S. Randolph Mitchell

Poetry & Pantylines!

Pop Culture. Poetry

Copyright © 2019 by S. Randolph Mitchell.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019917837 ISBN: Hardcover Softcover eBook

978-1-7960-6925-9 978-1-7960-6926-6 978-1-7960-6932-7

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Rev. date: 03/26/2020

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CONTENTS

1. HARPER’S FERRY (OCT. 16, 1859)

2. THE MARY WORSHIPPERS (Children Of God)

3. THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED (AMERICA DURING THE 1950’S & ’60’S)

4. THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED II: (AMERICA DURING THE 1970’s)

5. THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED: III (AMERICA DURING THE 1980’s)

6. THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED IV: (AMERICA DURING THE 1990’s)

7. THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED V:

(AMERICA IN THE NEW MILLENIUM)

8. BIG BOTTOM GIRLZ

S. Randolph mitchell’s “poetry & pantylines!” Is a pop culture journal collection of poems, each dealing with a different decade in 20th century america. Such examples as the 50’s (sputnik, the korean war, james dean, etc.); The 60’s (vietnam, malcolm x, the beatles, etc.); The 70’s (squeaky fromme, snl, the rocky horror picture show, etc.); The 80’s (john gotti, iran contra, “live aid”, etc.); The 90’s (the branch davidians, million man march, columbine, etc.); The 2000’s (911, obama, enron, reality tv, lady gaga, etc.).

There are also three other poems “harper’s ferry, oct. 16, 1859” (About the battle in virginia); “the mary worshippers” (a satire about the original of the catholic church); and “big bottom girlz” (about the author’s love for big bottom women).

The front and back cover art are all original artwork by the author. Whether it is the artwork or the poetry, or both, s. Randolph mitchell’s “poetry & pantylines!” Is a unique, one-of-a-kind original work of art in and of itself.

1. HARPER’S FERRY (OCT. 16, 1859)

Let’s go down to harper’s ferry To stand our ground for ‘ol john brown. To that cool october day That would start a war in your own hometown.

So let’s go down, to count the bodies Of old brave souls, still lying there We’ll say a prayer, that god may hear How the dead boys are, still dying there.

So let’s go down, to harper’s ferry Where virginia’s sons lie in the mud. We’ll set sail on, a moonlit age, Cross through time, on a sea of blood.

When we arrive, we will , That fatal day, when time stood still, When dixie raged, with southern madness,

For long lost boys whose blood she spilled.

So let’s go down, to harper’s ferry To praise the name, of old john brown I’m sure we’ll feel, he’s right there with us, As we stand on sacred ground.

And when we leave, from harper’s ferry, We’ll sing a song, for old john brown To how, that he died for us Praise the lord, he’s still around.

So let’s go down, to harper’s ferry, To walk around, with old john brown We’ll say a prayer, for mother mary Plant a tree, on holy ground.

2. THE MARY WORSHIPPERS (Children Of God)

In the beginning, in the year of the lord On the day that the young savior died His mary was with him, dear mother of god With the ophans who weeped by her side.

They began to adore precious mary After witnessing her son’s demise They became the first mary worshippers With the sign of the cross in their eyes.

They were sinners of envy and lust That caused blood to flow without end As they travelled all over the world Praising god in the name of all sin.

But this group is so given to pleasure And an orgy to them is just fine

They’d be dancing and drinking together From a jug filled with pure black wine.

So let there be peace in the valley From the thrill of an orgasmic flood By making love with the mary worshippers As they bathe in a fountain of blood.

So come all ye faithful Let’s dance by the light of the moon We’ll taste a cup of kindness yet As we sing this joyous tune:

(Sung to the tune of: “america”)

“My country ‘tis of thee Big ass of liberty Of thee i sing”.

(Sung to the tune of “dixie”)

“But if you find yourself Down where he’s begotten, Crucified, but not forgotten, Come away, come away, Come away—while you can!”

