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#bluesman
Sunday morning silence Like the eye inside a storm The street was empty, vacant This would be the brand new norm The windows all were shuttered The doors were closed up tight No one in Cy's doorway To recover from the night The church doors were both open A note pinned to the door The back, open to the alley The note, "pray" and nothing more Giannis, door was locked up Joe was sleeping in the back A note said "order through the window" The window, open just a crack The bar was also locked tight A note said "coffee, but no beer" "yell through the broken window" "Don't worry we will hear" Broken Spines had in the window A large note for all to see The note said "Cooking up some chili" "Come back here around three" Cy came in the back way Taped his note up on the door "Don't worry about paying" "Call if you need more" The street was still in motion It had life, but none to see Today, and for a while The street folk lived for free The city closed the main roads The street, forgotten to most folk The old man, sat on the curbside Looking up, he lit a smoke People ordered up their coffee Got themselves a bite to eat Stood in line outside, all waiting Social distance...now six feet Most folks on the street now Lived above their stores or near The street was still in action Strong and silent, cloaked in fear While life was now adapting A sound, blew by upon the air The Bluesman, oh so gentle Was singing, but, from where? The alley by Gianni's Was empty, not a sound But, still there heard the music With the singer not around The music, it got louder The wind brought it to the street The stores opened windows, To hear the Bluesman's vocal treat It took some time to figure Where the music was relayed He was on Gianni's rooftop He just sat up there and played A special Sunday concert With stops for "medicin" now and then Brought the street folks altogether They were one now, once again The Bluesman sang The Beatles He sang U2, he sang the Band He sang all the Guthries He sang about the land He sang of inspiration Of not being all alone How we were in this together His message simple, inspired tone He sang songs that got you dancing In the stores, that's what they did All alone, but, with the Bluesman Dancing like a little kid Some sang, but no one heard them They sang loud and didn't care They were exactly like the Bluesman Singing proudly to the air He sang for near an hour Folks below yelled up their praise The Bluesman brought The street together In the most beautiful of ways He finished up by singing Two songs that made this right He sang "Imagine" by John Lennon Then he gave them "Silent Night" He made his way down slowly He was older than he was He did this for his people He did this just because People started singing You could hear it all around But, the Bluesman grabbed some chili Found his tent, and hunkered down Inspired, I would say so That is just life on the street A group of flawed, broke people You'd be lucky should you meet A family, but not really They were one, but, many too No one here is really special They are all like me....and you.
0
Mar 22, 2020
Mar 22, 2020 at 5:18 PM UTC
Bluesman inspiration
Sunday morning silence Like the eye inside a storm The street was empty, vacant This would be the brand new norm The windows all were shuttered The doors were closed up tight No one in Cy's doorway To recover from the night The church doors were both open A note pinned to the door The back, open to the alley The note, "pray" and nothing more Giannis, door was locked up Joe was sleeping in the back A note said "order through the window" The window, open just a crack The bar was also locked tight A note said "coffee, but no beer" "yell through the broken window" "Don't worry we will hear" Broken Spines had in the window A large note for all to see The note said "Cooking up some chili" "Come back here around three" Cy came in the back way Taped his note up on the door "Don't worry about paying" "Call if you need more" The street was still in motion It had life, but none to see Today, and for a while The street folk lived for free The city closed the main roads The street, forgotten to most folk The old man, sat on the curbside Looking up, he lit a smoke People ordered up their coffee Got themselves a bite to eat Stood in line outside, all waiting Social distance...now six feet Most folks on the street now Lived above their stores or near The street was still in action Strong and silent, cloaked in fear While life was now adapting A sound, blew by upon the air The Bluesman, oh so gentle Was singing, but, from where? The alley by Gianni's Was empty, not a sound But, still there heard the music With the singer not around The music, it got louder The wind brought it to the street The stores opened windows, To hear the Bluesman's vocal treat It took some time to figure Where the music was relayed He was on Gianni's rooftop He just sat up there and played A special Sunday concert With stops for "medicin" now and then Brought the street folks altogether They were one now, once again The Bluesman sang The Beatles He sang U2, he sang the Band He sang all the Guthries He sang about the land He sang of inspiration Of not being all alone How we were in this together His message simple, inspired tone He sang songs that got you dancing In the stores, that's what they did All alone, but, with the Bluesman Dancing like a little kid Some sang, but no one heard them They sang loud and didn't care They were exactly like the Bluesman Singing proudly to the air He sang for near an hour Folks below yelled up their praise The Bluesman brought The street together In the most beautiful of ways He finished up by singing Two songs that made this right He sang "Imagine" by John Lennon Then he gave them "Silent Night" He made his way down slowly He was older than he was He did this for his people He did this just because People started singing You could hear it all around But, the Bluesman grabbed some chili Found his tent, and hunkered down Inspired, I would say so That is just life on the street A group of flawed, broke people You'd be lucky should you meet A family, but not really They were one, but, many too No one here is really special They are all like me....and you.
Continue reading...
