Poetry Sunday: Sideman by Paul Muldoon

And now for something completely different... 

Sideman

by Paul Muldoon

I’ll be the Road Runner
To your Wile E Coyote
I’ll take you in my stride
I’ll be a Sancho Panza
To your Don Quixote
Your ever faithful guide

I’ll stand by you in the lists
With our market strategists
I’ll be your sideman, baby,
I’ll be by your side

I’ll be a Keith Richards
To your Mick Jagger
Before he let things slide
I’ll be Sears to your Roebuck
Before he took the headstaggers
And opened nationwide

I'll support you at Wembley
I may require some assembly
But I'll be your sideman, baby,
I'll be by your side

I’ll be McCartney to your Lennon
Lenin to your Marx
Jerry to your Ben &
Lewis to your Clark
Burke to your Hare
James Bond to your Q
Booboo to your Yogi Bear
Tigger to your Pooh
Trigger to your Roy Rogers
Roy to your Siegfried
Fagin to your Artful Dodger
I guess I’ll let you take the lead

I’ll be a Chingachgook
To your Leatherstocking
A blaze of fur and hide
Our shares consolidated
Our directorates interlocking
I’ll be along for the ride

I’ll be at Ticonderoga
I’ll be there for you at yoga
I’ll be your sideman, baby,
I’ll be by your side

Comments

  1. David M. Gascoigne,February 23, 2025 at 5:50 AM

    Whew! I think I’ll stick with Miriam!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lark February 23, 2025 at 3:06 PM

    Feels like a song. ;D

    ReplyDelete
  3. thecuecardFebruary 23, 2025 at 3:41 PM

    This one is sort of fun. I'll be your Bonnie to your Clyde. And your Laurel to your Hardy. Sorry I got carried away, lol.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzFebruary 24, 2025 at 11:41 AM

    Aw, perfect for Valentine's Day! Super fun!

    ReplyDelete
  5. MELODY JACOBFebruary 25, 2025 at 4:46 PM

    What a fun and clever poem! I love how Paul Muldoon plays with the concept of companionship through such a vibrant array of cultural references. The way he pairs iconic duos, like Lennon and McCartney or Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, really highlights the importance of having someone by your side in both adventures and everyday life.

    The tone is lighthearted yet affectionate, making it a delightful read. I especially enjoyed the mix of historical and pop culture figures—it's like a playful journey through time and relationships! The recurring refrain of being a "sideman" creates a strong sense of loyalty and support, which is such a beautiful sentiment.

    Thank you for sharing this! It’s a wonderful reminder of the value of partnership in all its forms.

    You are invited to read my new blog post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2025/02/our-pre-valentine-visit-to-pitlochry.html

    ReplyDelete

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