(Sung to the tune of “auld lang syne”)

“Should old acquaintance Judge thee not, And a savior’s hard to find, Go watch the mary worshippers Turn water into wine.

Turn water into wine my love, Turn water into wine. We’ll drink it all, with no regrets Un-til the end of time!”

Though christ the savior’s Come and gone,

I hear his song throughout the land Being sung by mary worshippers Still playing in the band.

3. THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED (AMERICA DURING THE 1950’S & ’60’S)

I like white t-shirts And blue jeans, And strike a pose Like i’m james dean.

I like new chrome on My old bike, With a sticker says how much “I like ike”.

Atomic testings Bombshells blow That glow like dandridge And monroe.

Little richard We all know,

The king and queen Of rock and roll.

Kruchchev frightened the Human race By launching sputnik Into space.

Mccarthy put names On a list Made of us afraid of Communists?

We went “on the road” And came back As beatniks quoting Kerouac.

The crossing of the 38th Parallel through korea’s gate, The u.S., Not to be undone

Was how the cold war had begun.

When dylan / baez Made the scene Folk music and Time magazine.

Shortly after I was born John glenn circled The earth at dawn.

In dallas back in ’63 We smiled and waved at Kennedy.

With pride we heard “The greatest” say He changed his name from Cassius clay.

The beatles came To show the way When they touched down at Jfk.

In outer space Life was a gas While folks at home sang “Free at last!”

We watched t.V. All Afternoon And saw men walking On the moon. And as i lay down On my bed I heard the news Elvis is dead.

Sometimes it’s hard To carry on

Since martin luther King is gone.

I don’t know who Will come through next I hope he’s just like Malcolm x.

Like those before Who fought a war For civil rights And nothing more.

Betty friedan Spoke for the weak Writing “the feminine Mystique”

when gays First stood tall At their uprising

At stonewall?

In youth we turned From blues to soul, To sex and drugs And rock and roll.

From allen freed To acid rock To flower children at woodstock.

We went to school We studied hard And had a showdown With the guard. On campuses We met our fate Were down at kent And jackson state.

We knew it was a

Brand new day When hendrix played at Monterrey.

We saw black panthers Set the stage And weathermen and “Days of rage”.

And last of all lest we forget Was viet-nam on t.V. Sets.

But now it’s time to Say so long Just like an old time Motown song.

Those days have come and gone away They made us what we are today

When we were young

It was a blast When no one thought It would not last.

Back when we rocked around the clock Those were the days the cradle rocked!

4. THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED II: (AMERICA DURING THE 1970’S)

days so long ago Of john travolta and disco, A president would meet his fate Richard nixon and watergate.

His vice-president lied and failed Spiro t. Agnew almost jailed By gerald ford’s own testament Without a vote he’s president.

He pardoned dick but was alarmed At point-blank range by squeaky fromme. While jimmy carter we hold dear Lust of the heart and “billy beer”.

Network t.V. Would quench our thirst For broadcast news and patty hearst

From barbara walters to jim jones Kool-aid, mick jagger and the stones.

We left the beach when we saw “jaws” To outer space to watch “star wars” While stoners higher than a kite, “Live from new york it’s saturday night!”

The weirdest place where you could be Was downtown at the waverly Where 8th street playhouse freaks would go To “rocky horror picture show”.

The coolest cats and groovy chicks Wore corderoy and afro picks But on the road, the way to go Was on a cb radio.

We did “the hustle” all night long Marvin gaye asked “what’s goin’ on?” The whole world cheered when they came ‘round

To watch skylab get off the ground.

The longest war came to an end In viet-nam with ho-chi-minh U.S. Withdrew, brezhnev regained Communist rule and hanoi jane?

We watched with rage on our t.V. A show called “roots” on slavery. Later that year the “holocaust” Went on prime time, six million lost.

As ziggy stardust rocked and rolled With major tom and ground control While michael jackson we could see How the ‘king of pop’ came to be.

