Patrick Swayze: A (Sexy) Life
Poem by Ben Drevlow, Artwork by Oliver Murdick
First published: In Praise of the Swayze, Alien Buddha Press 2024
Patrick Swayze’s mother says that before he could walk Patrick
Swayze could dance.
Patrick Swayze’s mother being a ballet teacher deep in the heart
of Texas.
Patrick Swayze’s dad being a horse farmer deep in the heart of
Texas.
Growing up all Patrick Swayze wanted to do was be a world-class
horse wrangler to please his dad.
And a world-class ballet dancer to please his mom.
Patrick Swayze might be the only motherfucker in the history of
earth to do both.
While also being a world-class actor.
While also having a world-class man mane.
And being named the 1991 People Magazine Sexiest Man of the Year.
It’s unclear why it took People four years after Dirty Dancing to
realize Patrick Swayze was the sexiest man in the world.
It’s unclear why People did not name him the sexiest man of the
year every year until the year he died and then renamed the award
the People Magazine’s Patrick Swayze Sexiest Man of the Year award.
Patrick Swayze told everybody to call him Buddy.
Growing up Patrick Swayze was Lil’ Buddy and his father was Big
Buddy.
His father’s son, Patrick Swayze liked nothing more than to ride
his Arabian horses with his shirt off.
His mother’s boy, Patrick Swayze liked nothing more than to do
ballet duets with his wife long after they were into their forties
and fifties. With his shirt off.
Patrick Swayze having met his wife in high school, married her in
college, and stayed married to her until the day he died.
Patrick Swayze having met his wife in his mother’s ballet class.
Having been married 4 years later.
Having been married for 34 years.
Which is like 134 years in Hollywood marriage years.
Buddy and his one true Baby.
For whom he would write and perform his hit song The Time of My
Life that would eventually top the charts as part of the
soundtrack to Dirty Dancing.
In a post-Dirty Dancing interview, Barbara Walters once asked
Patrick Swayze what his personal philosophy was.
To which Patrick Swayze counts on his fingers: Passion, equality,
integrity, and… and all the things my mommy and daddy taught me.
To which Barbara follows up:
Imagine someone who has never seen Dirty Dancing, imagine someone
who has never heard of Patrick Swayze. What would you want that
person to know?
Well, Patrick Swayze says, blushing a little, I want them to know
that I’m a good actor… That I’m somebody to be reckoned with. That
I can give them people something through my work, that they can see
through their lives, something to make their lives lighter for a
moment. Or inspired. Or passionate about who they are, feeling
good about themselves… and I can definitely swing my butt.
Barbara Walters’ final question, the emotional build-up finale
question:
Patrick your father died in 1982. I’ve read that this is something
that was terribly difficult for you. It was something you just
could not accept.
To which Patrick Swayze responds, after clearing his throat,
starting then stopping,then taking a sip of water, after sniffling
and holding back tears and apologizing and
gathering himself and stopping to gather himself again:
I love my dad….[more starting and stopping, more apologizing and
gathering himself…] After my dad died I promised myself that I was
gonna make that man proud of me until the day I die.
Question from the Reader: Did you [as in the poet of this poem]
start choking up at this part of the interview?
Answer from Poet: Yes, yes I did.
Question from the Reader: Did Barbara Walters get you [the poet of
this poem] the same way she got Patrick Swayze?
Answer from Poet: Yes, yes she did.
I BIG CURLY FRILLY VALENTINE HEART this! Thank you.