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Open Poetry #50
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Life of a Bluesman
| Open Poetry #50 |
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Life of a Bluesman |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States 
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Life of a Bluesman By Paul Wilson Learned to play the blues in nineteen forty two Jumped a freight train when I was fourteen No money in my pockets Just me and my daddy’s guitar Played that guitar all night long Wound up in Chicago cold and hungry Only a guitar pick in my pocket No money at all Found an allnight diner Cook let me sleep in the store room Woke up the next morning Thanked the cook and hit the streets Playing on street corners…making some dough Playing the blues…letting my soul bleed Found a place to crash fifty cents a night Met some guys from the delta That played the blues Spent most my days moving from corner to corner Made enough to get by on My friends and I started playing together Things were going great Till the police ran us out of the park We saw a sign outside a juke joint Band needed… fifty dollars a night Went inside and started to play Owner said you’ll do be here at nine o’clock Showed up that night The place was packed wall to wall Took the stage started playing the blues Had a few drinks just to loosen up The crowd really liked our music Night after night we packed the house Playing the blues delta style Letting my soul bleed Doing what I loved A few weeks later met a lady I really liked We got hitched on a Saturday night News got around about our band Soon offers came rolling in Took a gig up town at a classy blues joint The money was rolling in…everything was great Came home early one night Caught my wife with my best friend Grabbed my guitar ran out the door Headed South…ain’t going back to Chicago no more Rolled into Memphis about four AM Bought myself a bottle of gin Spent the next day drinking and playing the blues My head was aching…my heart was breaking My soul was bleeding… the blues I was needin’ Heard about a place in Clarksdale, Mississippi Thought I’d take a ride and check it out Headed down hwy. 61 past the crossroads Ground Zero Blues Club the sign said Went inside…asked an old gray haired man if I could sit in He said sure boy…show me what you got Played a set took a break That old gray haired man asked me If I wanted to join his band I said sure…I’ll do the best I can You bleed the blues boy he said That woman must have hurt you bad One day you gonna be like me…an old gray haired man Twenty years later that old man died Now I’m that old gray haired man playing the blues If you’re ever down South Travel down hwy. 61 to Clarksdale, Mississippi Ground Zero Blues Club still there Come on in pull up a chair Listen to that old gray haired man play the blues Copyrighted 8-26-2020 ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ Paul |
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| © Copyright 2020 Paul D. Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Just wanna lean back in the chair, take a little sip, and ease the hat I don't wear down over my eyes while I listen to some music now. You hit all the notes on this one. Enjoyed. Michael |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Michael...Glad you liked this. Would love to join you for that sip, but make mine a Diet Coke. Thanks for reading and your reply...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
enjoyed this my friend - quite a tale and if this is/was you hope things are much better now. easy now, blues man . . . j. |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
James...Thanks very much for reading. This is just one of many fictional poems that could be real and most likely is for some Bluesmen. Thanks again my friend for reading and your reply...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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augustsky Senior Member Posts 828 midwest US |
What a journey..you're going to have us swaying & snapping our fingers 'Bluesman'.  Enjoyed the tale Poet Paul Sky~ ~ Cherish Everything ~ |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Ah, so glad to hear. Many of my writes (with some embellishments) also are fictional, but then again, they are as real as the sun is bright, because they all stem from something that tweaked my soul in one way or another, except for my writes about my Cancer, which are very real indeed. Sorry to hear about your daughter, my friend. I may even have commented on something you said about it before now . . . but without looking it up . . . Cancer isn't so bad, it's my memory thats hurts the worst. Walk Easy . . . j. |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Sky...If you really want to hear very good live blues come on down to ground zero inm Clarksdale, Ms. I've never been but have watched some great blues from there on our local public broadcast tv channel. Thanks so much for singing along with me...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
James...I really hope you keep getting positive results on your cancer. My heart is still heavy from the loss of my daughter, but I am coping with it and I know she is happy wherever she is. Thanks and keep strong. Saying prayers for you my friend...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
“My head was aching…my heart was breaking My soul was bleeding… the blues I was needin’” What a wonderful journey you just took me on Paul. You had me smiling and humming my own tunes along throughout the adventure. Much enjoyed! Best wishes, /Kit |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Kit...Thanks very much for reading and your generous reply. So glad you liked that stanza, I think it makes the poem come to life...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ Paul |
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Poet In Pink Senior Member Posts 1066 MI |
Hello Paul Love the Blues! What a delightful adventure you took me on Very real to life feeling throughout Much enjoyed & Thanks for sharing your grand imagination! Alana |
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Starmcneil 1955 Member Posts 174 Alberta, Canada |
You weave the vision with such beauty and sadness...I have never understood the blues well but now I think I am getting it...hugs and prayers are sent your way...I loved this and could hear the music |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Alana...So glad you love the blues. To me they are the life blood of music. They comfort you when you are down, sort of like therapy for the soul. Thank you so much for coming along with me on this journey...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Karen...The blues can best be described if you listen to the music and words. Its like a lonely wolf looking for a mate when they howl and the singer is baring their soul to the audience So thankful for you reading and replying. I really hope you explore the blues more...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Starmcneil 1955 Member Posts 174 Alberta, Canada |
Paul... "Its like a lonely wolf looking for a mate when they howl and the singer is baring their soul to the audience"...what a beautiful way to put it...I reread your poem and could see and feel it...amazing...time to explore something new in my life...thank you |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Karen ...You are welcome...Paul Do some internet searches on blues music and listen to some. Search Blues singers and pick one and kick back and enjoy ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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