Honky Poet Blues
(Apologies to Bessie Smith)
,The Honky-Poet Blues
(With apologies to Bessie Smith)
I’m sittin’ at my keyboard almos’ all day;
I say, I’m sittin’ at my keyboard almos’ all day.
The wife want rent money,
She say po’try don’t pay.
Went to my desk this mornin’, my hard drive was shot;
I say, went to my desk this mornin’, my hard drive was shot.
When I looked at the monitor,
A black screen was all I got.
Had it fixed but then jus’ as I feared;
I say, had it fixed but then jus’ as I feared,
Every poem I’d ever saved
Had jus’ up and disappeared.
A paper jam and then my printer quit;
I say, a paper jam and then my printer quit.
That printer ain’t no good,
It just a piece of . . . inferior merchandise.
An’ next my old thesaurus warn’t nowhere aroun’;
I say, my old thesaurus warn’t nowhere aroun’.
I’m lookin’ for a synonym,
An’ they ain’t none nowhere to be foun’.
Wrote a great poem ya’all would admire;
I say, wrote a great poem ya’all would admire.
Read it to some academics,
An’ one say it got a danglin’ modifier.
My black ink cartridge has done run dry ag’in;
I say, my black-ink cartridge has done run dry ag’in.
Computer company rip-off,
What they chargin’ it be a mortal sin.
Ain’t sellin’ no po’try, my career is dead;
I say, ain’t sellin’ no po’try, my career is dead.
Gonna quit writin’ sonnets
An’ write rubber checks instead.
So now I’ve told my tale, and now I’m through;
I say, I’ve told my tale, and now I’m through.
I’m goin’ home to beg the Lord
That Bessie Smith don’t decide to sue.
(2011)
#Blues