Bronson

31.  BRONSON
Lithuania Buchinsky"s
Immigrated with hope
Land of Opportunity
Extreme Poverty
 
15 children
11th was a Son
Named Charles
Used to drink water
To keep away hunger

Poverty frightful
Sisters dress to high school
Completed graduation
One in the family
To get that recognition

Ehrenfeld Pennsylvania
Mining town
Hundreds of feet under
Father a Miner
Black lung disease
Mining affairs nightmare

Lost father at 10
Fish to water
Son to miner
Begun at 16
A ton daily
A dollar princely

Drafted by the Army
Boon for Buchinsky
Purple Heart for Bravery
Discharged honorably

Encounter Theater
Acting was Calling
Hicks school of Drama
Training in Philadelphia

Enchanted with Harriet
Wealthy and Orthodox
Family opposed
Doors closed
Insulted at dinner
Charlie had no future
Said the father
Seconded the others

Mining background and poverty
Shadow never left Charlie
Still without a penny
Insulted by many

Trained in drama
Left for Pasadena
Harriet in tow
Apart from GI Bill
Nothing to show

Enrolled at Playhouse
Continued his course
Doing the drills
Honing his skills
Harriet at work
Charlie at School
5 years they marked
For him to make a mark

USS Teakettle
Comedy with Gary Cooper
At the peak of his career
Henry Hathaway director
Recommended by his teacher
Got the role of a Sailor

Belch on cue
He could do
Got the part
Clear his path

Junior Artist
Unbilled Extra
Henchmen or Indian
Third from the left
Fourth from the right
Center he never was
Scarce as hens teeth
Finding work in the movies
Murderer's Row
No signs to show

McCarthy era
Blacklist saga
Name change
Name of a Gate
Chose to replace
Buchinky was past
Bronson would last

Films and TV
Updated his CV
 Critical mass
Roles small but
Speaking parts
Billed in the title
Proved his mettle

Lead roles in B movies
Supporting in Big ones
A TV series in the lead
Decade ended
Worthier than where it started
Graph growing
Seeds sowing
Ground fertile
On the brink

O Reilly and Velinsky
Gunslinger and Miner
Back to Back
Magnificent seven and Great Escape
Big Hollywood fare
Western and War
Cast of future Stars
Had in iron
His name cast
As part of the cast

Part of Hollywood
Parts of Substance
Stardom still at a distance
Grinded along with patience
A man so typecast
Could he really act?
Slavic Face Slant eyes and thick accent
Requisite for a movie star
Totally absent

Nunnally Johnson wrote
The Dirty Dozen
One of the Twelve
Who survived to tell
Global smash
Audience saw him fit
Played role with grit
Across the Atlantic
Opportunity hit

Honor Among Thieves
Billed Second
Behind Alain Delon
Opened the last door
2 Decades after Hathaway
Stardom came his Way
The Sacred Monster
Christened by the French
Followed it with Leone
Role of Harmonica
Harmony with the audience
The Ugly nicknamed in Italy
Gave the title affectionately
Rider on the Rain
Rene Clement
A man with an obsession
Superstardom in Possession

Cold Sweat Red Sun Violent City Valachi Papers
Overflowing Box office Coffers
 Name and face recognized
Global stardom attained

The Miner became Alexander
Conquering the world
Country by Country
Unheralded Popularity
Cinemas sold out in every city

Hollywood Foreign Press Association
Cemented his recognition
Gave the Distinction
Confirmed his position
Universal fame
Biggest name
World’s Favorite Male

Number one draw
In Spain beat the Matador
60 Countries and Counting
Europe and Asia
South America and Africa
Continents under his belt
Belted out hits
As records fell

Highest paid Movie Star
Million Dollars Upfront
Raised the bar
For other Superstars

Bronson in a movie
Money in the bank
Attached to Act
Projects of the rack
Name above the title
Studios in line
For 6 weeks if his time

Set many a benchmark
Became his career hallmark
Multi film deals
Signed with ease
Breakout first film
Saturated release
 1000 plus Screens
Audience Screams
As the reels unspooled
Millions of Dollars Pooled

Studios created Special divisions
 Columbia Tristar
To back the big Star
The Evil That Men Do
Along with The Natural
Amongst the first
To go Global

Laconic Loner
Interviews and Appearances
Fewer
Work does the work
Time with Family
Life of quality

Selected range
Unemotive style
Cold blooded
Without respite
Urban Warrior
Defender of Honor
Glorified Violence
Justified its presence
Immune to Critics
Lapped by fans
Millions the number ran
Original Action Man
Weapons did the talking
Audience ready for taking
Into their hearts forever
The Lithuanian Miner

Icon of international movies
Fan favorite for 5 decades
A feat few can claim.
Till this day remain

Endeared public
Economically emotive
Sparse dialogue
Popularity pinnacle
One in 7  Billion
And his name is
Charles Bronson