Upon the Lighted Stage

Hard rock my game, I have the name of Jagged Johnny Ray;
for many years I’ve entertained from Boston to L.A.
My records have gone platinum with sales throughout the land;
I am the famous singer of a heavy metal band.

It is my bread and butter as I walk out on the stage;
I play guitar as a rock star despite advancing age.
A lot of people ask me how I feel night after night;
because I feel a rush I have to say it feels all right.

I will admit, even today, the feeling is electric;
like currents AC DC, with sources so eclectic.
I find I am astonished at the genesis of spark;
for on the lighted stage I play the concerts in the dark.

So often there’s good feelings from the bottom of my heart;
I cry Yes! when I know the show of metal soon will start.
It seems I need more air supply when breathing air is thin;
all faces free, expressing glee, a plethora of grin.

The doors that rock have opened has elated me no end;
I try to keep my ego checked yet I will not pretend.
The clash of ego with the humble sometimes is a strain;
but even so rock rhythms flow--I play the riffs again.

Deep purple lamps and powered amps surround us day to day;
we war the easy listening and country music play.
I feel the wings beneath my feet as amplifiers blare;
there is a tingle in my spine as all the groupies stare.

It’s not cold play that prods my pick, but that which glows like sun;
my metal chums feel like I do because we think it’s fun.
One time we played in Kansas where we thought it was laid back;
but red hot chili peppers seemed to be the choice of snack!

  (The audience was fired up, like they had snacked on flame;
    as we approached crescendo they began to chant our name.
    It was no cheap trick to disrupt, no trickery indeed;
    the raucousness within the crowd was simply concert creed.)
   
The kinks begin to take their toll as time continues on;
Earth, wind and fire still remain--my face is getting drawn.
Yet I am he who keeps his fingers nimble on the fret;
like tapioca and ice cream, hard rock makes my mouth wet.

Rock’s journey has afforded me an ardent-flutter-thrill;
each night I see the lighted stage which I and band-mates fill.
And like the sole survivor of a ship lost in the sea,
upon the lighted stage I feel the life rock gives to me.


40 Lines
Writer’s Cramp
June 7, 2013

There are 25 Rock groups (though not all hard) mentioned in this poem.
Send me a list of all 25, and I’ll send you 1000 gift points.
(If you get at least 20, I’ll send you 500 points.)