104
Gianni's hadn't opened yet But, the bar was going strong If you listened, in the distance You heard the working of a song The regulars were present The Captain, Soldier and the kid The bartender was cleaning 'Cause that was what she did The sun, well, it was shining It was a great day all around And in the alley sat The Blues man Sitting still upon the ground Nothing, any different Than most any other day The street folk passing greetings While the Blues man chose to play The bell above the bar door rang As a stranger came on in The dust hung in a sunbeam Falling  from the old bell of tin In back of old Gianni's The Blues man played a Dylan tune He slid right into Guthrie It was a perfect afternoon The stranger grabbed the bar's end stool He ordered up and looked around Then he said, "excuse me barkeep" "Just exactly, what's that sound?" She said it was The Blues man He's a legend on the street The man said, "sounds intriguing" "He is someone I should meet" The Captain ordered up a shot The juke box started playing In the corner sat an old man Not quite sure if he was staying The barkeep quizzed the stranger Said "You're off the normal route" "Most stranger get directions" Then he pulled a card out of his suit He said his name was  Edwards He wasn't lost, he had a plan He'd heard about the music Now he came to meet the man "It says here you do A & R" "You can sit here and can listen" "But, The Blues man isn't gonna talk" "You have nothing that he's missing" The music in the bar was rock Out in back, a bluesy lick You could listen to the tunes inside Or go out back, you had your pick "Can I at least go out and see him?" "You can but won't get far" Then she put his card with others She had collected in a jar "You see those cards all in there?" "Thirty three more just like you" "Have come around here snffing" "Like he's some creature in a zoo" "See that girl there in the corner?" The man nodded that he did "Talk to her, she'll tell you" "She runs the book store, she's his kid" The Blues man played some Chapin Let loose on Thunder Road Took a small sip from his hip flask It was hidden, rarely showed The man asked for an ashtray Was told "you cannot smoke in here" "But, the old man in the corner..." She said sssshhhh, and poured a beer "The folks round here have stories" "Some good, and some are bad" "He's the only one that I let smoke" "The old man's story is quite sad" "Stick around a while, see" "Just what makes the street click" "There's a hundred different stories" "Look around and take your pick" "But, what about The Blues man?" "I can give him things he hasn't got" "You will learn sir, that possessions" "Make him something he is not" "He plays music in the alley" "He does't know if you are there" "He plays what his soul is feeling" "He'll play to you, or to the air" "Your best bet, is to sit here" "Leave him be, don't light the fuse" "You may set him on a tangent" "And he just may lose his muse" "He's a part of everybody here" "He's a savior, and a sage" "He's The Blues man to the street folk" "But, he's from a different age" "Have a beer, talk to his daughter" "Play some darts, the beer's on me" "My advice, I hope you'll take it" "Is to let The Blues man be" "Go back to where you came from" "Tell the folks who sent you here" "That The Blues man declined nicely" "And then you two shared a beer" He smiled, looked to the corner Ordered one more, "I concur" "while you're pouring out my lager" "pour one more drink for her" He went off to the corner Introduced himself and sat Never mentioned his profession And that they say is that The Blues man played some Johnson The A & R man stayed a while He looked back toward the barkeep She looked back, and shared a smile
0
May 11, 2019
May 11, 2019 at 9:53 PM UTC
The A & R Man and The Bluesman
Gianni's hadn't opened yet But, the bar was going strong If you listened, in the distance You heard the working of a song The regulars were present The Captain, Soldier and the kid The bartender was cleaning 'Cause that was what she did The sun, well, it was shining It was a great day all around And in the alley sat The Blues man Sitting still upon the ground Nothing, any different Than most any other day The street folk passing greetings While the Blues man chose to play The bell above the bar door rang As a stranger came on in The dust hung in a sunbeam Falling  from the old bell of tin In back of old Gianni's The Blues man played a Dylan tune He slid right into Guthrie It was a perfect afternoon The stranger grabbed the bar's end stool He ordered up and looked around Then he said, "excuse me barkeep" "Just exactly, what's that sound?" She said it was The Blues man He's a legend on the street The man said, "sounds intriguing" "He is someone I should meet" The Captain ordered up a shot The juke box started playing In the corner sat an old man Not quite sure if he was staying The barkeep quizzed the stranger Said "You're off the normal route" "Most stranger get directions" Then he pulled a card out of his suit He said his name was  Edwards He wasn't lost, he had a plan He'd heard about the music Now he came to meet the man "It says here you do A & R" "You can sit here and can listen" "But, The Blues man isn't gonna talk" "You have nothing that he's missing" The music in the bar was rock Out in back, a bluesy lick You could listen to the tunes inside Or go out back, you had your pick "Can I at least go out and see him?" "You can but won't get far" Then she put his card with others She had collected in a jar "You see those cards all in there?" "Thirty three more just like you" "Have come around here snffing" "Like he's some creature in a zoo" "See that girl there in the corner?" The man nodded that he did "Talk to her, she'll tell you" "She runs the book store, she's his kid" The Blues man played some Chapin Let loose on Thunder Road Took a small sip from his hip flask It was hidden, rarely showed The man asked for an ashtray Was told "you cannot smoke in here" "But, the old man in the corner..." She said sssshhhh, and poured a beer "The folks round here have stories" "Some good, and some are bad" "He's the only one that I let smoke" "The old man's story is quite sad" "Stick around a while, see" "Just what makes the street click" "There's a hundred different stories" "Look around and take your pick" "But, what about The Blues man?" "I can give him things he hasn't got" "You will learn sir, that possessions" "Make him something he is not" "He plays music in the alley" "He does't know if you are there" "He plays what his soul is feeling" "He'll play to you, or to the air" "Your best bet, is to sit here" "Leave him be, don't light the fuse" "You may set him on a tangent" "And he just may lose his muse" "He's a part of everybody here" "He's a savior, and a sage" "He's The Blues man to the street folk" "But, he's from a different age" "Have a beer, talk to his daughter" "Play some darts, the beer's on me" "My advice, I hope you'll take it" "Is to let The Blues man be" "Go back to where you came from" "Tell the folks who sent you here" "That The Blues man declined nicely" "And then you two shared a beer" He smiled, looked to the corner Ordered one more, "I concur" "while you're pouring out my lager" "pour one more drink for her" He went off to the corner Introduced himself and sat Never mentioned his profession And that they say is that The Blues man played some Johnson The A & R man stayed a while He looked back toward the barkeep She looked back, and shared a smile
Continue reading...
