The King
birthday
of the king
no, not the one from Nazareth
although
that’s quite a thing
El-vez
The Pres
soundtrack of my skinny, bony youth
he might’ve been
before I found
the truth
in Shadows
and the Cliff
Brylcream quiff
teddy boys
Faith in Adam
Fury in fast Billy
wimpy Brits
stove-pipe gits
crazy crooning
skiffle
slap and tickle
soft pre-Beatle days
of ballad and of groove
before we even
clocked the moves
that came to us
from somewhere not so milky white
but
that’s all right
Big Mama Thornton
king will swing it
right
those hips
will swivel
on tv tonight
those lips
will curl
in scorn
and devilment
and sheer delight
to some
he has no rival
religious icon
yes
he was a force
unique and great
so Happy Birthday
King Creole
this January 8