Today’s poem is not a sonnet, but it is irresistibly charming. You can view a short film of the poem and hear the author Hans Ostrum read it here.
Emily Dickinson and Elvis Presley in Heaven
They call each other “E.” Elvis picks
wildflowers near the river and brings
them to Emily. She explains half-rhymes to him.
In heaven, Emily wears her hair long, sports
Levis and western blouses with rhinestones.
Elvis is lean again, wears baggy trousers
They call each other “E.” Elvis picks
wildflowers near the river and brings
them to Emily. She explains half-rhymes to him.
In heaven, Emily wears her hair long, sports
Levis and western blouses with rhinestones.
Elvis is lean again, wears baggy trousers
and T-shirts, a letterman’s jacket from Tupelo High.
They take long walks and often hold hands.
She prefers they remain just friends. Forever.
Emily’s poems now contain naugahyde, Cadillacs,
electricity, jets, TV, Little Richard and Richard
Nixon. The rock-a-billy rhythm makes her smile.
Elvis likes himself with style. This afternoon
he will play guitar and sing “I Taste a Liquor
Never Brewed” to the tune of “Love Me Tender.”
Emily will clap and harmonize. Alone
in their cabins later, they’ll listen to the river
and nap. They will not think of Amherst
or Las Vegas. They know why God made them
roommates. It’s because America
was their hometown. It’s because
God is a thing without
feathers. It’s because
God wears blue suede shoes.
–Hans Ostrum
*Fair use images courtesy wikimedia commons
Good grief, Rosemary … that is delightful. So nice to think of them, hand in hand. He finally at peace and able to sing his beloved gospel and blues, she free and footloose at last able to kick free of convention. Thanks
I know, I know! Love the conjunction of two such disparate artists (and the image of God in blue suede shoes.)