I might do an actual audio recording of this one day, but for now I wanted to go ahead and post this poetry/spoken-word piece I recently wrote in honor of the John Wick series. I usually focus more on things like societal issues and personal battles for my pieces, but I also occasionally like to pay tribute to more fun things I’m especially passionate about. It’s definitely a draining and challenging endeavor for me, and it’s a very finicky process, much like fiction writing. Both poetry and fiction are more difficult for me than blogging, which is tiring enough with the preexisting drains from health issues and familial demands, so that gives you an idea of how significant it is to make that choice of scrounging together the time and energy and creativity for a piece. But when I thought about this series, I knew it absolutely deserved that level of acknowledgment, no two ways about it.

And interestingly enough, I ended up getting some unusually intense and persistent bursts of inspiration where I was coming up with various lines, to the point where it kept me up a bit. The biggest challenge came in connecting all those puzzle pieces in a logical and smooth way, especially since my original intent was to give it a pretty relentless pacing that would work for a full-speed delivery. I went for a stronger emphasis on that than usual; while I often write my poetry with an eye on how it would flow when spoken at a good pace out loud—I frequently think of them as both poems and songs lyrics—I don’t always focus on that. Here I really tried to make sure it had a sense of rhythm and musicality that would work for an up-tempo acapella spoken delivery rather than only working in written form. And some individual lines were just massive headaches because of the syllable or pronunciation factors.

I’ve received some input, though, that I should focus on a more relaxed pace for performing it, because after all, what’s the value if you’re going too quickly for people to clearly understand the lyrics and their meanings? The lyrical content definitely matters far more to me than the delivery style, so that certainly wins out. And I’m definitely pleased with how things have turned out. I feel that the amount of effort it took me (I even fasted for a day to aid my mental and creative functions—stuck to supplement shakes and other liquids) definitely paid off in aspects like the wordplay and vocabulary.

Though that said, while my focus is now on a more measured and clear approach, should I ever record a recitation of it, I also am happy about the delivery aspect of it when I try to take it full-speed as well—while it’s really a pretty moderate speed, the rhythm changes and tongue-twisting verbal complexity make it a beast to deliver, but I like that it’s such a challenge.

Anyways, here it is! (Though I won’t rule out some future tweaking! The “ray of light” bit is still nagging at me….)

The piece does contain spoilers for all three films, mind you—indeed, a big point was to really provide a strong sense of the narrative—so I wouldn’t recommend reading this without having watched the movies first. Plus, it’s rife with references, so you’ll get much more out of it if you’ve seen the films already. So, with no further ado, here is “7 Shots—A John Wick Tribute.”

7 Shots—A John Wick Tribute

John Wick, pilgrim lost in the sands

Gotta cleanse away the blood that’s soaked into his hands

===

He’s Ruska Roma, a son of Belarus

Tragedy soon defined the days of his early youth

Life is suffering, so they say

But he faced his enemy, chose to make a parlay

Now he moves to Death’s rhythm in a lethal ballet

They say all the world’s a stage? Then let the music play

===

Ippon seoi nage, Model 34 Glock

Kimber 1911, break you with a wrist lock

Guns and martial arts, use both to kill you faster

Aiki-jutsu with an STI Combat Master

===

So Jardani Jovonovich

Became our legend John Wick

===

7 shots, 7 perfect kills

A man of focus, commitment, and sheer will

7 shots, 7 perfect kills

A man of focus, commitment, and sheer will

===

Fool him once, shame on you

When he comes to settle up, then whatcha gonna do?

Iron out your differences or you’ll find what you’ve wrought

Last breath leaves your body with a pull of the garrote.

With breadth of experience, he cools the skin

Freezing in mortal terror those steeped in sin.

Heart twisted and sick, you’ve got the disease?

