Monday's Poetry: "Death of an Unpopular Poet"

by Pa Rock
Poetry Appreciator

Songwriter and singer Jimmy Buffett has had a rough week. He was due to open his latest Margaritaville along the white sands near Panama City Beach, Florida, this week. Unfortunately, the opening just happened to coincide with the arrival of BP's tar balls on that same beautiful beach.

The following, Death of an Unpopular Poet, is light verse that was penned by Mr. Buffett. The message is clear: keep writing, write to please yourself, and if you eventually develop a following, so much the better.

Jimmy Buffett is the undisputed King of the Florida Keys. May he live long and rain political fire down on BP for the rest of his days or until the Gulf of Mexico is once more fit for habitation by the creatures of the air, land, and water.

Death of an Unpopular Poet
by Jimmy Buffett

I once knew a poet
Who lived before his time
He and his dog spooner
Would listen while he'd rhyme
Words to make ya happy
Words to make you cry
Then one day the poet suddenly did die

But he left behind a closet
Filled with verse and rhyme
And through some strange transaction
One was printed in the times
And everybody's searchin'
For the king of underground
Well they found him down in Florida
With a tombstone for a crown

Everybody knows a line
From his book that cost four ninety-nine
I wonder if he knows he's doin'
Quite this fine

'cause his books are all best sellers
And his poems were turned to song
Had his brother on a talk show
Though they never got along
And now he's called immortal
Yes he's even taught in school
They say he used his talents
A most proficient tool

But he left all of his royalties
To spooner his ol' hound
Growin' old on steak and bacon
In a doghouse ten feet 'round
And everybody wonders
Did he really lose his mind
No he was just a poet who lived before his time
He was just a poet who lived before his time