116
The door opened, he entered There was a whoosh of air The Bluesman looked bedraggled And he grabbed himself a chair Cy, came out, he heard the bell Saw the Bluesman, gave a smile He said "I see the storm is worse" "It's gonna keep up for a while" The Bluesman looked around the store Saw a guitar on the wall "She's an old one hanging over there" He called to Cy, now down the hall He grabbed it, rubbed the neck some He said "she's got a lot to say" He went back to the wooden chair And the Bluesman, he did play "There's lots of music in this girl" "So many songs not sung" He looked back at the hook behind Where this old guitar had hung He sang songs about Jesus about freedom, and the moon Amazingly for the guitars age It wasn't out of tune Cy went to the pawn stores back returning with a flask He'd brought the Bluesman medicin The Bluesman continued with his task "This old girls a treasure trove" "She's just so full of words" "Songs kept hidden for so long" "Songs just waiting to be heard" He played some more, the storm let up He thanked Cy, took his leave "An old guitar needs to be played" "It's lost songs to be grieved" "You know that you can play her" "Whenever you come by" The Bluesman turned and smiled He held the flask given by Cy "That old guitar is special" "She's an old soul, just like me" "I thank you for the offer" "Time will tell, we'll see" The Bluesman left the pawnshop It was if he wasn't there He went out back behind Gianni's And sang his music to the air
0
Oct 8, 2017
Oct 8, 2017 at 3:41 PM UTC
The old guitar (a bluesman poem)
The door opened, he entered There was a whoosh of air The Bluesman looked bedraggled And he grabbed himself a chair Cy, came out, he heard the bell Saw the Bluesman, gave a smile He said "I see the storm is worse" "It's gonna keep up for a while" The Bluesman looked around the store Saw a guitar on the wall "She's an old one hanging over there" He called to Cy, now down the hall He grabbed it, rubbed the neck some He said "she's got a lot to say" He went back to the wooden chair And the Bluesman, he did play "There's lots of music in this girl" "So many songs not sung" He looked back at the hook behind Where this old guitar had hung He sang songs about Jesus about freedom, and the moon Amazingly for the guitars age It wasn't out of tune Cy went to the pawn stores back returning with a flask He'd brought the Bluesman medicin The Bluesman continued with his task "This old girls a treasure trove" "She's just so full of words" "Songs kept hidden for so long" "Songs just waiting to be heard" He played some more, the storm let up He thanked Cy, took his leave "An old guitar needs to be played" "It's lost songs to be grieved" "You know that you can play her" "Whenever you come by" The Bluesman turned and smiled He held the flask given by Cy "That old guitar is special" "She's an old soul, just like me" "I thank you for the offer" "Time will tell, we'll see" The Bluesman left the pawnshop It was if he wasn't there He went out back behind Gianni's And sang his music to the air
Continue reading...
48
Back behind Gianni's There was no one to be found The alleyway was quiet You could not hear a sound The frost had not yet burned off The alleyway was wet The deliveries had not been made No one was moving yet In the sky a rarity Both sun and moon were out But seen by just night creatures Since no one was about The back window to Gianni's Opened to where Jim slept There was garbage in the doorway Since it had not yet been swept The moon was getting lower The sun just in the sky The silence was then broken By a blackbird flying by The bird woke up the Bluesman with his early morning call And he watched the Bluesman set up Perched up high upon a wall The Bluesman had his guitar Wiped some moisture off his crate Another blackbird landed A rat peeked out from a drain grate The Bluesman started playing Singing low, just barely heard More animals were showing up And they took in every word His medicine beside him In a flask, engraved "For Dad" His voice was smooth and smoky You could hear him, just a tad More birds came for the concert More rats, some squirrels too No humans yet were moving In the early morning dew He sang as he was known too To no one special, just the sky Songs of revelation Songs of watching people die The small flock that had gathered Watched The Bluesman, moved a bit As he took sips from his medicine Not a single song...a hit The world was just now waking But The Bluesman didn't care He was doing what he always did Singing softly to the air Normally, the street would fill As word would spread around That the Bluesman was out playing But, today...no one was found The window to Gianni's Let Jim lie in bed and dream That he heard the Bluesman singing In his room, on a sun beam The birds all flew away at once The was movement in behind Life was coming to the street Where at night the vermin dined The Bluesman packed his kit up Snuck away from the day light To sleep and rest his weary bones To venture forth again that night The rats went to the sewers The birds had flown away The squirrels, they were also gone And the street began it's day Jim looked out his window The alley empty, no one thee Where while Jim thought he was dreaming The Bluesman sang songs to the air An early morning concert Full of music, 'neath the sun A concert heard by many A concert just for one
0
Feb 11, 2017
Feb 11, 2017 at 4:46 PM UTC
Early Morning Bluesman
Back behind Gianni's There was no one to be found The alleyway was quiet You could not hear a sound The frost had not yet burned off The alleyway was wet The deliveries had not been made No one was moving yet In the sky a rarity Both sun and moon were out But seen by just night creatures Since no one was about The back window to Gianni's Opened to where Jim slept There was garbage in the doorway Since it had not yet been swept The moon was getting lower The sun just in the sky The silence was then broken By a blackbird flying by The bird woke up the Bluesman with his early morning call And he watched the Bluesman set up Perched up high upon a wall The Bluesman had his guitar Wiped some moisture off his crate Another blackbird landed A rat peeked out from a drain grate The Bluesman started playing Singing low, just barely heard More animals were showing up And they took in every word His medicine beside him In a flask, engraved "For Dad" His voice was smooth and smoky You could hear him, just a tad More birds came for the concert More rats, some squirrels too No humans yet were moving In the early morning dew He sang as he was known too To no one special, just