Claribel and I recently had the pleasure of attending a cocktail party at our friend William Powell's house. Here is a photo of C.C. and W.P. sharing a toast early in the evening. I've written some poems about the guests in attendence and Claribel has painted pictures to accompany them. Cheers!
William Powell & Carole Lombard
There was a commotion
out by the swimming pool
when William Powell,
(so debonair
I could never call him Bill)
arrived with Carole Lombard
on his arm and hand in hand,
impeccably dressed
they both jumped
in the pool.
Later Cole Porter
wrote a song about it.
Curious George & The Man
In The Yellow Hat
Sure he’s curious.
An inquisitive nature
often accompanies
superior intellect;
descended from a monkey king
George is superior
in many ways.
I am his father
and he is my furry son
and each accepts the others
shortcomings.
Our days pass happily
the way they should
and I wear the yellow hat
so George can spot me
in a crowd.
Bonnard & Me
Where you are
the cherry trees bloom
outside your window,
here it’s dreary
and gloom hangs
on the morning
like a wet jacket.
A cup of tea
and a head full
of scribble
I start writing–
snow blossoms
outside my window.
Hedy Lamarr & Franz Kline
Dear Franz Kline,
when I saw your paintings
there was a strange migration–
a swift departure,
an unsteady arrival.
My response was unexpected;
I’ve only felt this
once before
when I was walking
across a railroad bridge
too afraid to look down–
and then I did.
Until we meet
I remain,
yours.
The Little King & Claribel
The Little King
as wide as he is tall
doesn’t speak, he mutters
and points the way
with his pointed black beard.
He’s not concerned
with royal decrees
or castle and kingdom–
mischief and mayhem
are his scepter and crown
and at this very moment
he’s in a little toy plane
circling the outlying districts
of memory and time
dropping custard pies
on upturned faces.
Vincenzo Perrugia & Mona Lisa
Would you think I’m crazy
if I told you I was crazy
about you, La Gioconda?
I would also tell you
my heart is stuck
like a frozen lock,
I am clumsy and numb
until I see you.
I intend to take you
for my own–
we’ll share the long dark nights
and I’ll watch over you
willing to lose my freedom
for loving you.
Dr. Kildare & Cherry Ames
Dr. Kildare made house calls.
He also removed his own appendix
assisted only by a Slovenian scullery maid
named Glinka.
Stitching himself back together
was the hardest part.
He put the appendix in a white tissue.
Three years later he married Cherry Ames,
Department Store Nurse.
They had a son named Norbert.
Maybe you know him?
Jack Benny & Rochester
Back in Waukegan
Benny Kubelsky never walked
on water,
he waited until it froze
and skated on it.
Benny Kubelsky couldn’t defy
the laws of gravity
but every Sunday night
at seven o’clock
along with Rochester Van Jones
he lessened their effects
for half an hour.
There was a commotion
out by the swimming pool
when William Powell,
(so debonair
I could never call him Bill)
arrived with Carole Lombard
on his arm and hand in hand,
impeccably dressed
they both jumped
in the pool.
Later Cole Porter
wrote a song about it.
Curious George & The Man
In The Yellow Hat
Sure he’s curious.
An inquisitive nature
often accompanies
superior intellect;
descended from a monkey king
George is superior
in many ways.
I am his father
and he is my furry son
and each accepts the others
shortcomings.
Our days pass happily
the way they should
and I wear the yellow hat
so George can spot me
in a crowd.
Bonnard & Me
Where you are
the cherry trees bloom
outside your window,
here it’s dreary
and gloom hangs
on the morning
like a wet jacket.
A cup of tea
and a head full
of scribble
I start writing–
snow blossoms
outside my window.
Hedy Lamarr & Franz Kline
Dear Franz Kline,
when I saw your paintings
there was a strange migration–
a swift departure,
an unsteady arrival.
My response was unexpected;
I’ve only felt this
once before
when I was walking
across a railroad bridge
too afraid to look down–
and then I did.
Until we meet
I remain,
yours.
The Little King & Claribel
The Little King
as wide as he is tall
doesn’t speak, he mutters
and points the way
with his pointed black beard.
He’s not concerned
with royal decrees
or castle and kingdom–
mischief and mayhem
are his scepter and crown
and at this very moment
he’s in a little toy plane
circling the outlying districts
of memory and time
dropping custard pies
on upturned faces.
Vincenzo Perrugia & Mona Lisa
Would you think I’m crazy
if I told you I was crazy
about you, La Gioconda?
I would also tell you
my heart is stuck
like a frozen lock,
I am clumsy and numb
until I see you.
I intend to take you
for my own–
we’ll share the long dark nights
and I’ll watch over you
willing to lose my freedom
for loving you.
Dr. Kildare & Cherry Ames
Dr. Kildare made house calls.
He also removed his own appendix
assisted only by a Slovenian scullery maid
named Glinka.
Stitching himself back together
was the hardest part.
He put the appendix in a white tissue.
Three years later he married Cherry Ames,
Department Store Nurse.
They had a son named Norbert.
Maybe you know him?
Jack Benny & Rochester
Back in Waukegan
Benny Kubelsky never walked
on water,
he waited until it froze
and skated on it.
Benny Kubelsky couldn’t defy
the laws of gravity
but every Sunday night
at seven o’clock
along with Rochester Van Jones
he lessened their effects
for half an hour.