When dj’s stepped up to the mike That’s when the rhymes began to flow Became the world’s first known rappers Bambaataa, spoonee g., And blow.

From cbgb’s punk rock scene Where deborah harry reigned surpreme With bob marley we smoked much weed We grew dreadlocks and planted seed.

We met the russians face-to-face As astronauts in outer space This t mission conceived at birth Was for good-will and “peace on earth”.

Our capitalist testament From “marlboro reds” to “pepsodent” From “chevrolet” to “mister clean” From “g.I. Joe” to “dairy queen”.

But now it’s time To say ‘so long’ To platform shoes And chaka khan.

New york blacked out Disco is gone Hello hip-hop Goodbye saigon.

5. THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED: III (AMERICA DURING THE 1980’S)

when “new wave” was ‘in’ And gangsta rap would thrive? John lennon shot dead in new york The eighties had arrived.

Grafitti art was everywhere Even on mtv Central park five falsely accused, Victims of bigotry.

With michael jordan, andrew dice clay, Prince and purple rain, Came new plagues on humanity Of aids and crack cocaine.

Ronald reagan is president John hinckly goes insane

For jodie he’ll shoot reagan down And all his love’s in vain.

The wedding of the century In england had begun Yet prince charles and lady diana Soon to be undone.

A thug from brooklyn has become The heavyweight world champion ‘Iron’ mike tyson reigned supreme But lost the fight outside the ring.

Mccauliffe takes a leap of faith The ‘challenger’ goes down Sally first u.S. Girl would ride, In space go ‘round-and-round’.

Arnaldo mendez a cuban, World’s first black astronaut, Had flown on space flights for russia

Arrived safely in port.

In sledgehammers rock The whole world hears the sound We turn to look to see the berlin wall Come tumblin’ down.

Pope john paul ii would give a speech But before he started to preach, Ali agca came with a gun To shoot john paul ‘fore he was done. To protest u.S. Blood and gore Policies in el salvador Agca shot twice, the pope goes down Folks wrestled agca to the ground After agca was put away John paul says “for him i will pray”.

Egyptian president sadat Assassinated on the spot Slain by soldiers in his own land

By rebels once in his command.

American hostages were captured in iran Were blindfolded and gunpointed All at khomeini’s command. The ayatolah had sent All blacks and females away, But he held all of the white men Four hundred forty-four days.

John gotti and sam gravano Killed paul castellano Gotti becomes gambino Boss of bosses pizano. On the first mtv broadcast Coast-to-coast near and far, Was when the buggles video Killed the radio star. We got these three kings From the queens streets of hollis Angry young men

With leather clothes and words of malice With mike control, like ice is cold, They’re the kings of rock, rap, rhyme, and roll And so by now who else could these three be? Jam-master jay, run-dmc.

With geraldine ferraro So many would debate A real live woman politician Running in new york state Although she lost the election It was more than time well spent The first american woman To run for vice president. When libya had bombed a discoteque In west berlin Of the two people were killed One was an american The reagan white house was alarmed Blaming khadafy for this They bombed his house and stepdaughter

Hit them harder than a fist Khadafy was also struck But he managed to survive Surprising most of the world Coming out of it alive.

Iran-contra would be named For reagan white house days of shame Reagan did not let congress know U.S. Arms to iran’s been sold He knew that congress would debate Selling of arms to those they hate He needed funds for nicaragua To the rebel contras. But also for americans Held hostage down in lebanon. The architect of this new deal Was oliver north’s faith and zeal When word of this leaked to the press Oliver north would not confess That reagan knew of what went on

But blamed james poindexter did wrong A congressional committee Thought he deserved no sympathy But north still sang the same old song Standing his ground carrying on.

Religion as a way of life Divided us by causing strife. We left the church christian dessenters Came right back as “five percenters”.

Gon-na—be-a star—blessed—with—fame Gon-na—live—for-ev-er—i—came. To—light—up—the—sky—i proclaim: For-ev-er—re-mem-ber—my—name.