the sky Songs of revelation Songs of watching people die The small flock that had gathered Watched The Bluesman, moved a bit As he took sips from his medicine Not a single song...a hit The world was just now waking But The Bluesman didn't care He was doing what he always did Singing softly to the air Normally, the street would fill As word would spread around That the Bluesman was out playing But, today...no one was found The window to Gianni's Let Jim lie in bed and dream That he heard the Bluesman singing In his room, on a sun beam The birds all flew away at once The was movement in behind Life was coming to the street Where at night the vermin dined The Bluesman packed his kit up Snuck away from the day light To sleep and rest his weary bones To venture forth again that night The rats went to the sewers The birds had flown away The squirrels, they were also gone And the street began it's day Jim looked out his window The alley empty, no one thee Where while Jim thought he was dreaming The Bluesman sang songs to the air An early morning concert Full of music, 'neath the sun A concert heard by many A concert just for one
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80
It was a hot summer night Nearly ninety, I'd say When out back of Giovannis The Bluesman sat down to play He pulled up his crate Took a sip from his flask "This here's my med-cin" "In case someone happens to ask" He started a story That we'd never heard We're the folks of the street And we followed each word It's a tale of James Withers A man in need of a hand But to us on the street He was the Sand Castle Man The bluesman strummed gently He didn't want the words to be lost For this was a story That had a hell of a cost You see, James the sand man Lost a life to the sea His grandson, young James Drowned when he was just three Each day James went down With his grandson in tow They'd make castles together Some fast and some slow One day the pair Were at the end of the pier When a rogue wave hit hard And took what James held most dear His grandson...swept out Lost at sea, never found They searched for three weeks But the poor boy was drowned James kept a vigil Every day on the beach He'd look out on the water His heart out of reach He kept making sand castles As he did with young James With shells and old driftwood And he gave them all names He'd have non-existent armies Fight non existent wars In his hard packed sand castles He carved windows and doors There was make believe dragons In pools by the sea Guarding make believe princesses Who no one could see There were turrets and moats And each day he'd build one To be lost to the tide As the days work was done Each day a new castle Each day a new war But, nobody knew What he was building them for The tide would come in And would sweep it away All that hard work Gone at the end of the day But, each morning he'd come Build one more for the tide With invisible armies To flow away for a ride People would watch him Make the castles of sand With imaginary soldiers In imaginary lands The bluesman sang soft Took a sip once again From the flask on his hip It's just medi-cin The crowd didn't stir We were like moths to the flame As we heard the bluesman finish his tale about James I asked him one morning If he ever would end Building castles of sand He said, Bluesman, my friend I know that each castle Will be washed out to see And I hope that my grandson Gets a message from me I make each sand castle Like we both used to do I come back every day And start another anew It helps with the closure I send my soul to the sea And I hope that my grandson Knows they're for him made by me He finished and thanked us And we went on our way All of us changed some From what the bluesman did play Next time I'm out wandering And see the castles of sand I'll know what he's building Now...that I understand
0
Feb 26, 2014
Feb 26, 2014 at 11:55 PM UTC
The Man Who Made Sand Castles
It was a hot summer night Nearly ninety, I'd say When out back of Giovannis The Bluesman sat down to play He pulled up his crate Took a sip from his flask "This here's my med-cin" "In case someone happens to ask" He started a story That we'd never heard We're the folks of the street And we followed each word It's a tale of James Withers A man in need of a hand But to us on the street He was the Sand Castle Man The bluesman strummed gently He didn't want the words to be lost For this was a story That had a hell of a cost You see, James the sand man Lost a life to the sea His grandson, young James Drowned when he was just three Each day James went down With his grandson in tow They'd make castles together Some fast and some slow One day the pair Were at the end of the pier When a rogue wave hit hard And took what James held most dear His grandson...swept out Lost at sea, never found They searched for three weeks But the poor boy was drowned James kept a vigil Every day on the beach He'd look out on the water His heart out of reach He kept making sand castles As he did with young James With shells and old driftwood And he gave them all names He'd have non-existent armies Fight non existent wars In his hard packed sand castles He carved windows and doors There was make believe dragons In pools by the sea Guarding make believe princesses Who no one could see There were turrets and moats And each day he'd build one To be lost to the tide As the days work was done Each day a new castle Each day a new war But, nobody knew What he was building them for The tide would come in And would sweep it away All that hard work Gone at the end of the day But, each morning he'd come Build one more for the tide With invisible armies To flow away for a ride People would watch him Make the castles of sand With imaginary soldiers In imaginary lands The bluesman sang soft Took a sip once again From the flask on his hip It's just medi-cin The crowd didn't stir We were like moths to the flame As we heard the bluesman finish his tale about James I asked him one morning If he ever would end Building castles of sand He said, Bluesman, my friend I know that each castle Will be washed out to see And I hope that my grandson Gets a message from me I make each sand castle Like we both used to do I come back every day And start another anew It helps with the closure I send my soul to the sea And I hope that my grandson Knows they're for him made by me He finished and thanked us And we went on our way All of us changed some From what the bluesman did play Next time I'm out wandering And see the castles of sand I'll know what he's building Now...that I understand
Continue reading...
