ROCK(star) is DEAD

No Smoking or Open Flame!

But Johnny Joe was illiterate, alas

and indifferent, all the same

He sat beside the sign,

with a match and cheap cigar

and the dared the world to judge him

as another fading star;

So he hadn't had a song hit

in a year, or maybe five

he was still Johnny Joe: Rock God;

and his music was alive!

The world be damned, he thought,

poised to strike the match.

He'd smoke away the tension,

and then a song would hatch!

It'd start with a melody,

some simple, little tune

and virally infect the youth,

a careering-saving boon.

Content a bit to believe

the stories in his head

Johnny lit his match up

( BOOM)

And now, poor soul, he's dead.

Oh, Goodbye, Johnny Joe!

For what is left to say?

(Except his singles all hit gold,

the following business day)