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Open Poetry #15
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Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia

0 posted 2001-08-30 08:01 AM


For Graeme "Shirl" Strachan.
1952 to 2001
Rest in peace.


Life in the seventies
wouldn’t have been the same
without you as front man
taking Skyhooks to fame.
In lipstick and makeup
you loved to shock the world
but in your tight blue jeans
you always rocked this girl.
Thank God for your ego
and million dollar sound
cause if it weren’t for them
you wouldn’t stick around.
No more calls from Balwyn.
No vodka in the snow.
You were so full of life
but now it’s time to go.
It’s time for sad farewells,
it’s time to pay your dues
as we look on in horror
at the six thirty news.


For those of you who don't know, Shirl was considered an icon by many in the seventies. He fronted a band down under called Skyhooks. He passed away yesterday in a helicopter crash, aged 49. He will be sadly missed by many who loved him.
http://www.aswas.com/skyhooks/index.html



I wish you every happiness and may you always have the best of the good things in life.     a brand

[This message has been edited by Dee (edited 08-30-2001).]

© Copyright 2001 Dee Manders - All Rights Reserved
catalinamoon
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543
The Shores of Alone
1 posted 2001-08-30 08:23 AM


Another sad story, a life lost too soon. These incidents are what prompted my poem "Tomorrow-Truly Antother Day?"
And does it seem like these helicopter and small planes are just a little too dangerous?
Nice tribute, Dee.
Sandra

ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
2 posted 2001-08-30 08:28 AM


There is going to be one hell of a band cooking in heaven!

Very sad news as always....I didn't know any of his works but I'm a huge music lover. I played in a band years ago so I can relate.  
One of my favorite performers died in 1989 in a helicopter crash also.....Stevie Ray Vaughn....I dropped a tear or two that day!

Very well written tribute!

The role of poetry is to utter the un-utterable; to open up
spaces of consciousness and resistance; to language oppressions; to
re-language historie

Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
3 posted 2001-08-30 08:37 AM


Sandra, Shirl was an amazing man and it is sad to see him gone too soon. By the way, your poem really touched me.

ethome, well I think when we get there the party should just be getting hot  
Its hard to lose someone like that and not shed a tear or two.

Dee

I wish you every happiness and may you always have the best of the good things in life.     a brand

[This message has been edited by Dee (edited 08-30-2001).]

Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

4 posted 2001-08-30 09:28 AM


this is wonderful intend and tribute Dee...
he was so young...
and yes seems we have been saying these farwells a lot lately
Also the tradgic loss of Aaliyah this week,
so young and so much ahead of her...
its always sad when anyone dies young(when anyone dies) but it seems to magnify when they are talented and gifted and we lose them too soon.
well done poetess Dee
jm

Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

5 posted 2001-08-30 09:28 AM


this is wonderful intend and tribute Dee...
he was so young...
and yes seems we have been saying these farwells a lot lately
Also the tradgic loss of Aaliyah this week,
so young and so much ahead of her...
its always sad when anyone dies young(when anyone dies) but it seems to magnify when they are talented and gifted and we lose them too soon.
well done poetess Dee
jm

Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

6 posted 2001-08-30 09:28 AM


this is wonderful intend and tribute Dee...
he was so young...
and yes seems we have been saying these farwells a lot lately
Also the tradgic loss of Aaliyah this week,
so young and so much ahead of her...
its always sad when anyone dies young(when anyone dies) but it seems to magnify when they are talented and gifted and we lose them too soon.
well done poetess Dee
jm

Alan
Senior Member
since 2000-09-12
Posts 1499
right next door
7 posted 2001-08-30 09:33 AM


This is beautiful and heartfelt tribute. Though he is gone, his music lives on. I do not know his music but I have heard of him before. I do know he was very good. I agree there is a heck of a band rocking up there.
alan

Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
8 posted 2001-08-30 09:33 AM


Janet, it hurt to see he's gone and I just had to show, somehow, that I cared. We are saying goodbye to really special people too many times lately. Too many tears, too many times. Makes you wonder why.

