Janis

...to commemorate the death of Janis Joplin

janis

 

 

she died alone

an accidental overdose

in a seedy Hollywood hotel

a needle shot into her veins

a potent batch of heroin

with the velocity of

a runaway train

 

 

Reviews

[willweb]

I grew up listening to her. Big Brother and the holding company and then I saw her live at the Atlantic City Raceway in New Jersey. She was definitely one of kind and someone very special. "Come one, take another little piece of my heart now baby" Music, in my opinion, was so much better back then. Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, Foghat, J. Giels...wow...takes me back.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Wow, you saw Janis!! I messaged you the entirety of this poem. I decided to only publish the first verse, which I thought stood well on its own merit. Thanks, Will!

[willweb]

I think I can safely say I have just about anyone from the era you can think of. I received your message...thank you again, that was fantastic.

[Richard Knox]

Weird. I read a poem earlier today that reminded me of Janis, then I came across this one. Very tender and sad tribute to a tremendously talented singer. We could fill an entire volume of poetry about the gifted rock and roll artists who died similarly around the same time as Ms Joplin. Nicely done!

[Kelly Scheppers]

So gifted, and I bet she'd still be going strong today, had she lived. Thank you, Richard!

[W. Barrett Munn]

I have a thing about short poems - I really like them, and your last two lines made me glad I stopped to read Janis. Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waiting for a train, feelin' 'bout as faded as my jeans.

[Kelly Scheppers]

I'm glad I wrote this. It speaks to me every time I reread it, and I think it's Janis, thanking me for the recognition given. Well deserved, Janis! Thank you, Winston!

[keith]

isn't this the path of success for great artists? the overpowering depth of their work certainly opens the door(s) that most keep locked ... skeletons from the closet gain freedom that often leads to self destruction.
which asks the question(s), does the imbalance often seen in the behaviors and talents of 'real artists' offer clues to their weaknesses and self destructive natures? my observations and experience say yes!
you have great talent kelly. lets hope you don't become its victim like so many of us are.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you for your candor. It is much appreciated!

[Neville]

She was damn good, wasn't she ............... and you nailed her here Kelly .. Another one not to be forgot .. N

[Kelly Scheppers]

To lose someone that talented, and so young...Thank you, Nev!

[Tate Morgan]

Janis was a light that burned twice as bright. But lasted only half as long.Tragic beauty maligned and haunted. Her demons chased her to an early grave

[Kelly Scheppers]

So well said, Tate. Thank you!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This was a great read. Janis was a troubled young woman; brilliant and romantic in the artistic sense. Some day they'll make a movie about her and Kris Kristofferson and their time together and call it, "Me and Bobby McGee". I hope! Lacy J. Dalton sang, "I remember meeting Janice in a bar in Santa Cruz, with a dealer she pretended to ignore, She was swigging Southern Comfort and every time her glass ran low, the guy behind the bar poured out some more. Then I saw the dealer slip her something quickly. Do you suppose he knew she had no time to waste? And as she stumbled to the door and revved up that old Porsche, I said, hats off to another hard luck ace." excerpt from Hard Luck Ace

[Kelly Scheppers]

Wow, those were some eerie song lyrics. Did you ever see photos of her Porsche? I have a photo of it on my cell phone. It was painted in psychedelic designs. So cool! ( I belong to a Janis Joplin Appreciation Club on Facebook and I downloaded the image from there. )

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Yes, I've seen photos of her Porsche. I like most of her music. I had a copy of Big Brother and the Holding Company's Cheap Thrills LP. But it was lost or stolen years ago.

[Unspoken poet]

I miss Joplin, her music was amazing,
sad how she died.
Nicely written

[Kelly Scheppers]

She was a force in the music industry. Makes you wonder what she would have been like, today.

[William Michael Reeves]

If only the lord could have bought her more life!

[Kelly Scheppers]

Indeed, William. Thank you so much!

[Coyote Poetry]

We lost many to the temptation of the drugs dear Kelly. Janis was a wild child, maybe too much for our world? Thank you, dear friend, for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you, John. I appreciate the kindness of your words.

[Coyote Poetry]

Was my pleasure dear Kelly and you are welcome.