Michael, You Got True Friends, A Poem by Nancy Jackson

Michael, You Got True Friends

A Poem by Nancy Jackson

Lots of people would have loved you

Been honest friends, not fake, just true

And not just 'cause you were Michael Jackson

Or 'cause chasin' your tail gave them some traction

You were unaware, you just didn't know

Spent years in the lights doin' the show

So many hurt you, so you wasn't so sure

All the past pain was so hard to ignore

Just kept to the stage, your place of feelin' home

And rarely got the chance to get out and roam

Always confined to place and time

For those who wanted to make a dime

Just hangin' and be'in', not an option

Once you Moonwalked, hearts a stoppin'

It was too late then, your destiny assumed

Then came the vultures to give ya' some gloom

Never a moment of privacy or to be social

Livin' lonely 'cause you were so special

Givin' your love to many from afar

Wavin' to fans from balconies or cars

We saw the good works that you went to do

Many times before the stage could have you

You would stop and visit with the children

See what you could do to alieve their hurtin'

Making it known to the people in charge

That for these kids life shouldn't be so hard

Spending your free time 'cause that was you way

See'in what you could do to make a brighter day

And we know for you this made love double

'Cause you got so much back for all your trouble

You knew we loved ya', you told us so

You loved us back, got the notes to show

We felt it, we were always certain

And watchin' the Yana's every girl was hurtin'

But you kept loving that feelin' we know

Of causin' the escapism when doin' a show

And tellin' what your heart was feelin'

While making people jus' go all a reelin'

From the hard work you always put in it

Giving more and more, never skimpin'

So you kept to the stage, separate but close

And looked out at the sea of faces below

Tellin' us about some facts of life

Sayin' listen up, you gotta' get it right

And not just because you had the stage

"Cause in your heart, you really felt that way

Wanting all to walk away and take the words

Put'em in their lives and do what you implored

Hoping that if your message could just be heard

All could play a part in a much better world

You loved kids too, to them you were just Mike

They were the ones who treated you right

Their eyes were lit by the innocence within'

So loving and gentle and free of life's sin

To you they were a song, a music that's true

Untarnished by hated or prejudices too

For them the days were for fun and laughter

Those things in life that you sought after

To some this was seen in a bad light

But we always knew that some were not right

And we know Neverland was your only oasis

A place to get away from too much hatin'

To kick back, create, and have some fun

Get out in fresh air and see the sun

Or lie on your back and search the night sky

Wonder about all of the cosmos so high

Give you a chance to connect with God

All of nature, plants, animals, and sod

You let the kids come and just watched them play

So glad you could give them a magical day

So through this limited lens of perception

You knew we were there to give some attention

But we woulda' gave you much more'n that

Not just watched and at the end to clap

We woulda' put out hearts on our sleeves

Gave ya' some space, let you breathe

Just sat and listened close any day

To all you wanted to spill, to unload, and say

Would have asked you to define your meanin'

Wanting to know all you were feelin'

Let you just relax and be a regular guy

Teased you a bit to get you past the shy

And when you had had enough

Unloaded your pain, to make life not so rough

We woulda' thanked you for the visit

And let you go on and get busy a livin'

Life was just too tough in many ways

Not many let you completely say

You didn't know the world as we do

Close true friends, for you were so few

Hope you're gettin' what we're sayin'

For us your life was a wonderful blessin'

We stand beside you to this very day

And for your kids, we send love their way

To hear anyone use words to cause them pain

Is to us something ugly and quite insane

But we will note the ones who spoke 'em

And boycott them, be sure we're not jokin'

But we won't make a ruckus or cause a fuss

That would just cause a burden, way too much

Will keep our thoughts towards your folks

Ears alert to disclaim all callous jokes

Friends do that for one another

You are our family, one of our brothers

Just rest easy, great peace to you

You have many friends, not just a few

We stand ready for your family's needs

Always abiding in the peace you decreed

All they got to do is reach out a hand

Tell us what they need, united we'll stand

We'll show 'em to us, you weren't just the player

The magic man, the musical innovator

The dancer or singer of life's emotion

Or short film actor, a master of production

Not just another book author, some guy with a dream

You had feelings for all those in need

Standing on stage and puttin' on the show

To those in the crowd you could never get to know

Living your life much too lonely by far

Looking up to wonder about the stars

You sent out a message, so simple and correct

One small idea that is so easily met

Why not look at all in life and all up above

And do your part to all live with love

Maybe you wondered from time to time

If your words were heard in all of your rhyme

Yes, Michael, that's what we all want to say

Your love message, we try to live it each day

So when the time comes and you need a hand

Just reach out, 'cause you got true friends

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February 9, 2010

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