The Soft Rock Ballad of Stanley and Iris
Heather has a Bachelor's Degree in English from Moravian College and has been freelance writing for more than 13 years.
Here's a story of two very different individuals
From different eras with very similar Black Sheep temperaments
Despite what many opinionated observers deemed to be true
Based on a lot of rumor and magazine generated innuendo
Look beyond the gossip rags that could double as toilet paper
And spy two creative souls from differing ends of society's totem pole
Stanley a rebel that came of age in the early 1980s
Fond of Led Zeppelin and The Who's creative madness
A Marlon Brando type of tough guy who smoked Camels until '81
Swore like a truck driver and rode Harley Davidsons on weekends
Resented people with too much authority or their lack of understanding
Teachers unable to look past the Charles Bronson silent fury exterior
To see someone who had more stories than O. Henry could ever beat
Always had sometimes too much to say when out with others
Could hold court with the best comics at The Comedy Store on a dare
An avid bowler on most weekend nights in various leagues
Where he met the other half of the story
Iris, on the other hand, came of age in 2001 and never looked back
A self described girl scout who tended to fear authority too much
Socially awkward and shy when amongst strangers
Someone's fuse shorter than a stick of dynamite on a given day
Identified with Katharine Hepburn more than Audrey Hepburn
Never felt graceful or confident on the dancefloor, or any floor for that matter
Dreamt of being on the stage; but nerves severed that wish quickly
Turned to the pen and the keyboard to express innermost thoughts
Feelings too difficult to verbalize became stories and poems
Felt connected to musicians like David Bowie and Prince
Artists who always perceived and embraced themselves as outsiders
Also loved the rock 'n roll insanity of Zeppelin as well
Able to relate to very few until Stanley entered the bowling alley one day
Found a kindred spirit from another, much preferred, time period
One with a lot of talent and a rebellious streak a mile wide
Gossip and anxiety might serve as extreme complications down the line
Having fun exploring wherever this private road trip leads
Whether on a Harley or taking a walk in the sculpture gardens
The world is our hard, and soft, rock oyster.