http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber
Today’s poem was first published on my general poetry blog in 2012 and written as a tribute to musician John Lennon, shot dead outside his New York City apartment block by Mark David Chapman on Dec 8th 1980. I have been asked to publish it here today by 'Martin' "...because it has a resonance and meaning for everyone, as much today as at any time in the human calendar, if not more so..." Martin suggests I post it on social media - "...to bring it to the attention of a wider audience." - Well, what can I say but thank you, Martin. I no longer use social media so I hope this will suffice. (Any reader is welcome to post a link on social media to any poem on either of my poetry blogs they may particularly like (or dislike) so long as they always include the copyright proviso accompanying it. I left Facebook and Twitter after becoming so bored with trolls, but can easily delete/block any unwanted emails.)
'Imagine' was written and performed by Lennon. The best-selling single of his solo career, its lyrical statement is one of collectivist positivism. It challenges the listener to imagine a world at peace, without the divisiveness and barriers of religious denominations and nationalities, and to consider the possibility that the focus of humanity should be living a life less attached to material possessions.
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Today’s poem was first published on my general poetry blog in 2012 and written as a tribute to musician John Lennon, shot dead outside his New York City apartment block by Mark David Chapman on Dec 8th 1980. I have been asked to publish it here today by 'Martin' "...because it has a resonance and meaning for everyone, as much today as at any time in the human calendar, if not more so..." Martin suggests I post it on social media - "...to bring it to the attention of a wider audience." - Well, what can I say but thank you, Martin. I no longer use social media so I hope this will suffice. (Any reader is welcome to post a link on social media to any poem on either of my poetry blogs they may particularly like (or dislike) so long as they always include the copyright proviso accompanying it. I left Facebook and Twitter after becoming so bored with trolls, but can easily delete/block any unwanted emails.)
'Imagine' was written and performed by Lennon. The best-selling single of his solo career, its lyrical statement is one of collectivist positivism. It challenges the listener to imagine a world at peace, without the divisiveness and barriers of religious denominations and nationalities, and to consider the possibility that the focus of humanity should be living a life less attached to material possessions.
Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono scattered his ashes in New York's Central Park, where the Strawberry Fields memorial was later created
Photo: John Lennon Memorial
WHERE THE KEYWORD IS IMAGINE
The gospel of John Lennon
sees a testing time for dreams,
inspires the imagination
Politics needs urgent revision
to silence starvation’s screams;
the gospel of John Lennon
No mythicizing hell or heaven;
it’s repairing life’s frayed seams
inspires the imagination
No (one-upmanship) religion;
trusting that love all hate redeems;
the gospel of John Lennon
Where any cultural division,
mutual respect tempering extremes,
inspires the imagination
In a song for every season,
ideals as pure as mountain streams;
the gospel of John Lennon
inspires the imagination
Copyright R. N. Taber 2012
[Note: First Published in 'In Other Words', Forward press, 2012]
[Note: First Published in 'In Other Words', Forward press, 2012]
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