contrivance, if there is any, comes not with the rhymes so much, but within the line leading up to it.
you obviously understand the meter, so now recite it as a singer would.......... NOT always directly "on" the beat, find the "music" ...it will no longer sound contrived.
I have no trouble "singing" this poem. The contrivance is in your head

ACT your poems out, like a soliloquey, if they fall flat, fix 'em

may tend to believe the rubbish fans spout, who are listening to what once was instead of what is. I was born in the early fifties so noticed this with Sinatra fans in the sixties. I initially thought the guy could never have been a singer then heard some of his 40s and early fifties recordings.

the man that won my respect was Tom Jones. He new that as he grew older he could never reach the high notes he hit in his youth so retrained his voice to sing lower. That worked quite well but he still took it upon himself to retire soon after, rather than listen to those voices urging him to keep touring and recording. This had the further benefit of allowing him to spend much more time with his faithful wife.

to not long ago hear Nana Mouskouri (lol - I know shes not an old rock singer, but your write brought her to my mind) sing. She has lost her voice totally - high notes especially out of tune.... and why doesn't her manager (or someone) tell her?

I loved her voice, but now it's been spoiled for me.

As to your poem
Love it
great theme
great rhythm and rhyme
one little nit to rhythm (to my ear anyway)
His fame, it was legendary - lose the 'it'

I really enjoyed the last three verses (lines)
Love judy
xxx

But what Should these old rockers do? Sit back and wait on the reaper while replaying aged memories? "Rage rage against the dying of the light" lol. But some of them Are a bit grotesque aren't they.......I liked this. It reminds me of an old bald guy I know who still scribbles out a few poems while all the time thinking his best poetry is behind him...........stan

like this! poets get blasted by the blight of their deamons and light..
a lot of them cant do what they could in their youth
yet the fans still like too see them try
like old lions and aged wolves
something grotesque and fascinating about it
mortality
and all that!

why we have the new doing covers
and even they
have just the shine to the real
shimmy the early works
but then I am not from the
modern era
and many of the elders kept
their voice like some do..
kitty wells could sing well
where others were gone
the way it goes!

cash was still taking his
run at it.
I found Hurt to be an amazing
example of it...
June on the stairs in that
video still haunts me
excellent poem
by the way!!

their great!
aging is....

See clapton has a new album out.. U2 was wanting to have Jagger on
a song but said he couldnt sing anymore...
I remember Hank Williams Sr moaning about how then the corporations
were driving him and selling him like Baloney!
and Cash was going no where until an independent label
took him on and his swan song time was awesome!
although it was not hard too see all the ruin that drugs and drinking
and the excess of his demons taking their toll...

I still enjoy this write though!
its like a wedding party..all the old rebels with a few glasses of
wine or other stomping shuffling about on the floor..

thank U !

I rather like rhyming poetry, as over-rated as it may be. This piece is a great example of the thoughtfulness that goes into selecting just the right words for end rhymes, rhythm and clear narrative. Thank you ...

Mike