Friday Poetry Blues

Something bluesy to fit my mood.

The Laying Down Blues by Wanda Coleman

sometimes i get the blues and want to lay down
morning comes like fifty men with clubs---all on my heart


sometimes i get the blues and want to lay down
my lover laughs at me and splits my world apart


sometimes i get the blues and want to lay down
never get up out of bed again
that's the time i push sorrow aside, get up before
the mirror, force a grin

the corporate man don't have no time for love
he's banking body on the dotted line
a contract, the merger's tight
he's got a plane to catch

never mix business with business

sometimes i get the blues and go south town
night comes on like fifty whores out frying meat


sometimes i get the blues and go south town
for a lil' barbeque and a friend to eat


sometimes i get the blues and want to lay down
all my troubles in the bed of the police


that's the time i think of prison bars/gray
endless dawn with no release

the artist man don't have no time for love
he's banking booty on the game of fame
a contract, the money's tight
he's got a snatch to plane

pleasure is as pleasure does

(money cums, quoth the simp)

sometimes i get the blues and want to lay down
take it to the beach and spread it all across the sand


sometimes i get the blues and want to lay down
take it to Congress and spread it all across the land


sometimes i get the blues and want to lay down
let a draught of phenol make my end
that's the time i push sorrow aside
get up before the mirror. force a grin

Available from: Literature Online