Take a little piece

Tonight I sat with Janis awhile
she has so many unfullfilled
everythings...

no, she was not what many men would say
is a beautiful woman
but her smile, oh god her smile...
would make you a believer
and she never knew it...

she knew money
she knew drugs
she knew tempo change

but she never knew
the worth of her smile or how she would affect the world
long after woodstock
long after her tragedies

all she wanted
is what all of us has ever wanted

and like anyone that was ever honest
with themselves wanted;
to be loved
without judgement;
of her figure, her face, her addictions
her talents, or her monies

to be defined by her worth
by and with love

and like most of us
always thinking that one person
that special one,
who are all destined to fail
would always fall short of the mark.

she would never find it, the one to save her
from her idea of what love was supposed to be
who would make her feel complete
like a real woman...and that's all she ever really
thought she needed...

...and like all supernovas sure to burn white hot and fast
then fade away; love is messy
it disappoints,
it's a human endeavor

she would not find it
not in the drugs, not in her music
though so many loved her
no one ever really knew her...
because no one listened
to that  one elusive dream
called acceptance

that would allow herself to love herself
as much as she loved the ones
who would never hear her...
because they could not hear themselves.

Author's Note

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

I never knew much about Janis Joplin, but the poet seems to have done a lot of thinking about what motivated the singer. The desperate need for someone to make her feel complete, the rejections and the continuous searching accompanied by self destructive behavior suggest she might have had an undiagnosed borderline personality disorder. I say that not as a put down; people with this disorder often lead tragic lives because they believe the world can give them acceptance. But without self acceptance, nothing the world can do will help.

[Corset]

Thank you for such insightful thoughts and sentiment John, much appreciated.

[Einstein Noodle]

She was at the top of my list back then ..saw and heard her in concert twice with Big Brother and the Holding Company .. once in CA. and once in UpState NY ... and then came Woodstock ... she remains at the top of my list in memory .. her music ... her heart that she put out there every time .. a true and honest entertainer .. wouldn't it have been marvelous if she were a neighbor?! :) what a nice tribute, Corset! your appreciation of her and your sensitivity to all is evident ... best of the day to ya!
E.

[Corset]

thank you !

[Samuel Dickens]

They only made one Janis, though many have tried to be like her. Janis, Jim and Jimi--all 27 and gone before their time.

[Corset]

so true, thank you!

[wordman]

only she knew,no body else touched the heart

[Corset]

she was so unique for her time

[wordman]

yeah,,you`re welcome

[Chris]

A distinctive voice and quality to all her music... a short and "driven" existence like so many that find their relevance by having to ease their "pain" and "feel" more and more - however they can.

[Corset]

yes, beautifully put , hello you! How is every little thing?

[Corset]

'N'est-ce Pas?

[Chris]

Sorry, was "lost" in a moment.

[Corset]

uh! why did you take it away? I loved it!

[Chris]

I'll put it up on my page and you'll always know where it came from and how it came about...

[Corset]

i'll go find it there :D thank you...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

her life was as a comet, speeding across a Bluesy sky...burning out at 27----she had so much soul and was such a great singer...i loved her because of her passion...
she didn't just sing....she was the music, the lyrics, the true feeling of life and all its toughest aspects.
this poem is quite the tribute...
she took a little bit of the pieces of all our hearts back then...and still does now.

j.

[Corset]

It sure was, thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts J.