Prince Rogers Nelson (1958-2016) Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

The pressures of fame.
And labelled with a notoriety,
Others brand on someone to proclaim...
Can ultimately stress,
One who sustains a maintained greatness.

And we...
Become spoiled and take for granted,
A greatness one displays.
To begin to think the doing of it,
After decades of being exposed to this...
The easier it gets,
To deliver quickly that familiar impact.
With that equal persistent consistency.
Although bored some ignore its brilliance.
Expecting more 'magnificence',
From one great with talents and skills.

Until...
One day,
That bright shining star abruptly leaves.
Having left with no other comparisons to make.
And missing it suddenly followers start to grieve.
Prince Rogers Nelson was there.
As if fixed to glow to beam day AND night.
Time after time.
Shocking and blowing minds.
With something new innovative created.

Never will there be another PRINCE like 'he'.
Never will there be,
Another star maintaining its glow so bright.
For so long to then be gone.
But forgotten?
Not!
Paisley Park...
Has just too much Prince,
Stocked and locked as if time released.
For those like Prince addicted to greatness.
And greatness to want it is addicting.

Yet...
Overdosing on greatness can kill,
The will to keep it...
Sustained and maintained to deliver.