The Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center is known to the world

For honoring those in the arts –

From Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Astaire,

Whose talents top all of the charts.

 

Sinatra, Gene Kelly, L. Bernstein, Kazan

And Benny and Lena and Merce,

Ray Charles, Lucille Ball, Isaac Stern and George Burns,

The list both profound and diverse.

 

Belafonte and Ailey and Hepburn and Peck,

Gillespie and Sondheim, the Who;

Aretha and Dylan and Kander and Ebb,

Judith Jamison, Chuck Berry, too.

 

Baryshnikov, Quincy, Paul Simon and Cash,

Warren Beatty, James Taylor and Cher;

Tina Turner and Spielberg and Barbra and Tharp,

Yo Yo Ma, Dustin Hoffman – all there.

 

Al Pacino and Elton, De Niro and Streep,

Lily Tomlin, Santana and Sting;

LL Cool J and Reba and Joni, Mel Brooks,

Lionel, Dick Van Dyke, Carole King.

 

There are more I’ve not mentioned, but going ahead,

It is going to be quite a shock

When the Kennedy Center will honor, perhaps,

Village People or maybe Kid Rock.

 

Oh, I fear for this country in so many ways

And it feels we’ve been stabbed in our hearts

With the Kennedy Center now being run

By a man with no stake in the arts.