POEMS
SUBJECT: NEIL DIAMOND
WRITTEN BY NEIL-FANS.

I am happy to add Neil Diamond fans' poems to this page.

Please send them to me on:

thank you, Jean

(The poems on this page are in date order, newest poem last (July 2002)
Poetry Competition 2000/1: the 3 winning entries are at the bottom of the page.)

Copyright © Jean & Tony Bovis 2003
Copyright of poems belongs to the writers.

A Tribute to Neil Diamond

From humble Brooklyn Roads you came,
A Solitary Man.
To bring your music to our ears,
Your wish, your hope, your plan.

Through Tin Pan Alley's sweat and toil,
To L.A.'s golden stage,
Your talent grew, your music flowed,
And Diamond came of age.

You gave The Monkees' their first big hit,
Made 'Believers' of us all,
With Cherry Cherry, You Got To Me,
We'll Come Running, proud and tall.

You Got The Feelin', Oh No No
Your Boat you surely rowed,
By now we cried out 'Do It' Neil,
And how our pleasure showed.

Someday Baby, You'll Forget,
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon,
We Thanked The Lord For The Night Time, Yes!
And for every new-born tune.

Through Memphis Streets, down Glory Road,
The Time Is Now, you said,
And if we walked a Crooked Street,
The Wine was still Red Red.

With Brother Love, Sweet Caroline,
Soolaimon and Rosie too,
To I Am..I Said.. the best of all!
And the fun of Song Sung Blue.

Play Me you sing, while ladies scream,
Walk On Water, Neil, we pray,
Dear Father, will you Be with us,
Help your Skybirds find our way.

A Serenade, The Gift Of Song,
A poet in your prime,
You've Been This Way in days before,
Please pass here one more time.

You Bring Us Flowers every show,
with your American Popular Song,
Remember Me, in my Blue Jeans,
As I dance and sing along.

You stay a while with September Morn,
We were Dancing in the Street,
For The Good Lord Loves You,
You're That Kind, And we worship at your feet.

Hello Again, you greet us all,
As Jess, the Movie Star,
To America you bade us come,
And we travelled wide and far.

The Rainy Day songs came and yet,
Our Heartlights shine with pride,
For We're Alive, and ready set,
To cross the moon we ride.

These Are The Best Years Of Our Lives,
With Mountains Of Love, it's True.
If There Were No Dreams, where would we be,
We're all Hooked On The Memory Of You.

And now, underneath that Tennessee Moon,
We'll Just Reminisce For A While,
There's Really No Limit to what you can do,
Win the World, sure, you'll do it in style.

We thank you Neil, for 30 years,
You've made our dreams come true,
With Your Beautiful Noise, If You Know What I Mean,
All We Really Need Is You.

This poem was incomplete for several years, but the wonderful 'Tennessee Moon' UK Tour inspired me to finish it. The concept is NOT original, and I am no Shakespeare. So all you 'serious' poets out there have nothing to fear from my simple offering! Ian Graham.

Ian, thank you for sharing your poem with us. JB

DIAMOND SEASONS
by Jean Bovis © August 2001

This summer has been too hot for me

Best out in the garden, sipping iced tea.

No longer at work, can do as I please

Hearing Neil's music ride the summer breeze.

With summer now fading, autumn soon to settle here

Neil will be on the US trail, raising a cheer

Rocking through autumn to winter's chill days

Warmth left from the sun, now lost in deep haze.

We'll ride the motorways, up down and round

If Neil and the band finally come to town?

At concerts The Vocalist again giving out

Splendour under the spotlights, no sign of doubt.

Season's again will blend - UK concerts to see?

Your fabulous...fantastic...bless you Mr D!

I have just visited your website and have to say how impressive it is. It inspired me to write the following poem which I would love to be included on such a great website.
I have en-titled the poem What a Show, What a Night. And hope you like it. The show in question was the last time I saw Neil at Newcastle Arena in 1999 although I only wrote it yesterday - December 2001. DP.
(Thanks for the huge compliment about my Website, Darren, I really appreciate it. JB)

WHAT A SHOW, WHAT A NIGHT

by Darren Pearson © December 2001

It was Feb ninety nine, when a legend arrived

"Neil Diamond in concert", we'd been so long deprived

On stage the Star came, what a roar from the crowd

Neil couldn't hear me, though I shouted so loud

America he sang, that's my favourite song

Ten thousand people, all singing along

I left on a high, what a show, what a night

Neil promised to be back, another roar of delight

A special thank you to Neil, by a fan from afar

You were great on the night, as always you are

England loves you my friend, please hurry back soon

Don't make it too long, we're "just a ride across the moon"

Darren Pearson

Those Incredible Eyes

By Denease Murray, © December 2001

Neil Diamond, the boy, the man.

Tell me what's behind those incredible eyes, only you can.

As I look through the photographs, of now and years gone past.

There are so many questions, I would like to ask.

From the music and lyrics the eyes tell a separate story.

Some happy, some sad, sometimes a shadowed mystery.

The eyes that speak volumes without a spoken word.

With a subtle wisdom known, and often heard.

Those eyes are the windows to understanding, without a doubt.

But does anyone really know, what you are all about.

Eyes that embrace and caress from across a room.

And cause most women to swoon.

Eyes with a twinkle, and that sly mischievous grin.

That seems to say, "I could play with your heart", again and again and again.

Many times I look at those eyes in photographs, and hear my own sighs.

And I think of all the people who love the man, with those incredible eyes.

Denease Murray

The Diamond In My Dreams

by Denease Murray, © December 2001

Through the years a standard you set.