104
Twenty two years had passed  by She blinked, and a lifetime had passed She started this job as a lark She never thought it would last Two husbands and rehab were part of this bar The husbands...her clients all knew But the rehab, was hers...and hers all alone Only one in her family knew She'd been tending bar here for 3 presidents plus Two popes, two husbands....one queen There were things in this bar that were secreted away There were things just not meant to be seen Say, 4 fights a week for 22 years That's four thousand six hundred fights That's more violent acts than one person should see That's  a lot of just mind numbing sights As a tender of bar, she was part doctor as well Serving drinks, and giving advice She was hit on as well, and most she turned down But some, they succeeded....some twice They would come with their problems spill their guts to this girl Who they'd probably just met that night They would tell her their problems and drink a few ales When they  left, they would be feeling all right But, Mary...poor Mary would harbour their pain She'd help them, but could not let things go They'd cheer up with her talking and 1 or 2 beers But she hurt, and would leave feeling low There was always a someone on the tales other end Who was home, maybe beaten or mad But, Mary....she talked to the one who'd come out And she always left feeling quite sad The stories they told her, she never asked them to tell But they came and they opened on up And she as their hostess just listened and served Whle they sat there, getting full in their cups She married two men that she met in the bar Both left wives, and poor Mary was blind They both charmed this girl, till she was way too far gone And she learned that love..yes, was blind She had a young niece, that her sister had left She was going to school here in town If there was one person alive who could bring Mary up Her niece Amber was the proverbial clown After marrying twice and divorcing just once Mary vowed not to do it again But, she was hit on each night in this bar Down the lane, by a considerable number of men Her first husband...a lout, for better want of a term Was a drunkard, and jealous most days But she fell for him hard, for his sad tale of woe And her marriage lasted 91 days He would come in each night after finishing work And would berate her for flirting for tips After leaving the bar, he would beat her at home Hitting low, just above Mary's hips Her boss saw her marks whens she was filling the fridge He kept quiet, but he told her to call A friend that he had, who would help Mary out He knew her marks were not from a fall Before Mary phoned she had incredible news Her husband had been in a crash Her problems were over and her bruises would heal And it all happened ...poof...in a flash During this time her sister ran off Leaving Amber for Mary to raise Though she hated her sister for leaving Dear Amber she loved, and she helped Mary get through the days But eight years along, with no outlet in sight Hearing tales and of other folks pain Mary reached out and she found comfort in A needle and a rock of ******* for three years she spiked, shooting up every day spending money she stole from the till And during this time, she got married again He seduced her when she had no self will He knew of her problem and joined in all the same Just a leech come along for the ride He would help keep her secret, never telling her boss Never letting them know she was fried. Poor Amber found out, she walked in one June day there was Mary with her coke and her spoon When she looked at young Amber, she knew she must quit And she knew that she must do it soon Pure heartbreak she saw in that little girls eyes She could see how she thought she would lose Her Aunt like her mother, gone from her life Mary knew she would now have to choose Rehab was chosen, and her husband he left He found out that this train had now stopped his free ride was over, his meal ticket gone You could say that his bubble had popped Two years clean celebrated, at the bar with the kid Mary got some good news from her boss He was retiring to Texas and was selling the bar And he would sell it to her at a loss She was now the proud owner of a bar all her own Three doors down from Giannis on Hope She would run it precisely, the way she'd been taught She would run the bar clean, free from dope She would meet some great people, Some nights in for a drink And others that she wished would just leave She would listen to stories, some good some not quite so much And others just to  hard to believe She would make friends with some people  And others she'd ban, making sure that they left with a start She'd befriend Harry Cooper, the World War two vet Who would imprint his soul on her heart And Amber...yes Amber would come down to spend time She was fine and was going to school She was a classical ****** in the dark of her room And I tell you this girl was just cool Mary brought Amber up with morals and faith She would come when her Aunt made the call She would rather hang out at the bar every night Than to go with her friends to the mall Mary made peace with the demons she had She could leave the folks tales and go home But, now she had Amber and a reason to live And she would not have to do it alone the bar's past Giannias, three doors  down to the right It's not large but she makes  it make do There's some music out back from a bluesman as well Come on down and be one of the few Be a regular there, join up with the crowd It's not big but the beer's always cold You don't have to stay long, but you'll come back again For it's special....or so I've been told Tell Mary I sent you, you'll get a free drink And a free ear to hear of your tale But, leave your ciggies outside for you can't smoke in here You can do it outside by the pail.
0
May 4, 2012
May 4, 2012 at 12:16 PM UTC
The Street #10...The Bartender
Twenty two years had passed  by She blinked, and a lifetime had passed She started this job as a lark She never thought it would last Two husbands and rehab were part of this bar The husbands...her clients all knew But the rehab, was hers...and hers all alone Only one in her family knew She'd been tending bar here for 3 presidents plus Two popes, two husbands....one queen There were things in this bar that were secreted away There were things just not meant to be seen Say, 4 fights a week for 22 years That's four thousand six hundred fights That's more violent acts than one person should see That's  a lot of just mind numbing sights As a tender of bar, she was part doctor as well Serving drinks, and giving advice She was hit on as well, and most she turned down But some, they succeeded....some twice They would come with their problems spill their guts to this girl Who they'd probably just met that night They would tell her their problems and drink a few ales When they  left, they would be feeling all right But, Mary...poor Mary would harbour their pain She'd help them, but could not let things go They'd cheer up with her talking and 1 or 2 beers But she hurt, and would leave feeling low There was always a someone on the tales other end Who was home, maybe beaten or mad But, Mary....she talked to the one who'd come out And she always left feeling quite sad The stories they told her, she never asked them to tell But they came and they opened on up And she as their hostess just listened and served Whle they sat there, getting full in their cups She married two men that she met in the bar Both left wives, and poor Mary was blind They both charmed this girl, till she was way too far gone And she learned that love..yes, was blind She had a young niece, that her sister had left She was going to school here in town If there was one person alive who could bring Mary up Her niece Amber was the proverbial clown After marrying twice and divorcing just once Mary vowed not to do it again But, she was hit on each night in this bar Down the lane, by a considerable number of men Her first husband...a lout, for better want of a term Was a drunkard, and jealous most days But she fell for him hard, for his sad tale of woe And her marriage lasted 91 days He would come in each night after finishing work And would berate her for flirting for tips After leaving the bar, he would beat her at home Hitting low, just above Mary's hips Her boss saw her marks whens she was filling the fridge He kept quiet, but he told her to call A friend that he had, who would help Mary out He knew her marks were not from a fall Before Mary phoned she had incredible news Her husband had been in a crash Her problems were over and her bruises would heal And it all happened ...poof...in a flash During this time her sister ran off Leaving Amber for Mary to raise Though she hated her sister for leaving Dear Amber she loved, and she helped Mary get through the days But eight years along, with no outlet in sight Hearing tales and of other folks pain Mary reached out and she found comfort in A needle and a rock of ******* for three years she spiked, shooting up every day spending money she stole from the till And during this time, she got married again He seduced her when she had no self will He knew of her problem and joined in all the same Just a leech come along for the ride He would help keep her secret, never telling her boss Never letting them know she was fried. Poor Amber found out, she walked in one June day there was Mary with her coke and her spoon When she looked at young Amber, she knew she must quit And she knew that she must do it soon Pure heartbreak she saw in that little girls eyes She could see how she thought she would lose Her Aunt like her mother, gone from her life Mary knew she would now have to choose Rehab was chosen, and her husband he left He found out that this train had now stopped his free ride was over, his meal ticket gone You could say that his bubble had popped Two years clean celebrated, at the bar with the kid Mary got some good news from her boss He was retiring to Texas and was selling the bar And he would sell it to her at a loss She was now the proud owner of a bar all her own Three doors down from Giannis on Hope She would run it precisely, the way she'd been taught She would run the bar clean, free from dope She would meet some great people, Some nights in for a drink And others that she wished would just leave She would listen to stories, some good some not quite so much And others just to  hard to believe She would make friends with some people  And others she'd ban, making sure that they left with a start She'd befriend Harry Cooper, the World War two vet Who would imprint his soul on her heart And Amber...yes Amber would come down to spend time She was fine and was going to school She was a classical ****** in the dark of her room And I tell you this girl was just cool Mary brought Amber up with morals and faith She would come when her Aunt made the call She would rather hang out at the bar every night Than to go with her friends to the mall Mary made peace with the demons she had She could leave the folks tales and go home But, now she had Amber and a reason to live And she would not have to do it alone the bar's past Giannias, three doors  down to the right It's not large but she makes  it make do There's some music out back from a bluesman as well Come on down and be one of the few Be a regular there, join up with the crowd It's not big but the beer's always cold You don't have to stay long, but you'll come back again For it's special....or so I've been told Tell Mary I sent you, you'll get a free drink And a free ear to hear of your tale But, leave your ciggies outside for you can't smoke in here You can do it outside by the pail.
