No Swimming Pool Or Tennis Court Poem by gershon hepner

A swimming pool and tennis court
for music, lyrics, Copeland thought
chez Brothers Gershwin, has to be
the way to go. I get no fee
for poetry, and have no mansion.
My home has much room for expansion,
and telling me my verse is gorgeous
won’t make my house as great as George’s.
In woods of Beverly this Gershon
is not like Hilly Gershwins’ version;
it’s far closer to a shul,
though I would not decline a pool
and tennis court in summertime,
when people think of Ira’s rhyme.


When Aaron Copeland visited the Gershwins in Beverly Hills, he was impressed by their tennis court and swimming pool, saying that he did not know that one could obtain either by writing music and lyrics.

10/1/09