Ashes to Ashes

It’s time to “leave the capsule”, Major Tom,
And float away to your postmortem stardom.
Last morning’s news exploded like a bomb,
Which made believing infinitely harder.

For you were part and parcel of it all -
Whatever has been happening in music.
And you rose high, before you had to fall,
In your own way - amazing and amusing.

You came, and saw, and – very early – won,
Too young perhaps, and probably too hasty.
Of all the things on earth, you favoured fun
And also some forbidden fruit - for tasting.

Yet, you were free and daring to take
Unbeaten paths beyond the nice and easy.
And every trial, even a mistake,
Would feed your fame that never stopped increasing.

You forged ahead, unwilling to adjust,
To choose between the comic and the tragic.
But now, the time has added dust to dust,
And to your name – the mystery of magic.

You often seemed to be “a lad insane”
But then again, there is no need to mention -
The stars above will never look the same,
At least to those who witnessed your ascension.

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