Two years ago, I started writing poetry, love songs and song parodies. One day recently I heard a network correspondent refer to Ory-Gone. Really? In 2023? This ditty came to me. I consider it a beat poem; perhaps it is merely a beaten poem. Or a not very good rap.
Here's the audio (the accompaniment begins after the first two stanzas)
East Side Boy
You darn well bet I’m a Native son
I pronounce it Oregon
Got Webbed feet
I’m a Duck at heart
Sometimes a beaver
Cause they’re smart
No umbrella for the rain
They just get wet it’s such a pain
Always have a mud stripe on my back
A fenderless bike cuts you no slack
Shorts in the winter
Shorts in the spring
Shorts and plaid
It’s a Portland thing
I do my best to Keep Portland weird
Twas on the East side that I was reared
Just as my dad always feared
I went ahead and grew a beard
Lunch at yaws for some greasy fries
then a Scotty burger for five thin dimes
Or drive through the tik tok if you’ve got time
Buy a seven-up for some lemon-lime.
I know the Wilmette’s in Illinois
Willamette is the river I crossed as a boy
Went over there to get to the Zoo
Also spent some time at OMSI too.
Folks on the west side
Lookin down on me
An east side kid and a wannabe
That is all they ever did see.
Portland in the 60s Is where I’m from
I’m a Portland boy when it’s said and done
My daddy was a pistol, I’m a son of a gun.
I’d do it again, it seemed like fun.
You can take the boy out from rose city
Take the city out the boy and it won’t look pretty,
There ain’t much nitty, and even less gritty
He can move to frisco
And stay and stay
But his love for the city won’t go away.
I hired a freelancer to set my narration to a beat poetry background.