Shuffled Album Covers: Les Beat Rearranged

(Originally published in Ekphrastic Review. January 2025)

Three Beatles songs rearranged—every word included.

1.

Helter-Skeltered

Well, yeah.

Til it be blisters, my love

Stop again, won’t you? Top down, slide to me.

Yes, you. 

I want you to.

Fast fingers go on down. 

Got out of love

But come back, for she is a top and bottom lover. 

Slide miles! Break fast! Don’t answer. 

Ride the love, make do.

Look above—where she won’t answer me.

But I ain’t coming, see?

I’m a dancer when I get down

It may be. 

But ooh, tell no helper 

‘Cause the fast turn, here it comes.

Stop again, won’t you? You helter-skelter, you.

2.

Jude Redux

Begin.

Take out any pain under your cool shoulders,

Take it with heart.

You’ll just need a better song.

Remember anytime, to feel with the world,

Start its movement into your skin, 

waiting under it, a fool afraid, 

and Jude, carry that fool for the world.

It’s waiting. Just begin. You can do it.

Perform your heart-plays upon a sad someone.

Making na na na, make his refrain better. 

You know who.

Let a little pain down, bad don’t need to get colder

Just a song, found by you 

Hey, nanana-na.

3.

Away With Your Hidden Love

Ev’ryday I’m on to her.

I stare at your face, seeing clowns, 

Even hearing them, feeling them.

Never will I find them all.

I gather your laugh to me, and laugh away your love  

You’ve let my head turn,

Never at hand, my love.

Each small foot on the wall

Could win my feeling, hearing you say,

Hey I’m in your way

Stand and state your never-me love:

I hear you’ve gone away—say hey if you see me.

You say: see you.

On the day I’m here, even your clowns hide, 

Seeing the day go.

Hey, she got it ev’rywhere

Seeing how you can’t go ‘round two people in love

How can’t they let me in on the feeling?

She’s hearing them all. 

Try seeing me, hearing me, feeling me.

You can’t love me. Can’t love my face.

Can and can’t laugh me away.