The Last Time I Saw Jerry
-After “The Day They Busted The Grateful Dead” by Richard Brautigan
When Jerry Garcia stood on the moon
alone and blue
at the Atlanta Omni in 1995
his guitar defied gravity
his voice waved goodbye
I took the ride
in stunned silence
and saw what he saw
We watched our planet rolling by
We heard the children cry
and I knew he wouldn’t come back down
I would have liked to have met him
on a back porch in San Francisco
I would have liked to dance to Althea
for many shows to come
But I let him go
on that perfect note
with a true vision
and view of heaven
Four months later he was gone
___________Colleen Redman / Poets and Storytellers United
August 9th, 2024 12:12 am
Had to google Jerry Garcia, but I like how poignant and telling that closing verse is…
August 9th, 2024 1:02 am
Despite being a huge fan of The Grateful Dead, I googled him too, for more details about Garcia himself.
I love your poignant poem. How fitting that you share it on the anniversary of his death.
August 9th, 2024 1:54 am
A great ode to a great guitarist. I love how you say ‘But I let him go
on that perfect note’
August 9th, 2024 11:57 am
One of my all time favorites, I wish I could claim “Deadhead” status, but that accolade belongs to the truly indoctrinated! Cheers, Colleen.
August 10th, 2024 11:31 am
That sounds like it must have been a great show. I’d heard of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia, but they were a bit before my time. Thank goodness for the internet to explore all sorts of genres of music from different periods of time.