Rush Limbaugh (White House)A Poem on the Death of Rush Limbaugh (1951-2021), by Joe Tessitore The Society February 18, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 12 Comments . Rush He was larger than life And it cut like a knife When his wife let us know That he died. From this kind of grief There can be no relief. Such a powerful blow Meant I cried. 12:06 comes around, I’m transfixed by the sound Of the words he now speaks To my heart. Oh, his show is no more And it shakes to the core For who’d ever think It’d depart. . . Joe Tessitore is a retired New York City resident and poet. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. CODEC Stories:Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) 12 Responses Joseph S. Salemi February 18, 2021 He was one of the truest and bravest patriots of our time. God bless him and keep him. One soldier is gone. The war continues, and just gets hotter. Reply Mike Bryant February 18, 2021 Joe, I was listening when Kathryn told us he’d died, as well. We have lost a wonderful friend. You’ve done him proud. Reply Cynthia Erlandson February 18, 2021 Thank you, Joe. It’s hard to imagine life without him. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant February 18, 2021 Joe, thank you for this. Mike introduced me to Rush when I arrived in Texas in 2011, and his show was the best education I’ve ever received in politics. Rush had an invaluable understanding of and an uncanny insight into the psychology of politics that helped me to understand politics worldwide. He also taught me the valuable lesson of maintaining dignity while getting one’s point across – he was the kindest, most intelligent and honest radio chat show host I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. To think, I used to listen to James O’Brien when I lived in the UK – his dictatorial, haughty manner that’s dismissive of all those who hold an alternate view, has made me value my lesson from Rush even more. His legacy will live on in my heart. Reply C.B. Anderson February 18, 2021 I liked me some Rush Limbaugh, now and again. The “talent on loan from God” has returned to its Maker. What he did best was to make us feel not crazy for believing what we believe. Reply Margaret Coats February 18, 2021 Well said, C. B. He clarified and fortified some of our thoughts, and helped us find one another by standing out as a common focal point. Reply Margaret Coats February 18, 2021 Joe, while the feeling in your poem is strong and clear, I’m struck by the form–short lines, with rhyme scheme complete only after two stanzas. Your first two stanzas rhyme aabc ddbc; we don’t know what part the b and c sounds play in rhyme until we see the second stanza and know they have something to rhyme with. This is medieval sequence style, of which our best known example is Stabat Mater Dolorosa. The English translation “At the Cross Her Station Keeping” follows the Latin rhyme scheme aab ccb. Both Latin and English keep going like this for 20 stanzas (with new rhyme sounds in each pair of stanzas). You, however, experience a tearful breakdown in your fourth stanza. The third and fourth stanzas rhyme aaxb ccxb, where x means “no rhyme.” Readers don’t realize the rhyme scheme has broken down until we get to the next-to-last line of the poem. Then the rhyming final line heaves a rhythmic sob, with “It’d” having enough room for only one syllable, but needing more space. You may not have planned what I analyzed, but it’s there, and entirely suited to the subject. Reply BDW February 18, 2021 Mr. Tessitore’s deft handling of the short-lined stanza is on display in his curt, heart-felt elegy “Rush”. Mr. Tessitore’s anapestic dimeters and monometers capture the abrupt harshness of the passing of American patriot and radio-show host Rush Limbaugh. The use of his given name reveals at once the author’s emotional connection. The subtle shift in the last two lines quietly expresses an appropriate note of discord. I remember listening to Rush Limbaugh’s unique, strong Midwestern voice in the 1990s, and am glad to be reminded of it in Mr. Tessitore’s poem. America has lost a no-nonsense, common-sense conservative commentator who will be missed by many. Reply Jeff Eardley February 19, 2021 Joe, not someone we know over here so thanks for the prompt to find out. Your verse is a moving tribute to a guy that was not afraid to speak his mind. Thank you for sharing this. Reply Jeff Kemper February 19, 2021 Joe, I’ve been waiting impatiently for a Rush poem. I hope to read many more, but if that happens I’m afraid SCP might be banned by the tech-fascists. Yours gets better with every reading. Thanks! Reply BDW February 20, 2021 Haiku by E “Birdcaws” Eule Winds rush, limb bough breaks, in this harsh, freezing ice-storm. The crow is silent. Reply BDW February 23, 2021 per E “Birdcaws” Eule: As the comments seem to have trailed off, I proffer another haiku: Deplorable crow, dead to this snowy morning: he was beautiful. 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Joseph S. Salemi February 18, 2021 He was one of the truest and bravest patriots of our time. God bless him and keep him. One soldier is gone. The war continues, and just gets hotter. Reply
