A child, born in New Mexico mid Rocky Mountain High,
would fall in love and yearn to top those peaks that kiss the sky.
Yet lonesome days were triggered when his fam'ly moved around
and father's love was rarely felt, forever onward bound.
Then Country Love inspired him with his very first guitar;
he'd play in choirs and local clubs, determined to go far.
And soon he would pursue his Dreams to LA, come what may,
with Sweet Surrender he would bid farewell to yesterday.
Resolving to go on his own, he'd need to change his name
for Deutschendorf* would never fit along the road to fame!
And soon his artistry in song would start to Fly Away
with Peter, Paul and Mary Leaving on a Jet one day.
His Poems, Prayers and Promises would mark his watershed;
with long Gold locks and granny specs, his stardom quickly spread.
Those Country Roads would pave his way to honour his dear wife
in Annie's Song, the power of love, the essence of his life.
But, though this star was flying high, he felt his freedom wane
and, parting from his manager, I'm Sorry (he'd complain)
that, bending values out of fear of losing all ones gain,
is tantamount to selling out to something more profane!
With TV shows and acting roles, his profile quickly grew
but this would never far Eclipse the social ills he knew -
his causes, wide and varied, with awareness to sustain
environmental issues in a world of Fire and Rain.
And Colorado was the place he'd feel Back Home Again,
where Aspenglow would stir his soul and nature was his friend.
With Sunshine on his Shoulders, he would raise his family;
in Mountain Song and verdant woods, his life felt fresh and free.
But fame would cast a bitter blow as many lives have shown -
with marriage then a casualty the couple had outgrown.
A Heart to Heart saw no reprieve with writing on the wall,
the Game is Over, poignantly, would be their rueful call.
Unsettled but still resolute, as music hits declined,
he'd focus on his causes then, more strongly intertwined,
and Flight would be a passion that would thrill and satisfy -
to "slip the surly bonds of earth and fly (into) the sky."
But once he took a risk too far "on laughter's silvered wings"
with fuel failing recklessly that triggered other things;
and Denver's plane would yaw and pitch and crash into the bay,
his instant death so senselessly would haunt that tragic day.
In life he'd reach those sunlit heights, would always idolise
the Spirit of the wilderness, the wild Montana Skies,
for in that "sanctity of space," he "touched the face of God,"
and, lifted high in silent love, a path of peace was trod.
This legend with angelic voice, a gift he loved to share,
whose Daydream was the simple life to unify, repair,
escaped to find tranquility when lost and all alone,
returning to the land he loved - the mountains and his home.
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