Of tears for fears, of jeers and cheers, The eighties were fantastic years. Of space shuttles, cable tv, live aids and public enemies. The reagan years were not all fun The world had nearly come undone

The eighties now forever gone, And praise the lord we’ve all moved on.

6. THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED IV: (AMERICA DURING THE 1990’S)

Here are the facts i have in store U.S., Iraq, the first gulf war.

1990 Saddam hussein President of iraq he reigned Had claimed that neighboring kuwait Once part of the iraqi state Used that excuse to go to war Against kuwait and nothing more.

In truth saddam was so in debt To kuwait he could not forget Saddam also owed the u.S. Kuwaiti oil would pay off best.

With troops and tanks saddam invest But first he checked with the u.S.

State department gave its okay Then turned and looked the other way. They waited ‘till saddam went in Then bombed iraq through thick and thin.

Tickle-me-elmo, jerry seinfeld, Beavis and butthead, Chris rock, grunge music, And the spice girls, White kids growing dreads.

We said goodbye to checkpoint charlie, Jackie-o, no more chris farley. In washington came farrakhan With a million men marching on. “Here’s johnny” carson would go, Retires from the “tonight show”.

Nelson mandella has been freed, Apartheid at its end, While famous gays come out on prime-time

Head for washington.

Four white cops gave a savage beating To rodney king caught for speeding. Like when diallo was shot down By racist cops, no one around. Unlike louima, white cop raped, It was caught on video tape. The four white cops were soon arrested, L.A. Justice would be tested. The all-white jury did aquit, Would set off the l.A. Riots. The looting and the violence caused L.A. Streets to run red, The carnage lasted two whole days 58 Would be dead.

The winds of change was no ways calmer When along came jeffrey dahmer A cannibal who liked young brothers Adolescent boys of color.

They put him in prison for life, Where he’s stabbed to death with a knife.

Brothers mennendez, eric and lyle California dreams, Murdered their parents in cold blood, Dearly departed screams. Byron beckwith aquitted twice, Murdered medgar, now jailed for life. John wayne gacy, the undisputed Murderer is executed. Lorena bobbit, tonya harding, both pleaded guilty, After they had their day in court, Both women would go free. Communications is the key, global market economy. The whole world now stands face-to-face By satellites in outer space. The internet’s become a fact, Once you’re on-line, you can’t go back. P.C.S’ become a way of life, Cellphones reach out, touch someone’s wife.

U.S. Scandals from higher places, Many would fall from its graces Like the “last judgement” day in hell, Jim’s baker, and swaggart knew well. Clintons, whitewater, s and l’s, Armed forces gays, “don’t ask, don’t tell” Kervorkian does all too well, The world trade center almost felled. Judge thomas, claimed anita hill, Had once asked her “let’s make a deal”. Ronald, nicole caught in a trap, Yet somehow o.J. Beat the rap. “Rent” the hit musical would play Drugs, homelessness, aids, on broadway. Good rock music still played by “kiss” And by “hootie and the blowfish” In weirdness hale-bop did not lack, Nike’s, castrations, and star trek.

Christian cult leader david koresh

Claimed he was divine, Visions of the apocalypse Fermenting in his mind. His followers thought him a god And rallied to his side, Women offered themselves to him Each young girl a child bride. They were the branch davidians David koresh would lead Them on a path of flame and death, eternity indeed. Oklahoma under attack By a homegrown terrorist act. His name was timothy mcveigh A gulf war veteran Wanting the government to pay What they did to his friends, The violent deaths of david koresh Branch davidians.

ing what happened in Waco, texas that day,

Had forever enraged the mind Of timothy mcveigh. So he and friend terry nichols Had pledged to do great harm, To the bureau of alcohol, Tobacco, firearms. The two men created a bomb And they would set the date, On the anniversary of David koresh’s fate.

On april 19 they set their bomb It was quite a blast, 168 Peoples’ lives would never last. So many men, women, and children Sadly not know why, Their innocence was blown away The day that they would die.

