Poetry

One Nation, Indivisible

Old King George was the first to think
Americans had no resolve.
We’d fume and fuss at England’s laws
But our ties we wouldn’t dissolve.

When some of our own countrymen
Sparked a violent confrontation,
One determined President
Held firm and saved the nation.

Through two world wars we bravely fought
To keep freedom burning bright
While tyrants tried to snuff the flame
Of liberty’s shining light.

Once again we’re in a fight
With a cruel and vicious foe
Who thought he’d bring us to our knees
With one savage, crushing blow.

Today we still stand undefeated.
Our heads high and unbowed
No one can crush America’s spirit.
We’re united and we’re proud.

One from many is our motto.
“In God we trust” our prayer.
To breathe free air and live in peace
Is the common dream we share.

So Happy Birthday, everyone.
Today we’re all the same.
As long as you embrace the dream,
“American” is your name.

Hope everyone has a great Independence Day!

Maggie Birge, July 4, 2002

A Turkey Tale 2001

A Pilgrim family sat down to dine
On corn and beans and pies so fine.
But the main attraction, cooked just dandy
Was a luscious turkey nicknamed Andy.

He was plump and golden on the platter,
No hint that something was the matter.
But when Father Pilgrim stuck in the knife
He nearly got the shock of his life.

Andy’s skin that looked so fair,
Hid the fact he was all hot air.
When Father tried to carve the bird,
It deflated with a “whoosh” they heard.

The hungry family all felt spurned,
Father said, “I guess we’ve learned
That Andy wasn’t what we thought.
He promised much but gave us nought.”

(Hope springs eternal, though!)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Maggie Birge, November 22, 2001

"THEY'LL LIVE THROUGH US"

We, who can only watch and pray.
We, who will live another day.
Pay tribute to those whose lives were lost.

We, who cannot understand the reason why,
These innocent victims had to die,
Pay tribute to those brave souls now gone.

We who remain, promise this to you.
That.. whatever else we do,
We'll keep you alive in our hearts.

Wherever we are, whatever we do,
We'll stop for a moment and think of you.
And you'll live again through us.

Joy Chettle, UK - September 13, 2001

A Redcoat For Our Time

Paul Revere once rushed to tell
That redcoats marched by night.
But that was a long, long time ago
When Britain picked a fight.

The battlefields fell silent
And the redcoats sailed away.
We celebrate our freedom now
Each Independence Day.

The quarrels are forgotten.
Two centuries have flown.
A redcoat has returned to us
And now seems like our own.

With golden voice he stole our hearts.
With mask and cape he charmed.
He conquered cities on each coast
And left us all disarmed.

In theaters he won the day.
We rushed to spread his fame
So all would know our conqueror.
Michael Crawford is his name.

Maggie Birge, July 4, 2001

Michael Crawford is all that you need
by Joy Chettle

We experienced beauty when we heard him sing
Were transported to a world unknown
A voice of gold sang a perfect chord
And the songs had a life of their own

He made us believe in this Phantom's soul
Became part of us all, we'd no choice
He entered our hearts because of this man
Who made love to us all with his voice

Without Michael inside him he stays, just a ghost
He needs all this genius can give
If Michael's not cast in the film of this play
Then i'm afraid that Erik won't live

Why mess with perfection, it doesn't make sense?
Why alter what's perfectly fine?
Please think again Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber
Please, listen to this plea of mine

And it isn't just me who thinks this way.
Millions of fans think the same
Don't let this beautiful voice be lost
Just for the sake of "Fame"

You know there's only one man for the job
Must know in your heart that it's true Sir
We're all counting on you to do the right thing
And you do know to whom we refer

Michael Crawford is all that you need
To make this film be your best
With him it will be success guaranteed
Please don't let us down in our quest

To A.L.W.
By Joy Chettle

Call us naive
But we had this dream,
To see perfection
On the silver screen.
It's not asking much,
Or so we thought,
To use the original Phantom,
But it's come to nought.
But we wont give up,
we'll continue the fight.
On the subject of Erik
We know we're right.
Michael IS the Phantom,
No one else will do!
We can see that,
So, WHY CAN'T YOU!!

The New Year
By Maggie Birge

Ode For Phantom Connoisseurs!
By Paula Blake

The Song of Fan
By Audrey Aucott

I am Fan

Fan I am

A fan I am

A Fan I am

A Michael Crawford fan I am

Do you like the phantom man?

I really like the Phantom man!

Would you like him with a Tony?

I would like him with a Tony,  &  an Oliver – He’s no Phony!

Would you like him with a mask?

Oh, I would love him with the mask, it’s his alone – no need to ask!

Do you like to hear his voice?

I just love to hear his voice! It’s angel song!  The only choice!

Would you like him here or there?

I would like him everywhere!

Where first would you have him be?

The Phantom Movie, for all to see!

Would you like him on TV?

Oh I would love him on TV.    Er, Practice and Alley McB!

Would you want a new CD?

Ten of them and more for me!

Would you like him back on tour?

Always!  Always!   More, More,  MORE!!!


Cheers!
Audrey

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Reprise or Demise?
By Debra Baird

A musical genius beyond compare,
creates musical theater with a certain flair.
An audience sits hypnotized at the Phantom's lair.
Feeling grief we weep and care.
On stage something happened quite beautiful and rare.

The actor's performance is more than we expect,
emotionally sensitive and perfect.
His singing voice would make an angel listen and reflect.
People see him again and again to re-live his affect.
The theater gives him an award with their highest respect.

