The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes - A Series of Poetic Puzzles - 5
Clues: Music, Movies. Poetry, Philosophy, History, Theater
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1.
I’ll strip this of all its capitals
ravish it of rhyme and punctuation
but don’t cry for me argentina
a singer in a league of their own
It started like a prayer but soon was in vogue.
encircled by controversy for my rogue
and maverick ways and skin I’ve shown
I found a Ray of Light that lead to the hall of fame
Where, while accepting my reward I claimed
this used to be my playground
Extra clues - hung up in 4 minutes on madame x.
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2.
I, Francois-Marie, am also a rogue and a maverick
Expelled from my homeland
They sent me to the North Island
I conceived Letters on the English while there
I am the apple that fell from the tree
I wrote of his gravity, his elements, and his science.
The King however, declared it defiance.
My great loves were the Marquise, and my niece.
When I died I was enshrined in the Pantheon.
I am known for my philosophy and sane-reason.
Extra clues - Candide. To Victor Hugo, ” I was the ‘Enlightenment.’ “
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3.
Annunzio Paolo was born in Venice, Italy
His father was Concertmaster at La Scala
under the direction of Arturo Toscanini.
As a child, his family moved to England
when grown, he attended the College of Music at Trinity
After college he formed his own orchestra in Birmingham
His sound became that of “Cascading Strings.”
He was Britain’s most successful album artist…. until the Beatles.
Extra clues - Winneford Moss, Ronnie Binge, “Cara Mia.”
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4.
All my poems are in bits and pieces
Only one survived intact.
Though I’m among the Canon of Nine Lyric Poets
They prefer to call me “The Tenth Muse”, in fact.
They exiled me to Sicily, where I thought
they would have someone else to prey on
There I had a daughter, but the Leucadian Cliffs
called to me, and I took my life, for the love of Phaon.
Though nothing can truly be known of the ancient Greek poets
I think you’ve heard of me, in fact, I know it.
Extra clues - Ode to Aphrodite, Cleis, Lesbos.
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5.
Goyathlay was born near Turkey Creek, a Gila tributary.
A peaceful, though isolated childhood followed, living on the prairie
In 1858 Goyathlay’s family was murdered.
Vengeance was taken and the murderers were all dead.
Goyathlay became a fugitive as the law had been broken,
The government sought in vain for 32 years, but the chain was unbroken
Then, on September 8th 1886, Goyathlay and his followers surrendered.
Until his death, in 1909, Goyathlay tended land the government rendered
Extra clues - Alope and 8 others, Fort Sill.
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Choose from here if you must:
Plato, Attila, Helen, Socrates, Muhammad, Alexander, Aristotle, Buddha, Charlemagne,
Tutankhamun, Jesus, Virgil, Hannibal, Pocahontas, Sappho, Geronimo, Oprah, Pele,
Homer, Elvis, Achilles, Liberace, Confucius, Nero, Nostradamus, Capucine, Sting,
Twiggy, Halstein, Donovan, Mistinguett, Moliere, Mantovani, Colette, Voltaire, Prince
Cantinflas, Madonna, Bjork, Topol.