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135
Phone calls were made, meetings were held and the new group was set to get started There was lots to be learned and so little time for the lessons to all be imparted The plan was immense, it was larger this time and the time was going by fast They would all act as one, getting everything done and their goal was to not finish last It was done every year, in the schools through the town, it was something the kids all enjoyed But this year was tough, with all the closings and stuff and the fact there was more unemployed Each school was set up to blitz through the town and to collect all the food that they can But with more on the list and those who would surely be missed were the ones who set last years plan Team leaders were picked in each group at the school, and their job was to get this all done And to beat last years tote by at least one more pound and to make sure that it was all fun Pep rally's were held to get the students involved and help motivate those involved But with more needing help and less firms out to help, they had problems they had to get solved On December the first, the kids all set out ringing bells in the malls and the stores From there they would go with buses and trucks and collect food by knocking on doors The school who did best bringing in the most pounds would be win a cup and awards But to all those concerned, they had to get out and blanket the town in great hoards People backed out from tasks all assigned, It was cold and they had too much to do There was homework as well, and jobs on the side and alot wouldn't see the task through But they all persevered and the food all came in, cans and boxes and crates and in bags There was food left at school from donators unknown, just good wishes all written on tags The goal was to raise an amount more than last and to do it in twenty two days The total to date was behind just a bit but there was still time to make this year pay So with one last great push the students went out and they held one last drive at the mall If they collect one more ton, then all would be done and they could all know they answered the call On Christmas Eve morn the principals met and they said they had all reached their goals They shook all their hands and they stuck out their chests for they knew that they'd fulfilled their roles The students were told at assemblies too, and the food was dropped off through the town They had beat last years numbers by about fifty pounds even though they all thought they'd be down So for all those they helped for the one day that month, where they had Christmas dinner and laughter Was brought  back to earth by one voice in one school, who asked "What would these families eat the day after?" .
0
May 4, 2012
May 4, 2012 at 11:09 AM UTC
The Street #2 ...The Food Drive
Phone calls were made, meetings were held and the new group was set to get started There was lots to be learned and so little time for the lessons to all be imparted The plan was immense, it was larger this time and the time was going by fast They would all act as one, getting everything done and their goal was to not finish last It was done every year, in the schools through the town, it was something the kids all enjoyed But this year was tough, with all the closings and stuff and the fact there was more unemployed Each school was set up to blitz through the town and to collect all the food that they can But with more on the list and those who would surely be missed were the ones who set last years plan Team leaders were picked in each group at the school, and their job was to get this all done And to beat last years tote by at least one more pound and to make sure that it was all fun Pep rally's were held to get the students involved and help motivate those involved But with more needing help and less firms out to help, they had problems they had to get solved On December the first, the kids all set out ringing bells in the malls and the stores From there they would go with buses and trucks and collect food by knocking on doors The school who did best bringing in the most pounds would be win a cup and awards But to all those concerned, they had to get out and blanket the town in great hoards People backed out from tasks all assigned, It was cold and they had too much to do There was homework as well, and jobs on the side and alot wouldn't see the task through But they all persevered and the food all came in, cans and boxes and crates and in bags There was food left at school from donators unknown, just good wishes all written on tags The goal was to raise an amount more than last and to do it in twenty two days The total to date was behind just a bit but there was still time to make this year pay So with one last great push the students went out and they held one last drive at the mall If they collect one more ton, then all would be done and they could all know they answered the call On Christmas Eve morn the principals met and they said they had all reached their goals They shook all their hands and they stuck out their chests for they knew that they'd fulfilled their roles The students were told at assemblies too, and the food was dropped off through the town They had beat last years numbers by about fifty pounds even though they all thought they'd be down So for all those they helped for the one day that month, where they had Christmas dinner and laughter Was brought  back to earth by one voice in one school, who asked "What would these families eat the day after?" .
