Art of Poetry explored Brian Lackey’s Past Lives exhibit at Hickory Museum of Art on June 17, 2017. Melissa Hager was inspired to write about this piece. Photo courtesy of Gin Hurley.

Melissa Hager
MUSICAL MADNESS MENAGERIE
After “Past Lives” by Brian Lackey

Big move forces one to declutter,
declassify contents collected.
From a life defined by music,
a box of ticket stubs floods floor,
memories, and tear ducts.
Concerts attended, some not remembered,
the extraordinary rendered tears.
A few made me scratch my head,
rub my wallet wishing the money would come back.
Glass Spider tour experienced Bowie, Peter Frampton on lead;
Boston, singing the words to every song;
Genesis tickets procured after four freezing
nights camping around the Dean Dome.
Billy Joel with Momma and Sister,
jostling for front row with my daughter at many more.
Two decades worth of Merlefest wristbands
represents the best in Americana:
sobs as Jerry Douglas, Victor Krauss and Omar Hakim
unveiled musical genius; witnessing the young son
of a Steep Canyon Ranger pretending
to play bass on the shoestrings of his Keds.
Screaming YES, YES, YES for my favorite band, Yes.
Electric tingles at #1 show, Sir Elton John,
as the haunting strains of “Funeral For A Friend”
fills the cool evening air.
The waste basket beckons.

The Art of Poetry gang behind one of Brian Lackey’s creations at the June 17 event.