The two culprits would then be caught, Justice was swift and fast,

Nichols, sentenced to jail for life, Mcveigh would breath his last.

1999, The massacre at colombine 12 Students and one teacher slain By two young men so full of pain. 23 More students they shot, But they survived what does did not.

Eric harris, dylan klebold The shooters at the scene, That they were students from that school Was even more obscene. For those they shot who lived and died, Whose precious blood they spilled, They would them by suicide, The last that would be killed.

The decade had come to an end, We won’t see one like it again.

We did not budge, we did not flinch, Played “1999” by “prince”. The 90’s rocked, yeah this is true, American red, white, and blue. Columbia has held her own, But how long ‘till her seeds are sown? America went on its’ way, Another yankee doodle day.

7. THE CRADLE THAT ROCKED V: (AMERICA IN THE NEW MILLENIUM)

The year 2000 new year’s day, The u.S. Feared the worst, Yet glad to say, that ‘y2k’ Did not come on the first.

The decade did start with a bang That claimed so many souls Osama bin laden’s bombing of The u.S.S. Cole.

Election of the president Comes down to florida Where the republican candidate’s Brother’s governor.

Al gore won the popular vote Yet soon to be ejected

The state surpreme court ruled with jeb And george bush was elected.

At george bush inaugeration As commander-in-chief While americans out in the street sang “Hail to the thief!”

September eleventh’s the day Will live in infamy Terrorists launched a t attack Of hate and anarchy.

The world trade centers were destroyed The pentagon’s aflame Suicide bombers did the deed Al-qaeda would be named.

A fourth plane crashed in pennsylvania Like an mx missle Terrorists on board overcome

By engers to ‘frisco.

After 911 occurred, the U.S. Would proclaim The taliban in afghanistan Are the ones to blame.

The u.S. And u.K. Attacked Never to be undone And so the first strike on the war on Terror has begun.

Enactment of the patriot act Is now in effect, Along comes homeland security Never will forget.

U.S. Cities face sneak attacks By way of u.S. Mail From a substance known as anthrax The culprit goes to jail.

Hillary wins a seat in gotham As a new yorker The first time a former 1st lady Becomes senator.

2003 Tragedy Came down from texas skies Space shuttle colombia Exploded before our eyes.

With u.S. Bombing of baghdad, war in iraq began Saddam hussein declared in vain To fight to the last man. Bush was denied by the u.N. To in the attack He formed the u.S. Coalition, Sent ground troops to iraq.

The president claim iraq had “Weapons of mass destruction”

The c.I.A.’S report would say That was a false deduction.

“Mission accomplished” banner Quoted by the “great divider” where you were when bush proclaimed “I’m the decider!”

A fact of the “war on terror” Had shook us to the core Over a million iraqi’s died During “shock and awe”.

A young student felt isolated At virginia tech ‘Till he became a ranting, raving, Emotional wreck.

Kills 32 people and himself In his misery As he caused the worst mass shooting

In u.S. History.

The fourth infantry division Detonate like a bomb But did not waste a single shot When they captured saddam.

The m.E.R. Dash b mars rover Successfully landed Beaming back to us images, of the fabled “red planet”. President bush re-elected Over senator kerry The former swift boat commander Ran aground in a hurry.

The southeast asian sunami Three hundred thousand died U.S. Led the relief effort That did become world wide.

The cost of the war overseas

Left folks here out of luck While cheney’s company Haliburton would make a buck.

The u.S. Congress es Controversial legislation To bail out wall street’s excess greed From bankrupting the nation.

The bail-out was signed by george bush ed by obama But that did not make americans Feel any less calmer.

An unlikely pair ran and lost Their place in politics Sarah palin as the rogue with Mccain the maverick.

From alabama, to new orleans Thirteen hundred died

When hurricane katrina Crested on a rising tide.

A young black man from illinois, chicago resident The same state as abraham lincoln Becomes president. Mr. Barak obama, he walked with a mighty stride Into the oval office With joe biden by his side.

