Beale St. Epitath

~ to a time long ago and far away ~

photo entitled: “routine” — by: Tres

 
He’d snap his shine cloth
tellin’ tales
of long ago

of joy
war
betrayal
pain
injustice
lost love

his Memphis “blues”
harsh wisdom
hard learned

his voice
sorrow tempered
laughter sweetened
broadleaf husky
smooth as Beale Street bourbon

warm eyes
turbulent as Big Muddy
inescapable deep currents

his weathered face
marked and scarred
by years of burden
of witness

he’d once held a woman’s heart
but she’d had it sliced away
leaving a scar
among scars
testaments
to his enduring soul

cracked and seasoned hands
wrap polished leather
in suffered care

callused fingers
yellowed by habit
roll the rhythm rag
pulling the shine
with sweat
spit
blood and bone

wiping away
broken promises
failed love
killing fields
cruel streets
back allies

the poppin’ slaps
resonate
in soulful cadence
lifting my worry
making my steps
feather light

a spit-shine supreme
like no other
will be again

*
rob kistner © 2022

More prosery at: dVerse

More poems at: Poets & Storytellers

 

20 thoughts on “Beale St. Epitath”

  1. Damn, you stretched those 144 words into a sweet and complete ballad. Clever to connect a good shine with the blues itself. Your adjectives pile up a thrilling back story. You never disappoint.

    1. Thank you Glenn. Joni walked me musically down old Beale street this weekend, which opened up this tale for me. I understand Joni’s sentiment in her song, because I walked down Beale Street a few times in the early ‘70’s. You can feel the blues history of the place, the energy and ghosts are palpable. Joni’s “Fury Sings the Blues”, and my memories of the place, sparked this piece.

  2. I love your use of the prompt here. We’ve been listening to quite a bit of Joni recently – what a writer! – I can see why she seeped into your pen. Such an evocative write.

  3. Luv the rhtym of this story. And the energy of nostalgia as well as pride in work well done.
    Happy you dropped by to read mine

    Much love…

  4. Memphis, Beale Street, the blues ~~~ once inside your heart, forever there. I know too …. This is wonderful, Rob.

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