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T'was the night before Christmas, And at the back of the bar Sat a man all alone, Lighting up a cigar The waitress ran over and waving her hand You can't do that here, Smoking is banned. If you must smoke that thing, you can go to the street And stay away from the building, by at least fifty feet The man took a puff and with a voice like a croak He said, "You're kidding, right miss? You're making a joke" I'm sorry, but sir..I'm afraid that it's true But the law is the law, and it's not only for you That we must say **** out, please extinguish your smoke So our place can be filled with other fine folk For ninety two years I have walked on this earth, I have broken no laws and you know what it's worth? Bupkiss, no nada it's not worth a thing Would that law still apply if I was a King? I've been coming in here for 60 odd years And I think I've consumed a truckload of beers I've smoked in this corner on many a night Now you say **** out, I don't think that's right. I fought for this country at the end of the war I came home with a war wound, and you know dear...what's more I came to this bar to have drinks with my friends Who all weren't so lucky and met terrible ends They died on the beach, heart as big as a house Taking on the unknown for their country, their spouse They battled for honor, the right to be free And they all weren't as lucky, to come home like me. I was here in the sixities when Camelot died I was here with my son, and we both sat and cried It was that night in November, I remember it well That my son said he'd joined up and was heading to hell He had joined the marines and was all set to fight For freedom and honor and he knew it was right Because I'd gone before and stood with others like him And I said just be safe, and come home son...my Jim In the years he was gone, I came down here to think Of why he was there and I shared smokes and drinks With friends, all now gone from this world of distrust Now they all lie beneath us, decomposed back to dust. My son made it back and we came right down here To spend time with our friends, both from far and from near. The years passed us by and my grandson joined too And we sat and we prayed in this bar, for we knew He was fighting for freedom and the rights we hold dear Like having some fun, over smokes and some beer. He never came home from his war, don't you see That's why we're sitting alone here, just you and me Tonight is the night that his letter arrived Saying "We regret to inform you...that no one survived" So, each Christmas Eve I come back to this bar To savor my memories and to drink from this jar And I finish each year thinking of what now is gone, Of my battle scarred boy and his now deceased son Now, you come and tell me that I must go outside To continue my smoking and so I'll abide 'cause for 92 years that I've been on this earth I've broken no laws and you know what that's worth Then the waitress reached back and she pulled out a match From a box on the bar with a rusty old catch She said Sir, I am sorry I didn't mean to offend For this one night each year, the law I can bend So please light one for me on this Christmas Eve Night And Thank you from all who continue the fight. Merry Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019
0
May 4, 2012
May 4, 2012 at 6:38 AM UTC
T'was A Night At The Bar (The Street)
T'was the night before Christmas, And at the back of the bar Sat a man all alone, Lighting up a cigar The waitress ran over and waving her hand You can't do that here, Smoking is banned. If you must smoke that thing, you can go to the street And stay away from the building, by at least fifty feet The man took a puff and with a voice like a croak He said, "You're kidding, right miss? You're making a joke" I'm sorry, but sir..I'm afraid that it's true But the law is the law, and it's not only for you That we must say **** out, please extinguish your smoke So our place can be filled with other fine folk For ninety two years I have walked on this earth, I have broken no laws and you know what it's worth? Bupkiss, no nada it's not worth a thing Would that law still apply if I was a King? I've been coming in here for 60 odd years And I think I've consumed a truckload of beers I've smoked in this corner on many a night Now you say **** out, I don't think that's right. I fought for this country at the end of the war I came home with a war wound, and you know dear...what's more I came to this bar to have drinks with my friends Who all weren't so lucky and met terrible ends They died on the beach, heart as big as a house Taking on the unknown for their country, their spouse They battled for honor, the right to be free And they all weren't as lucky, to come home like me. I was here in the sixities when Camelot died I was here with my son, and we both sat and cried It was that night in November, I remember it well That my son said he'd joined up and was heading to hell He had joined the marines and was all set to fight For freedom and honor and he knew it was right Because I'd gone before and stood with others like him And I said just be safe, and come home son...my Jim In the years he was gone, I came down here to think Of why he was there and I shared smokes and drinks With friends, all now gone from this world of distrust Now they all lie beneath us, decomposed back to dust. My son made it back and we came right down here To spend time with our friends, both from far and from near. The years passed us by and my grandson joined too And we sat and we prayed in this bar, for we knew He was fighting for freedom and the rights we hold dear Like having some fun, over smokes and some beer. He never came home from his war, don't you see That's why we're sitting alone here, just you and me Tonight is the night that his letter arrived Saying "We regret to inform you...that no one survived" So, each Christmas Eve I come back to this bar To savor my memories and to drink from this jar And I finish each year thinking of what now is gone, Of my battle scarred boy and his now deceased son Now, you come and tell me that I must go outside To continue my smoking and so I'll abide 'cause for 92 years that I've been on this earth I've broken no laws and you know what that's worth Then the waitress reached back and she pulled out a match From a box on the bar with a rusty old catch She said Sir, I am sorry I didn't mean to offend For this one night each year, the law I can bend So please light one for me on this Christmas Eve Night And Thank you from all who continue the fight. Merry Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019
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65
It was time for celebration Thanksgiving weekend was now here A time for food and football A time for love and prayer In front of old Gianni's The parade was marching by But, way back in the alley Someone was singing to the sky The Blues man sat and pondered As he sometimes chose to do Of his songs and of his music That really reached too few The parade was full of bluster High School Bands and all that stuff While out back of Old Gianni's The Blues man had it rough But, he sang songs of Thanksgiving To the Lord, and to the sky He was praising all worlds beings Though no body did pass by He sang "Glory, Glory, Glory" He sang "Allehlujah " too Even though he sat with no one The Blues man wasn't blue Back door opened slowly As the parade was winding down People from The Street Were slowly coming round The Blues man didn't notice Singing on without a break Singing songs of praise and glory With just the sounds that he could make Then all at once he looked out Saw the quickly gathered throng He changed what he was playing And he broke into a song The Blues man started Christmas Singing of a Christmas Tree And of a long ago soft Silent Night And the entire show was free He didn't sing of presents He didn't sing of our excess He sang Christmas Hymns of long ago When we all gave thanks for less The Blues man had his medcin' Drank a bit, and sang some more Then he started slowing down When she came out from her back door The woman with the used book place Stood silent, listening with this cast Of The Street owners and people On who life had given up so fast She walked up to The Blues man Through the crowd to where he was And she started singing with him Which made the Blues man pause He knew he'd heard this voice before Back when people knew his name It was older and some shaky But, the voice it was the same The woman looked down at him Gave a smile, shed a tear Then she said "It's me dad" "It's no dream...I am here" The Blues man kept on playing For two hours more or so When the weather, not the people Put an end to this mans show Another past Thanksgiving Was still playing in his mind But, The Blues man and his daughter Had a life they had to find No one heard her say it Just The Blues man, as he sang This was the start of a new story As bells of Thanksgiving loudly rang
