Long Nights of Burnt Days


There’s a lot of flesh and blood in his harmonica,
long nights of burnt days, and prayers
carrying him to the crossroads with
the devil on his back.

He testifies about his dark side
in blue notes walking their way
toward redemption until the
liquor congregation pours another amen.

He was a lot of things… Is a lot of things.
He pours past and future through
one day at a time into music that helps
every listener carry their own story.

©Susie Clevenger 2019

The Sunday Muse #62

Real Toads ~ The Tuesday Platform

Comments

  1. Carrie Van HornJuly 6, 2019 at 9:30 AM

    Oh Susie, this is amazing! A hard and beautiful journey captured in these lines. I love each stanza equally. Each one stands strong with images that cannot be forgotten, nor would we want to. A new favorite for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susie ClevengerJuly 6, 2019 at 9:31 AM

      Thanks Carrie. I know a lot of harmonica players. They can really speak a story through their harps.

      Delete
    2. Carrie Van HornJuly 6, 2019 at 9:43 AM

      I would love to meet one of them and hear them play. I am sure it is amazing!

      Delete
    3. Susie ClevengerJuly 6, 2019 at 10:09 AM

      Maybe one day I can introduce you to one. :)

      Delete
  2. RommyJuly 9, 2019 at 12:31 PM

    You can hear it clearly when an artist puts their flesh and blood in their art, no matter what the medium. That's not a thing that can't be taught so much as felt. Thank the gods for the intuitive alchemy that lets people transmute feeling into art.

    ReplyDelete
  3. brudbergJuly 9, 2019 at 12:37 PM

    This is the kind of music that can help the listener so much... all that pain of the artist is like a helping hand.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Linda Lee LybergJuly 9, 2019 at 1:18 PM

    I love the harmonica, this is really beautiful Susie.

    ReplyDelete
  5. tonispencerJuly 9, 2019 at 1:41 PM

    Interesting. I never got into the harmonica or blues players. Maybe sometime I will check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost July 9, 2019 at 5:21 PM

    An excellent character study in verse.
    I wish I had an iota of musical talent. I could play the blues with authenticity.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sherry Blue SkyJuly 9, 2019 at 7:30 PM

    There is nothing i love more than hearing live music. What a wonderful life musicians must have.

    ReplyDelete
  8. MargaretJuly 9, 2019 at 8:06 PM

    ...pours another amen. Loved that. And the first stanza really drew me in - Powerful imagery - which is often the case with your poetry.

    ReplyDelete
  9. HelenJuly 10, 2019 at 9:15 AM

    I love the harmonica and am in awe of those folks who have mastered it! Have to add that I have one and am attempting to learn ... my poor arthritic fingers and failing embouchure have failed me on my flute!

    ReplyDelete
  10. colleenJuly 11, 2019 at 4:23 PM

    Long Nights of Burnt Days is a perfect title and description for this poem.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Peggy CJuly 15, 2019 at 12:18 PM

    Loved the imagery in your poem, particularly
    "liquor congregation pours another amen."

    ReplyDelete

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