the rise and fall of Mr. Mojo...

an ode to the lizard king...

God hitchhiked across the southwest

Lived on the roof of a venice apartment building

Lived on love street of laurel canyon

Howled his gospel on the sunset strip

He magnetized the masses

He freed the minds of the 1950’s zombies

Clad in tight leather pants

Billowing white linen shirt

His pen aglow with the red fierce rhetoric

Of chemical induced nirvana

He was the shaman who led generations

To the promised land

He was untouchable

To the laws and authorities of mortal men

But a slave to the bottled spirits

His apostles held him up

As he stained the streets of fantastic L.A.

The women loved him

The men wanted to be him

He was on fire

He was a killer on the road

Then…

The masks fell away

And he became an oddity

A curiosity

No one was listening to his commandments

They were only watching

Watching this god go down

And realize his mortality

He fled

Before the third crow of the red rooster

He sailed the crystal ship to paris

And the blue bus to the other side

And this…

This is the end….

My only friend…the end…

Author's Note

jim morrison was such a waste of talent...one of those stars that burned so brightly he burned out early...he was a lot of things to many...i became a fan of the doors after reading "an american prayer", one of jimbos books of poetry...the rest as they say...is history...

Reviews

[Allen Smuckler]

What a great tribute to one of my favorite performers of the 60's...that is when he could perform...saw him live several times....once so blitzed he couldn't get on stage..You were so absolutely "right on" throughout...I loved your references to titles and lyrics...and boy could he ever write lyrics...What losses the world had back in the 60's and early 70's starting with Brian Jones...through Jim, Janis and and Jimi...could you imagine what music was still alive in them when they died....I get nostalgic to this day....had every vinyl LP by each one...still do.
I so appreciate this poem, I'm at a loss...Like other writes about lost musicians, this could and should be put into song...it is easily that good...that graphic...that historic...anyone who didn't know before, certainly knows now who the Lizard King truly was.
I thank you for bringing me back to the man and his music.....it is never over...
it is never the end of the line...
allen

[LJW]

Jim Morrison was God? Now you tell me....maybe I woulda listened more in church. :-)

What's particularly cool about this is that you chose to put the explanation for the piece AFTER the piece...which opens it up for interpretation on many levels.

Jim was more like Jesus. Carlos Santana is God. :-)

[Zeek4]

Great job Bradley! You really hit the nail on the head. When I was in college Morrison came to debate some of the professors. Half the college was in attendance. He showed up with his usual leather pants and a smirk on his face. He was a real smart guy with a tragic flaw...the bottle. Died emaciated in Paris of alcohol induced pneumonia. Back then we never thought Joe Cocker who live to see a future, but somehow he made it. Your poem does a wonderful job of incapsulating his life.

[OT]

now with an opening line like that - "God hitchhiked across the southwest" what can we expect but brilliance - this is a genius poem - God hitchhiking - so many lines that just stand out and slap you in the face ha - "But a slave to the bottled spirits
His apostles held him up
As he stained the streets of fantastic L.A." - bravo!! great write!

[Kerry O'Connor]

The fate of so many brilliant young artists to die before their time... killed by their lifestyles. I find it so sad, but acknowledge the legacy. Your emotion and admiration shines through your words.

[Kenneth The Poet]

You, sir, have gained a new fan. Nice f*****g work. I have loved The Doors since I was in high school. Favorited.

[.]

isn't it ironic that you can put this in line with God..and yes it's easy to see that great artists become idols..in their lifetimes this must be a heavy burden and really only in there early death that they become the personification of the person the masses wanted them to be..a poignant piece..pleasure to read your work again..happy to be back :)

[writing mojo]

I love the doors and your interpretation of the lizard king is magic..Ha Ha you took all the good words and added them to this piece, so I am left with nil to pay tribute to your this piece as well.. You described his life with such fine toothed artistic reach in the psychology of his life, then revealing the facade he eventually became.. Guess, he had to die to become immortal in the heart of earth where legends are made in what was heard.. Jim's is why i started to write poetry. The American prayer is one of the best spoken words I have ever heard...thank you... amazing stuff

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

What a stunning tribute! Excellent

[jinxed]

it was really descriptive i loved it

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

Jim~ what a hell of a descripive of the ascension and deconstruction of the icon~!