0
Sep 10, 2015
Sep 10, 2015 at 11:14 AM UTC
The Blues man and Thanksgiving (A Street Poem)
It was time for celebration Thanksgiving weekend was now here A time for food and football A time for love and prayer In front of old Gianni's The parade was marching by But, way back in the alley Someone was singing to the sky The Blues man sat and pondered As he sometimes chose to do Of his songs and of his music That really reached too few The parade was full of bluster High School Bands and all that stuff While out back of Old Gianni's The Blues man had it rough But, he sang songs of Thanksgiving To the Lord, and to the sky He was praising all worlds beings Though no body did pass by He sang "Glory, Glory, Glory" He sang "Allehlujah " too Even though he sat with no one The Blues man wasn't blue Back door opened slowly As the parade was winding down People from The Street Were slowly coming round The Blues man didn't notice Singing on without a break Singing songs of praise and glory With just the sounds that he could make Then all at once he looked out Saw the quickly gathered throng He changed what he was playing And he broke into a song The Blues man started Christmas Singing of a Christmas Tree And of a long ago soft Silent Night And the entire show was free He didn't sing of presents He didn't sing of our excess He sang Christmas Hymns of long ago When we all gave thanks for less The Blues man had his medcin' Drank a bit, and sang some more Then he started slowing down When she came out from her back door The woman with the used book place Stood silent, listening with this cast Of The Street owners and people On who life had given up so fast She walked up to The Blues man Through the crowd to where he was And she started singing with him Which made the Blues man pause He knew he'd heard this voice before Back when people knew his name It was older and some shaky But, the voice it was the same The woman looked down at him Gave a smile, shed a tear Then she said "It's me dad" "It's no dream...I am here" The Blues man kept on playing For two hours more or so When the weather, not the people Put an end to this mans show Another past Thanksgiving Was still playing in his mind But, The Blues man and his daughter Had a life they had to find No one heard her say it Just The Blues man, as he sang This was the start of a new story As bells of Thanksgiving loudly rang
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76
Back behind Gianni's bar The Bluesman sings his tunes To all the local n'er do wells And to the stars and to the moon His voice is coarse as forty grit His playing smooths it out He plays upon an orange crate Comfort is not what he's about Bluesman, Bluesman play a song One sung just for me One that paints pictures in my head A song that I can see Buskers, lined the concourse The street where he was not This was just a place for tourist fare He was where the world forgot His tunes were sung for no one but Himself and to the air Out front, that was another world Bluesman, did not live out there A crowd has gathered slowly More of a group, than a real crowd They heard about the bluesman And out front was too **** loud In back, you heard the feelings Felt the music, heard the strings You experienced the atmosphere That a good old bluesman brings Out of the crowd of fandom Working his way through the mass Was a young, tousled haired boy Everybody let him pass He rocked in one position He felt the music ebb and flow He looked where the notes were airborne He saw the music go The bluesman sat and watched him playing stories, telling tales Of drunks in old Las Vegas And of sailors fighting gales the young boy stood and rocked some always looking at the air He wasn't looking at the bluesman He didn't know that he was there He walked up to the old man staring out into the space that streamed the bluesmans music right into the young boys face the bluesman watched intently As the young lad touched his hand And he held the bluesmans old guitar He became a member of the band The boy moved even closer If that were possible at all He was feeling the sweet music He was having quite a ball The crowd watched as the bluesman and the boy became as one The boy resting his head now On the guitar, having fun He couldn't see the bluesman But the music, it was there The boy was blind, autistic He saw the notes that filled the air The bluesman kept on playing For that was what the bluesman did He was playing for the starry sky And for this wondrous little kid His mother came and held him She took the bluesman by the hand She said thank you for the music For letting him be in your band In a voice as smooth as Bourbon The bluesman told her that her son Could come and feel the music The music makes us one Bluesman, Bluesman play a song One that's only just for me Bluesman, Bluesman play a song That only I can see....
0
Feb 4, 2014
Feb 4, 2014 at 11:46 PM UTC
Bluesman and The Boy
Back behind Gianni's bar The Bluesman sings his tunes To all the local n'er do wells And to the stars and to the moon His voice is coarse as forty grit His playing smooths it out He plays upon an orange crate Comfort is not what he's about Bluesman, Bluesman play a song One sung just for me One that paints pictures in my head A song that I can see Buskers, lined the concourse The street where he was not This was just a place for tourist fare He was where the world forgot His tunes were sung for no one but Himself and to the air Out front, that was another world Bluesman, did not live out there A crowd has gathered slowly More of a group, than a real crowd They heard about the bluesman And out front was too **** loud In back, you heard the feelings Felt the music, heard the strings You experienced the atmosphere That a good old bluesman brings Out of the crowd of fandom Working his way through the mass Was a young, tousled haired boy Everybody let him pass He rocked in one position He felt the music ebb and flow He looked where the notes were airborne He saw the music go The bluesman sat and watched him playing stories, telling tales Of drunks in old Las Vegas And of sailors fighting gales the young boy stood and rocked some always looking at the air He wasn't looking at the bluesman He didn't know that he was there He walked up to the old man staring out into the space that streamed the bluesmans music right into the young boys face the bluesman watched intently As the young lad touched his hand And he held the bluesmans old guitar He became a member of the band The boy moved even closer If that were possible at all He was feeling the sweet music He was having quite a ball The crowd watched as the bluesman and the boy became as one The boy resting his head now On the guitar, having fun He couldn't see the bluesman But the music, it was there The boy was blind, autistic He saw the notes that filled the air The bluesman kept on playing For that was what the bluesman did He was playing for the starry sky And for this wondrous little kid His mother came and held him She took the bluesman by the hand She said thank you for the music For letting him be in your band In a voice as smooth as Bourbon The bluesman told her that her son Could come and feel the music The music makes us one Bluesman, Bluesman play a song One that's only just for me Bluesman, Bluesman play a song That only I can see....
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