mary Jane and John Barleycorn! That trip was a par-TAY! I don't know but I'd say it was time to get the Ghangum on, bay-bay! hahahaha----- great fun Joy and written so well and so seemingly effortlessly! Love this......
ReplyDeleteDanger and fun. It can become addictive. This is an awesome romp!
ReplyDeleteWell, it seemed like a good idea at the time. ;_)
DeleteJohn & Mary and Tom Petty! SWEET! I would sit and listen to TP's greatest hits album in the early 90's accompanied by J&M and dream of my 'American girl' . . . I was learning to fly back then, this was way before the 'crash' :) such a great time that totally syncs with the touch of your vibe here. a chantey be at to chant back pirates from the dead and tempt the ol' dogs back for one last knees up
ReplyDeletein slippers of lead too
because dancing on the ceiling
is metaphysical . . . not to mention doing the 'caterpillar'
in the crows nest!
DeleteI appear to have slugged a couple of neat ones up my nose when it came to the end of that 1st paragraph . . . which lends the weight of authenticity to my comment . . . mind you, the fact that it's 4am and I am still typing may cover all bases. cheers hedge :)
Totally understandable--and to quote the man spiritually present at your conception--all NIGHT, they want the young American--no one raised on more promises than me, either. Thanks for reading, A--we could rig us quite a pirate ship, I'm thinkin.
DeleteDancing verses. You spin magic:)
ReplyDeleteHeck, nothing optional about TP& the H. Nice swing, Hedge. ~ M
ReplyDeleteThis was a lot of fun to read/sing!! haha I could feel my foot wanting to tap to the beat!
ReplyDeleteGreat lyrics Joy. You should sing this and post it on Soundcloud.
ReplyDeleteTom Petty - yes! :)
ReplyDelete"gold bright dark" - loved loved loved!
Loved the whole thing, hedgewitch. I think everyone needs such an adventure at least once in their life. ;)
trippy and fun and sexy all at once, and traditional too. love it
ReplyDeleteGreat rhythm in this, Joy Ann. It was like a frolic in the woods, and I love the pic it goes perfectly with the poem.
ReplyDeletePamela
Instant gratification, but subtle and clever nonsense. Love your play and very very good to see your work again.
ReplyDeleteI love this! Awesome write!
ReplyDeleteI know those guys!!!
ReplyDeletePartied with them last night as a matter of fact...:-)
I thought I saw you on that tabletop.
DeleteI love it! :) I'm grinning so hard. And what an inviting image you selected! This is definitely my favorite part:
ReplyDelete"sliding where only
the lost ones go,
with stars in our bellies"
ah lovely...I could hear this and pictured it so vivid....
ReplyDeletea swaggering tale and satisfying, jaunty read, Hedge.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane. Always good to have you drop by--appreciate it.
DeleteThat was definitely a jaunty little tune.
ReplyDelete