Emily and Elvis, a poem from a friend

Today I am posting what I think might be one of my all-time favorite poems. Favorite possibly because I love the person that wrote it, a poet and professor of mine from the University of Puget Sound named Hans Ostrom. I went to a poetry reading for alumni that Hans was doing and I have to admit, I purely went because I knew he would be there.

I want always in my life to surround myself with strong, intelligent, caring people. These people are worth every second you put into them and take nothing for granted. Hans, if you ever need a recommendation I would be honored to write one for you.

If I wrote a poem like this today I think it would have to be Jack Kerouac and Eddie Vedder. But that's me.

And, without further ado, the poem:


Emily Dickinson and Elvis Presley in Heaven

They call each other `E.' Elvis picks
wildflowers near the river and brings
them to Emily. She explains half-rhymes to him.

In heaven Emily wears her hair long, sports
Levis and western blouses with rhinestones.
Elvis is lean again, wears baggy trousers

and T-shirts, a letterman's jacket from Tupelo High.
They take long walks and often hold hands.
She prefers they remain just friends. Forever.

Emily's poems now contain naugahyde, Cadillacs,
Electricity, jets, TV, Little Richard and Richard
Nixon. The rock-a-billy rhythm makes her smile.

Elvis likes himself with style. This afternoon
he will play guitar and sing 'I Taste A Liquor
Never Brewed' to the tune of 'Love Me Tender.'

Emily will clap and harmonize. Alone
in their cabins later, they'll listen to the river
and nap. They will not think of Amherst

or Las Vegas. They know why God made them
roommates. It's because America
was their hometown. It's because

God is a thing without
feathers. It's because
God wears blue suede shoes.

-Hans Ostrom