To yourself be true and never forget.

Through it all to your fans you've been true.

As in your music an inner beauty shines through.

Over the years I watched with fascination,

as together your music and life became.

And because of you, I realized,

my life would never be the same.

I saw you accomplish what many said,

could not be done.

And knew in my heart it could not all,

have been fun.

But I loved you all the more,

for doing the impossible.

And proving to the world,

anything is possible.

You take the inevitable and turn it around.

As in this world you create your own sound.

Thank you for sharing your life and music with me.

And opening my eyes so I could see.

You inspired my poetry,

and my drawings too.

They never would have happened without you.

For anything is possible,

dreams can come true.

And this I believe,

because of you.

by: Denease Murray

Mister D
by Jean Bovis:

Mister D, Oh Mister D,

Look what time has done to thee,

A few concert tickets still to be had

And advertised in the "Saga" mag.

That magazine for the greying of age,

Adverts for stairlifts grace many a page.

But we still love thee dearly

and your concerts will prove ,

That we ageing rockers

are still here in the groove.

NEIL DIAMOND POETRY COMPETITION! 2000/01

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE 3 POEMS BELOW ARE THE WINNERS OF THIS 2000/01 COMPETITION: I SINCERELY THANK ALL THE WRITERS FOR SENDING IN THEIR WONDERFUL POEMS, AND THE VOTERS TOO - FOR TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO READ ALL THE POEMS AND THEN CAST THEIR VOTES, IT CANNOT HAVE BEEN EASY!

No.2. MY SPECIAL DIAMOND, by Denease Murray

No. 25 NEIL DIAMOND: THE SINGER AND THE SONG by JANET MALONEY

31. THROUGH A HARD TIME, by Sean P McGarvey

FIRST PRIZE, THE PAIR OF NEIL DIAMOND FIGURINES GO TO:
DENEASE MURRAY FOR HER POEM: "MY SPECIAL DIAMOND" (POEM #2)

POEM NUMBER 2

MY SPECIAL DIAMOND.

by Denease Murray ©

I discovered a Diamond one day.

It was rough and unpolished,

and a small piece had broken away.

But underneath was plain to see.

A very special Diamond was about to be.

I followed news reports,

And concert tour efforts.

The critics reprieve,

But never saw a fan leave.

I felt the pain of disappointment.

The elation of sucess and enjoyment.

I watched through the years,

as the sharp edges wore away.

And the facets begin to develop,

and the shine began to stay.

I waited as the polishing took form.

I watched as a new Diamond was born.

I now see a shining confident star.

Who has come so very far.

With fans who's love was found.

A special Diamond who shines with a special sound.

SECOND AND THIRD PRIZES, THE SIGNED COPY DRAWINGS BY KATHLEEN MOSLEY (and kindly donated to the competition by Kathleen) GO TO:

(2ND) JANET MALONEY FOR HER POEM: "THE SINGER AND THE SONG" (POEM #25

POEM NUMBER 25

NEIL DIAMOND: THE SINGER AND THE SONG

BY JANET MALONEY ©

Every time you hear that voice, you know it;

Know its sound the moment that he starts

Singing songs of life that you love hearing,

Coming from his soul to fill your heart.

Often you have wondered how he does it

Writing in a style that's all his own,

And yet, saying things that you've been feeling,

Writing words as if to you alone.

Something in his voice is so compelling,

Something strong and beautiful and true;

Makes you simply want to stop and listen;

Can't deny the way it touches you.

More than just a very special singer,

More than just a writer of great songs,

On a concert stage, he's truly awesome,

Showing how completely he belongs.

Sometimes with a song, he'll set you dancing;

Other times you'll feel like you can fly;

He'll do songs you can't help singing with him

And some songs that simply make you sigh…

Soft, romantic songs that start you dreaming

Late at night, as you lie in your bed,

Hoping that those dreams may find fulfillment

In the new day that lies just ahead.

But if it should turn out dark and cloudy,

Still, the sun will seem to come to you

As his music helps you keep on smiling

Through the daily tasks you have to do.

Makes you glad to be alive and hearing

Songs that tell the story of his life.

Does he understand how much they give us?

Songs that soothe our pain and ease our strife.

Nothing in the world quite like that music,

Timeless in its message and its style,

Reaching those who hear it for the first time

Just like those who've known it quite a while.

No way we can measure all it gives us

As it works its wonders in our hearts;

All that we can do is just be grateful

For the world of pleasure it imparts.

And, as surely as it gives us memories

Of the good times we have left behind,

It can make us look toward the future

To the good things we have yet to find.

Best of all, we know his music helps us

Give expression to the love we feel;

When the words we want to say elude us,

Music finds the way to say it's real.

Everybody knows that it's important

Hearing words, at times, like "I love you",

So we look for someone who can say them

In the way we need somebody to.

As he sings, so simply and so sweetly,

Songs of starry nights and dreams come true,

Saying he believes in happy endings,

Helping us believe we'll find ours too,

From that place deep in your soul he reaches,

Listen to the singer and the song;

Listen, and you know that he's the greatest -

Neil, may you forever sing it strong!

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(3RD) SEAN MCGARVEY FOR HIS POEM: "THROUGH A HARD TIME" (POEM #31)

POEM NUMBER 31

THROUGH A HARD TIME

At the golden light of a candle

Through a Scotch Whisky

I stare

At this table for one

And hold a toast to the air

To drink to a girl

I'll never forget

The only reply is the chatter of ice

And a song from a friend I've never met

A voice from the jukebox

Sets my heart on the mend

"Love On The Rocks"

Sees me through again.

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