Hello, and welcome to Tuesday Poetics. Melissa from Mom With a Blog here, bringing you poetic promptings and libations. If you weren’t aware, today is the day legendary alternative rock musician Kurt Cobain was born. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the band Nirvana. Anyone who’s listened to Nirvana knows the band has a unique sound and lyrics chock full of metaphor and emotional depth.

Cobain was born in Aberdeen, Washington in 1967. He had a relatively happy childhood until around age nine, when his parents divorced. After that, he was bounced around between relatives and friends’ parents. Understandably, he became angry and troubled, using drugs and sometimes sleeping under bridges.

Talented from a young age, he started out playing with the Melvins in the early to mid-eighties. In 1987, he and Krist Novoselic formed Nirvana. They produced their first album, Bleach, in 1989, and Dave Grohl joined the band in 1990. In 1991, they released Nevermind, their first major-label record, featuring the single “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Cobain would later say he hated playing the song.

Cobain married Hole lead singer, Courtney Love, in 1992 in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. He wore pajamas to the wedding. They had their daughter, Frances Bean, that same year. Not long after, Nirvana released what would be their final studio album, In Utero.

Cobain struggled with anxiety and depression, as well as stomach issues that caused him a great deal of pain. As his conditions persisted, he used heroin as a means of escape.

In April of 1994, just days after a two-day stint in a rehabilitation center, which he left, Cobain holed himself up in a greenhouse room above the garage at his Seattle home, and shot himself in the head with a 20-gauge shotgun.

Idolized by millions, Cobain did not feel comfortable as the “voice of a generation”. In fact, he railed against it. Almost thirty years after his suicide in April of 1994, Nirvana still garners over 29 million monthly listeners on Spotify, according to the platform.

Now that you perhaps know a little bit more about the artist’s life, let’s get into his music. The following are a selection of lyrics I’ve chosen from five songs for today’s prompt. All are performed by Nirvana.

Her husband was a hard working man
Just about a mile from here
His head was found in a driving wheel
But his body never was found

My girl, my girl, don't lie to me
Tell me, where did you sleep last night?

In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through

“Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” / Songwriter: Huddie Ledbetter
Song here: https://youtu.be/hEMm7gxBYSc?si=egO5ko76x-czO-tU

Teenage angst has paid off well
Now I'm bored and old
Self-appointed judges judge
More than they have sold

If she floats then she is not
A witch like we had thought
A down payment on another
One at Salem's lot

“Serve the Servants” / Songwriter: Kurt Cobain
Song here: https://youtu.be/ODn21NOi-dQ?si=jZTMfzUvu1ScB0oV

She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak
I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks
I've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black

“Heart-Shaped Box” / Songwriter: Kurt Cobain
Song here: https://youtu.be/n6P0SitRwy8?si=ndyqCg91d3zJmwm0

Underneath the bridge, tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped have all become my pets
And I'm living off of grass, and the drippings from my ceiling
It's OK to eat fish 'cause they don't have any feelings

“Something in the Way” / Songwriter: Kurt Cobain
Song here: https://youtu.be/1YhR5UfaAzM?si=lZJuQ9-ZdxvnbQln

Look on the bright side, suicide
Lost eyesight, I'm on your side
Angel left wing, right wing, broken wing
Lack of iron, I'm not sleeping

“Milk It” / Songwriters: Tommy Henriksen, Jaden Michaels, Jolene Bell
Song here: https://youtu.be/qCZ1-TD2oyc?si=sfyXOmc-RaCw1EJX

Your poetic prompt for today is to choose one of the following two options:

• Choose at least one line (or you can go for the gusto and choose a few!) from the given selections to include in a poetic musing of your choice. If you need to, you can add punctuation and break up the line (like we do in prosery), or you can use the line as end words for a golden shovel.
• Choose one of the songs, and listen to it in its entirety. Write about that, either a poem about listening to the song, or inspired by the song.

Please have fun with this! Eccentric, grunge, outcast, socially awkward, all things that Cobain embraced. So embrace them today in homage to this amazing songwriter who passed before his time.

If you’re new, here is how to join us:

• Write a poem in response to the prompt.
• Enter your name and a link directly to each post containing your poem into Mr. Linky. Remember to check the box to accept use/privacy policy.
• Read other poets’ work as they enter their links into Mr. Linky. Check back as more will be added.
• Please link back to dVerse from your post(s).
• Have a wonderful time!🎉

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