Dee

I wish you every happiness and may you always have the best of the good things in life.     a brand

Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
9 posted 2001-08-30 09:36 AM


Alan, the 'Hooks were an amazing band, well, in my opinion anyway   It's sad that Shirl is gone. I hope I have done him proud in what I have written.

Dee

I wish you every happiness and may you always have the best of the good things in life.     a brand

Parker
Member Elite
since 2000-01-06
Posts 3129
ON
10 posted 2001-08-30 09:49 AM


A wonderful tribute. I'm sure he's partying it up at his new gig.  

Parker

Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
11 posted 2001-08-30 09:56 AM


Thanks Parker. I'm sure he is.   If it's one thing we Aussies know how to do it's party, whether it's 2 or 90000.

Dee

I wish you every happiness and may you always have the best of the good things in life.     a brand

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
12 posted 2001-08-30 10:03 AM


Dee,
Very well written tribute. Although not of this younger generation I regret the loss.

Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
13 posted 2001-08-30 10:05 AM


Thanks Seymour, it is always sad to lose someone talented, no matter what the talent.

Dee

I wish you every happiness and may you always have the best of the good things in life.     a brand

Suetang
Member Ascendant
since 2001-03-07
Posts 5187
Melbourne, Australia
14 posted 2001-08-30 06:22 PM


Dee
This was such a wonderfully written tribute to a guy that touched so many lives, including mine.  I awoke to the news yesterday morning and I'm still in shock.  How someone so full of life and love can have their flame extinguished so soon is just so unfair.  The seventies were my era too and I have such wonderful memories of the music of that time and Shirley Strachan and Skyhooks were such a big part of that.  I guess it was heaven calling Shirl this time.  Thank you so much for this Dee......I'm shedding a tear as I write this and resurface my wonderful memories of the fantastic era that Shirl was such a big part of.  He will never be forgotten.  
Take care.....Sue

Suetang

Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
15 posted 2001-08-30 06:49 PM


Sue, I was also woken with the sad news. I grew up on the 'Hooks and will miss Shirl greatly. The talent that has gone can never be replaced.

Dee

I wish you every happiness and may you always have the best of the good things in life.     a brand

rwood
Member Elite
since 2000-02-29
Posts 3793
Tennessee
16 posted 2001-08-30 10:04 PM


Dee, I'm so sorry for the loss. It's hard to believe when a person of merit, talent, or special kindness has left us. Especially when you know they have so much more inside them. I can't say I know anything about Shirl, but your poem painted him as a very spirited and talented person. It seems so many are leaving us lately. I hope they are all taking wing to a place of peace.

Sincerely,
Regina

Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
17 posted 2001-08-31 02:01 AM


Regina, it is hard to see someone, who gave so much, taken so young. Especially when he had so much more to give. He was an amazing man and well loved all over Australia.

Dee

I wish you every happiness and may you always have the best of the good things in life.     a brand

EagleOne
Member Elite
since 2000-03-07
Posts 2829
Between a laugh and a tear...
18 posted 2001-08-31 05:27 AM


"as we look on in horror
at the six thirty news."

I like so many others was indeed horrified at the news. But I'm sure to that "shirl" would have loved the irony of him staring on the 6.30 news too! This is a most wonderful tribute, thank you for sharing this with us my friend. You have brought the memories from that most amazing time flooding back to me. Take care!

"Let me pierce the realm of glamour
So I know just what I am." ~ Van Morrison


Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
19 posted 2001-08-31 08:19 AM


Eddie, I think Shirl would have loved that irony too.
It was an amazing time for many of us. Well what some of us can remember anyway   Hope they were good memories I helped bring back.

Dee

I wish you every happiness and may you always have the best of the good things in life.     a brand

kaile
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Ascendant
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146
singapore
20 posted 2001-09-01 01:22 PM


i didn't know Shirl but his legacy will now live on through your words...

i hope this comforts you a bit...

Dee
Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330
Queensland, Australia
21 posted 2001-09-01 05:44 PM


Thank you faterider, his legacy will also live on in his words. He was an amazing writer as well as vocalist.

Dee

I wish you every happiness and may you always have the best of the good things in life.     a brand

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