Lavender Flow
Can You Rhyme Hitler?
Can you rhyme Hitler?
and make it sound somewhat satisfyingly funny—
like SpongeBob taking a bubble bath in Squidward's house.
~
Can you rhyme Kissinger?
and make it sound impactfully, intentionally immortal—
like Team Rocket sassing Ash Ketchum,
and Heil, James supporting the LGBTQA+ community.
~
Führer, führer, no mein führer,
bad, bad painter—true artistry died with a shot,
like Sonic almost drowning
as the countdown ticks
and the synth line vibrates.
~
Je vois la vie en rose.
~
Ba-ba-ba… Barbara Bush… and Andy Kaufman…
lost at sea, remembered on land.
~
Can you rhyme it funny?
E. Roosevelt with Édith Piaf singing a solo reverie.
~
If Stalin and Lenin, Trotsky,
and Dostoevsky—wrestling, wrangling idealisms.
~
Responsibility. Reprehensibility.
Tea with Mussolini, perhaps, for education.
~
Still water.
Gate open.
My mind is free
as I breathe in the lavender flow—
like the scent of a floral beacon
that brings me hope and peace.
~
Why just take the vile and dehumanize them?
Avoid the punchline to save the—
~
anything.
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: It's interesting. I didn't want to put an author's note on this and will not discuss anything mentioned in the poem, here. But will just say that I think because I saw the title of Matthew Fromm's latest poetic offerings, Lavender and Roses, I had lavender in my head. So, here is an appropriate shout-out.
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
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Comments (12)
And if it is possible to rhyme, is it even appropriate. This one is a thought provoker, and I'm loving it! [Prize 4/5]
Lavender flow reminds me of my friend Jaimee. Thank you
This sounds like my brain while I'm planting my trees on a hard site 😅 now I will think of my thoughts as unique poetry
Let's see..., Hitler, Hitler, Adolph Spitler all over his armies & generals he sprayed. If he had chewed they would surely have spewed, their jackassedness on full display. Sorry, it's late. That's the best I've got.
This is a wonderful, stimulating bit of poesy, Paul. And bad, bad painter is hilarious. Just sayin’
Well-wrought! As for the task of rhyming Hitler, it might not be the best bit, sir...
love the way you jut let that lavender flow! lavender is supposed to provide protection and purification.. think your poem does that
Paul you make head spin, in a good way.
Hmmm, can I make up words for the rhymes? ;) Great poem as always, Paul. One thing bothers me though, and it's not on you. I see you use words other than English in your poetry a lot. A few months ago, I worked on a piece that I spiced up with some French love words (the translation was even woven into the next line). It was only a line or two written, but Vocal denied it. Since it was the weekend, I decided to rework the poem and not include the French lines. Didn't have the same striking effect, but it was published in 15 min. I didn't have to wait for support's response. Then there's the guy who wrote his whole piece in Iraqi or something, and Vocal published it with no problem. It's like WTH, sometimes. Anyways, lol, sorry for the rant, like I said, it's not about you. It's a Vocal thing. Your poem just reminded me of it <3
Great work, buddy. Have to admit, I too saw "floral bacon". I like the ending, can almost see the hand flutter in a "fuck it" wave.
Still water. Gate open. My mind is free as I breathe in the lavender flow— like the scent of a floral beacon that brings me hope and peace. 1) Great poem, this was my favourite part - I love the language and the imagery 2) The first time I read it, I read 'floral bacon' so it took me a while to get it. Fantastic poem mate x
No Paul I’m the only one who can put lavender in the title of my poem!