Tyson West
Stalin Critiques Shostakovich
The kindest blessing drunken czars bestow
on rhythmic fools and fancy rhymesmiths lies
in saying nothing of their silly plays.
Let artsy subjects earn their bit of fame.
The songster with thick glasses shaped his notes
to float the poet's words for Lady Macbeth.
These brooding shearsmen had no sense great Joe
presumed he could critique their music game.
When Joe laughed at love scenes and never clapped
poor Jimmy knew he must apologize
still Pravda damned it, "muddled hoots and quacks."
Steel Joe's purge passed and Jim survived his shame.
True genius swirls before a tyrant's eyes
yet keeps the artist's head attached post show.
Bio
Tyson West has published speculative fiction and poetry in free verse, form verse and haiku distilled from his mystical relationship with noxious weeds and magpies in Eastern Washington. He has no plans to quit his day job in real estate.