Wick’s a surgeon; he’ll just open up your arteries

===

But even one as fierce as him soon finds a price

There were tolls to be paid for the taking of life

===

The center of his world, the ray of light was lost

And he was left to wonder if her death was karma’s cost

===

Steeped in guilt, haunted by shame

He was forced to confront the legacy of his name

===

Paid a heavy price for freedom

But was sold a counterfeit

Been through Hell so many times and still not done with it

Wife, dog, car, friends, home up in flames

So here comes the Dark Phoenix, wreaking vengeance, taking names

===

7 shots, 7 perfect kills

A man of focus, commitment, and sheer will

7 shots, 7 perfect kills

A man of focus, commitment, and sheer will

===

From the shadows, Death’s Emissary,

Can take every ground troop along with the dignitaries

Your position won’t protect you, he’ll still always be able

If you lurk on the streets or hang with the High Table

===

You feel a presence, don’t look up

Just exposing your throat for that final cut

The shadows come to life, better not turn around

He’ll be the last thing you see before your body hits the ground

===

Screw with his dog, you’ll be dead on your feet

Those soul-searing eyes the last gaze you ever meet

===

7 shots, 7 perfect kills

A man of focus, commitment, and sheer will

7 shots, 7 perfect kills

A man of focus, commitment, and sheer will

===

Bodies stacked in rows,

Buried like his past

Double-cross him,

That mistake will be your last

===

A consummate hunter, born from the soul of prey

Survived a massacre and with Helen found his way

===

So what does he remain—

A devil or a priest?

He returned to the abyss

Spurred on by his grief

===

The man really isn’t as ruthless as you think

But don’t get in his way once he’s brought to the brink

And don’t be lured by the perks and what you think you’ll get

Many eyes on the prize, yet none can collect

Girl thought she could, but in the clutch she choked

Lost her membership, protected class then revoked.

===

After that he thought it over, thought he could find his rest

But he had to grab a pencil, once more put to the test

When a false little saint chose to act as a devil

Made the mistake of thinking he could play on that level

===

Wick’s a fallen angel from those built for revenge

Now just about ready to come unhinged

Don’t force this man to take the lives of friends or innocents

You cross that line, then expect a swift recompense

===

He’s not a monster

He’s the one you send to slay ‘em

Then Santino comes along

Thinking he’s about to play him?

===

7 shots, 7 perfect kills

A man of focus, commitment, and sheer will

7 shots, 7 perfect kills

A man of focus, commitment, and sheer will

===

His hands crushing your throat shouldn’t be any news to you.

Chase coercion with betrayal—whatcha think he’s gonna do?

The moment you betrayed him you marked yourself for death

Kid, I hope you enjoyed the time you still had left

===

Here comes your miracle, with guns and a lot

You know you’re already dead before he even takes the shot.

===

Sig Sauer MPX, Walther P99

The clock ticks down on him, but you’re running out of time

Benellis M4 & 2, HK P30L

And mods make it go smoother when he’s raining down Hell

===

Fiber-optic front sight, trigger guard access cut

When John Wick’s on a mission, we know Charlie’s cleaning up

Light-modified choke, sling plate, compensator

He’ll paint your blood across the wall, let the crew fetch you later

===

Hey, the man’s not fussy—doesn’t matter what utensil

If it’s handy, he’ll erase you with a motherfreaking pencil

===

7 shots, 7 perfect kills

A man of focus, commitment, and sheer will

7 shots, 7 perfect kills

A man of focus, commitment, and sheer freaking will

===

And you should see what he does with a book

He can find a tool of death with just a split-second look

There’s a reason he’s become a man of nightmare and story

I’d love to tell you all the details but they get a little gory

===

Who the heck can do that? Do you really have to ask?

The man who wipes out every single crew that you can task

===

You line them up, he’ll knock them down

Try to take him out, and he takes you to town

You set him up, he’ll bring you down

Gotta sink? Three inches? Then he’ll make you drown

===

Devil dog seeing red from the sands to the stable

Don’t think your neck is safe if you’re part of the Table

He’ll kick you off your high horse, knock you off your throne

You can stab him in the back, but John cuts quick to the bone

===

Unlike you, he knows to confirm the kill

You’ve rigged the game, but he’ll beat with you that Mozambique Drill

===

Now you’ve pushed him too far, he’s officially pissed

You’re gonna die like red shirts and learn it’s futile to resist

===

At this point you’ll be lucky if he leaves a remnant

Why tangle with a Southpaw—he’s left dominant.

===

Your spine will be severed, your power now broken

And this time you’ll find you can’t be saved by any token

John Wick’s on the warpath, no changing his track

You better make your peace

Set things right,

Guard your soul,

Bow your head,

And pray….

Cause, yeah, I’m thinkin’ he’s back.

© Ahsoka Jackson, 2019.