The dimming genius doesn't think things through,
he's low on money and doesn't know what to do.
He'll turn one of his hits into a movie and make a fast buck or two,
put in a big name and make it new.
No one will remember the original and he'll get a good review.

The audience hears rumor and speculation,
of a movie of a musical presentation.
The cast becomes a serious question.
The original actor may be under substitution.
The audience suffers great devastation.

The audience doesn't understand why,
their actor's perfection is being denied?
Why can't the genius cast him and comply?
A performance that made our spirits fly
is over-looked and we want to cry.

We want the man that created a tormented heart
because we felt love tear him apart.
We empathized with him from the start.
He created emotion that became art.
The genius should know hiring him would be smart.

The audience is understandably distraught.
We don't want another actor just because he is hot.
How can he understand a character that wasn't conceived in his thoughts.
A role is something you feel, not have to be taught.
The grasping genius will be fought.

The audience organizes, writes letters, and ads.
We try to show the genius we are hurt and mad.
his continuing plans make us sad.
Doesn't he know, he won't make money if his film is bad?
It is time he preserved his art and made his audience glad!

A Mothers Love
contributed by Christine

The tide recedes, but leaves behind, bright seashells on the sand...
The sun goes down, but gentle warmth,
still lingers on the land....
The music stops, yet it echoes on in sweet refrains....
For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains...

These Things I Wish For You

On the occasion of my day of birth,
Many things I wish for others too,
For life and fortune have been most generous to me,
My birthday wishes can be spent on each of you...

The love and support of friends and family,
The companionship of the ones you love,
These truly are the most important gifts
Given to all of us from up above.

Continuing peace in all our countries,
Whatever soil is yours from birth,
A safe and strong environment for all of us
To live our lives upon this earth.

Good health and long life forthcoming,
These great blessings I wish for all,
Freedom from pain and harm, lives full and long,
Walking our paths happy, clear and tall.

Monetary success though less important,
I also wish for each of you,
The opportunity to enjoy your days prospering on the earth,
And the nest eggs to enjoy the extras too!!

The last wish I have is for fellow campaigners,
The dream this web site has fought so valiantly for,
That this will be the year they cast our beloved Phantom
And bring an end to this unnecessary war.

And so my friends and fellow crusaders,
This final prayer I leave for you,
That you have love and fullness in every one of your days,
And your own dreams and wishes all come true.

Love to all,

Diane Flogerzi
February 9, 2001

A Poem for Everyone
By Alexis

To those who find me quite insane:
You will never understand the angel of music sings songs in my brain!
Oh yes, I'm guilty of phantom obsession.
Now, don't worry about me,
I can't help it if everything I buy on him is over spilling into everything else,
Anything on him becomes my prized possession.
Say what you will, I may be bizarre.
Can't help it that I've turned into a huge Phantom phan,
I only wanna be where other Phans are!
So lock me away, throw away the key,
Just give me my Phantom CD,
Give me Michael's movies, tapes, pictures, whatever I've collected...
I'll still only want Michael as Phantom, for his portrayal to be respected.
So say I'm crazy, say I need to go to PA (Phantom Anonymous-much like AA)
I'm only a phan, who has a dream of seeing Michael Crawford as Erik on the big screen, someday!

Slay The Dreamer
By Brandon Ribardi (scum horror)

Slay the dreamer curse his soul.
Tie him down trip his goals.
Strangled now, he's hypnotized.
Corrupt him now till his demise.
Drain his love his agony.
Make him what he cannot be.
A Bird that flies a bird that sings.
A bird you've caged and clipped his wings.
He counts each grain of sand that falls.
For it is the hour glass holding dreams in lull.
You've ruined his life are you content?
Destroyed his soul with such intent.
How can you sleep with the hunting cries,
Or with the dreams of his demise?
Carefully head these words I've said
Slay the dreamer until he is dead.

-B. Ribardi-
1997

The Phantom's poems
by Roseann Solnica

This My Prison

What are these walls that hold me in?
This my prison
Dark and deep and threatening in
This my prison.
Bonds of terror forged in hatred
Fast they bind me.
Sealed forever to my fate
Where none can find me.

Then she came with open heart
The key to salvation,
Gave to me her warmth, her love
Without reservation.
I drank her deep.  I took her in
Wounds she bound up.
Made me whole, released my fears
She lit all round up.

But this was not the place for her
Where light is forbidden
She would perish where I flourish
Alone and hidden.
So he has come to take her now
To where sun is risen.
I let her go for our love's sake
Return to this my prison.

* *

Who Needs Her
 
Who needs her eyes
That probe deep inside me?
Who needs her smile
With love that can hide me?
Who needs her voice
Sweeter than heaven's choir?
Who needs her winsomeness
And her beauty to inspire?
Who needs her passion
That sets a soul to flame?
Who needs her lips
To gently speak one's name?
Who needs that heart
So innocently true?
Who needs to be enslaved by love?
The truth is, I do.

* *

Beneath the Mask

Beneath the mask is truth
Of who I am and always will be
That the world cannot bear to see
Imprisons the soul of me
Never to set him free.

Beneath the mask is truth
But truth's not what you want to see
So come along with me
Let me weave my fantasy
Of the world as it ought to be.

The Music of the Night
Weaves a fanciful delight
Of beauty and power bright
That makes what's wrong seem right.

Night plays games with the mind
Making all men become blind
Treating all equally kind
In a world no one can find.

Beneath the mask is truth
Truth only a heart can own
Beauty no one has ever known
Of a soul's touch is grown
My heart is yours alone.