With a platform of hope and change At his inauguration, We stood as witnesses to this Historical occasion.

Both black and white, and young and old Were filled with great elation As these two men together would change The course of a nation.

The ‘tea party’ creates itself

‘Gainst the new president Blaming him though the last one had Plunged the nation in debt.

Within the gulf of mexico Bp’s oil rig exploded Spewing millions of gallons in the sea Fish dead and bloated.

The h-one-n-one swine flu virus Played on our worst fears As the first global pandemic In over forty years.

Executives at enron Squandered millions with such gall They laughed as so many of their Investors lost it all.

On the pop culture horizon A rock anthem by ‘pink’

With lady gaga up in front As she stood on the brink. And then the rappers outcast, ludacris, And little wayne With fifty cent and m&m Would drive the crowds insane.

Reality shows on t.V. From coast to coast we saw From california all the way out To the jersey shore.

Tiger’s the first golfer ever Wins both masters and majors Slicing his golf club through the air More sharper than a razor.

We know ‘tweens’ love computer screens But books they hardly bother Imagine my surprise when i Saw them read ‘harry potter’.

Mass social comunication In the digital age Zuckerberg founded ‘facebook’ And now all the world’s a stage.

But just before we say goodbye It’s time to say ‘so long’, To many most would know by name That are now dead and gone.

We’ll start with three dead presidents ed by the nation The policies and fallacies Of nixon, ford, and reagan.

From dennis hopper, lena horne, And soul man issac hayes, With august wilson, and rosa parks Strong and gentle ways.

With hunter thompson, o.D.B., And anna nicole smith, As frank sinatra, jam master jay Surely will be missed.

Dale earnhardt’s ridin’ in the sky Wins every single race Michael jackson, the all time greatest Now moonwalks in space.

And although beatle george harrison’s Death was not the first Now he roams with the rest of them Across the universe.

America’s first millennial Decade’s come and gone And we still do not understand Just what was going on.

So many questions unanswered

That we must contemplate As we find ourselves rushing to A most uncertain fate.

8. BIG BOTTOM GIRLZ

Big bottom girlz, i must confess I definitely am obsessed. Your extra large posterior Makes you look more superior. A big ‘ol butt girl do indeed Does have it all, and all you need. When they walk, love to see it move side to side Bounce up and down, all big and wide. Big girls are best, and that’s a fact When they’re carrying around a big fanny pack. Big butts a cause for celebration Middle age spread is my salvation. So when you’re walkin’ by, please understand I’m gonna stare at it, long as i can. Big bottom girlz, i love to please, And praise the lord, down on my knees. So if you’re out and about And you want some fun,

A big bottom girl, Second to none. Want some one better than the rest, A big bottom girl, is always best. I love watch-ing how the sun shine, Bouncing off of her big be-hind. Big bottom girlz, know this is true, I do love to do unto you!

This Book Is Dedicated To the Playwright, The poet, And to artists Everywhere.

S. Randolph Mitchell, Playwright, Poet, and Artist was born in Hampton Virginia and was raised in Brooklyn New York. The former Theatre Arts Major moved to Wilmington North Carolina in 1991 where he now resides with three adorable pets, a cat named “Elinore Rigby”, a dog named “Sam-I-Am”, and a cockatoo named “Bejeezus”.

S. Randolph Mitchell has written and directed five stage plays produced in Wilmington North Carolina. “I, Constantine” (1994); “Theodora” (1995); “Mastermold” (1996); “Willis Richardson Jr.: An American Playwright” (2001); and “Theodora II” (2002).

S. Randolph Mitchell has just completed the stage play “The Mary Worshippers of Sheepshead Bay 1959—1965” about Vatican II and the political, social, and sexual upheavals in the Catholic church in the 1950’s and ’60’s.

All poetry and artwork written and drawn by S. Randolph Mitchell.

Copyright 2015—all rights reserved.

INFORMATION: S. Randolph Mitchell (910) 200-4945 [email protected]