I hear the Nightclub Singer
Male
42
He's wearing a grey suit
The type that has
The small lines
Running through
Threads waiting
For something
Wool
I assume
And black shoes
Slip ons
Shiny
He sings over a lazy beat
Da de da de da de
Da doh
Da doh
Do
Over and over
His suit getting tighter
His hair slicker
Than the lies
I tell
Im sitting in the corner
The booth is a round one
But I am alone
Except for my guests
I fill their plates
And eat
My dessert
There are no waitresses
Because nobodies
Waiting
And I can't muster
The courage
To say
I'm hungry
The cake
And constant cigarette smoking
Must have got me
And as I roll back
Onto the floor and
Into the music
The singer fades out
To a guitar solo
That made me shake
Thunderous music
That grabs at
Your soul
I noticed later
When I put my head
Against
The pillow
I hear my heartbeat
Deep behind my ear
Behind my ear drum
Behind what is
Behind there
Da de da de da de
Dah doh
Dah doh
Doh
Mar 6, 2018
Mar 6, 2018 at 8:07 PM UTC
I hear the Nightclub Singer
Male
42
He's wearing a grey suit
The type that has
The small lines
Running through
Threads waiting
For something
Wool
I assume
And black shoes
Slip ons
Shiny
He sings over a lazy beat
Da de da de da de
Da doh
Da doh
Do
Over and over
His suit getting tighter
His hair slicker
Than the lies
I tell
Im sitting in the corner
The booth is a round one
But I am alone
Except for my guests
I fill their plates
And eat
My dessert
There are no waitresses
Because nobodies
Waiting
And I can't muster
The courage
To say
I'm hungry
The cake
And constant cigarette smoking
Must have got me
And as I roll back
Onto the floor and
Into the music
The singer fades out
To a guitar solo
That made me shake
Thunderous music
That grabs at
Your soul
I noticed later
When I put my head
Against
The pillow
I hear my heartbeat
Deep behind my ear
Behind my ear drum
Behind what is
Behind there
Da de da de da de
Dah doh
Dah doh
Doh
This is one of a series of pieces I wrote after finding out I had tinnitus in my right ear, and was starting to lose my hearing. As a musician this had me absolutely terrified, and as a creative I felt it necessary to find a different outlet of expression if I couldn't continue with writing music. I really do hear my heartbeat when I put my head against the pillow and some nights it really ***** with me. The title comes from a Jazz Station I used to listen to as a kid, WBGO 88.3 Newark.
Request permission to use this poem