A child of the sixties, wild and free, <br />And Rod McKuen, meant the world to me. <br />I grew up with Creedence, and a band named Bread, <br />The Vietnam war, always in my head. <br /> <br />And there was Rod, on a California beach, <br />Just laying in the sun, just a wise old man. <br />With his poetry the world he would reach, <br />As I quoted him in class, I felt so grand. <br /> <br />Rod McKuen was our guru, he was everywhere, <br />Always deep, sometimes funny, <br />No one could come close, no one could compare, <br />He even made the Tonight Show with Johnny. <br /> <br />Rod spoke of life, and the meaning there of, <br />Of what was important to all. <br />He was like a gift sent from above, <br />And it seems that everybody heeded his call. <br /> <br />I read Rod McKuen because of his style, <br />He was different than everyone else. <br />He seemed a grown man, with the mind of a child, <br />I was really under his spell. <br /> <br />I read Seasons In The Sun again and again, <br />I could never get enough. <br />I read Rod In the sun and rain, <br />I just thrived on his stuff. <br /> <br />Rod was a dreamer, and I guess he still is, <br />And his dreams are golden still. <br />Reading his art I feel full of bliss, <br />And I guess I always will. <br /> <br />Rod was so different, and he never really cared, <br />Nobody told him what to say. <br />He was the one who really dared, <br />I hope he's still that way. <br /> <br />I still read Rod McKuen every chance I get, <br />Though now he's so different from me. <br />I guess in my own ways I am now set, <br />But Rod McKuen helped set me free. <br /> <br />I would say more But somehow I feel, <br />This ode is getting somewhat long. <br />Just know Rod McKuen was the real deal, <br />In poetry, words and songs. <br /> <br />3/18/11 Alton Texas<br /><br />Juan Olivarez<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ode-to-rod-mckuen/