Mike Bryant February 18, 2021 Joe, I was listening when Kathryn told us he’d died, as well. We have lost a wonderful friend. You’ve done him proud. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant February 18, 2021 Joe, thank you for this. Mike introduced me to Rush when I arrived in Texas in 2011, and his show was the best education I’ve ever received in politics. Rush had an invaluable understanding of and an uncanny insight into the psychology of politics that helped me to understand politics worldwide. He also taught me the valuable lesson of maintaining dignity while getting one’s point across – he was the kindest, most intelligent and honest radio chat show host I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. To think, I used to listen to James O’Brien when I lived in the UK – his dictatorial, haughty manner that’s dismissive of all those who hold an alternate view, has made me value my lesson from Rush even more. His legacy will live on in my heart. Reply
C.B. Anderson February 18, 2021 I liked me some Rush Limbaugh, now and again. The “talent on loan from God” has returned to its Maker. What he did best was to make us feel not crazy for believing what we believe. Reply
Margaret Coats February 18, 2021 Well said, C. B. He clarified and fortified some of our thoughts, and helped us find one another by standing out as a common focal point. Reply
Margaret Coats February 18, 2021 Joe, while the feeling in your poem is strong and clear, I’m struck by the form–short lines, with rhyme scheme complete only after two stanzas. Your first two stanzas rhyme aabc ddbc; we don’t know what part the b and c sounds play in rhyme until we see the second stanza and know they have something to rhyme with. This is medieval sequence style, of which our best known example is Stabat Mater Dolorosa. The English translation “At the Cross Her Station Keeping” follows the Latin rhyme scheme aab ccb. Both Latin and English keep going like this for 20 stanzas (with new rhyme sounds in each pair of stanzas). You, however, experience a tearful breakdown in your fourth stanza. The third and fourth stanzas rhyme aaxb ccxb, where x means “no rhyme.” Readers don’t realize the rhyme scheme has broken down until we get to the next-to-last line of the poem. Then the rhyming final line heaves a rhythmic sob, with “It’d” having enough room for only one syllable, but needing more space. You may not have planned what I analyzed, but it’s there, and entirely suited to the subject. Reply
BDW February 18, 2021 Mr. Tessitore’s deft handling of the short-lined stanza is on display in his curt, heart-felt elegy “Rush”. Mr. Tessitore’s anapestic dimeters and monometers capture the abrupt harshness of the passing of American patriot and radio-show host Rush Limbaugh. The use of his given name reveals at once the author’s emotional connection. The subtle shift in the last two lines quietly expresses an appropriate note of discord. I remember listening to Rush Limbaugh’s unique, strong Midwestern voice in the 1990s, and am glad to be reminded of it in Mr. Tessitore’s poem. America has lost a no-nonsense, common-sense conservative commentator who will be missed by many. Reply
Jeff Eardley February 19, 2021 Joe, not someone we know over here so thanks for the prompt to find out. Your verse is a moving tribute to a guy that was not afraid to speak his mind. Thank you for sharing this. Reply
Jeff Kemper February 19, 2021 Joe, I’ve been waiting impatiently for a Rush poem. I hope to read many more, but if that happens I’m afraid SCP might be banned by the tech-fascists. Yours gets better with every reading. Thanks! Reply
BDW February 20, 2021 Haiku by E “Birdcaws” Eule Winds rush, limb bough breaks, in this harsh, freezing ice-storm. The crow is silent. Reply
BDW February 23, 2021 per E “Birdcaws” Eule: As the comments seem to have trailed off, I proffer another haiku: Deplorable crow, dead to this snowy morning: he was beautiful. Reply
