he’s known tragedy and triumph in his truths
borrowed bought and sold his way survivin’
leveraging his soul to play the blues
hands of time now spin round so much faster
life is carvin’ his journey in his face
the backbeat pounds steady its insistence
he wonders how long can he keep this pace
a wiser man he sits here etched in spotlight
he riffs his sadness but never he complains
alone he plays his harp in contemplation
was all he’s lost really worth his hard-won gains
but sweet memories like candles softly flicker
friends and lovers cherished — come and gone
all the pain and joy forged in his blues harp
so though the years are dimmin’ — he plays on
rob kistner © 2019
Below are two from Charlie Musselwhite — blues harpist.
Below is Paul Butterfield — blues singer & harpist. Monterey Pop Festival, 1967
Below is James Cotton — blues hsrpist.
Sunday Muse 61
Hi! I’m Edgrrr, rob’s shih tzu.
Play on, cool daddy!
Hi back to Edgrr!
🙂 Edgrrr says bark at cha! 🙂
Rob, sorry to hear of the continuing probs with commenting. Please try Black Mamba again if you have time. I changed the settings and I think it should work for you now.
Thank you Shay, but still won’t let me comment on Black Mamba. I think this is some kinda wierdness between Blogger/Google and WordPress? The thing that I don’t understand is I use Google’s Gmail as my email, so I think am always signed on to Google? Oh well… 🙁
I don’t know, Rob. Thx for trying anyway. I have trouble commenting on some WP blogs. I’ll start typing and the text box stays but the button to publish the comment disappears. I found that by hitting refresh, the text stays but the buttons reappear and I’m then able to leave my comment. Also, your blog is now making me re-enter my info every visit; it didn’t used to do that. I blame sunspots lol.
Hi Shay! I think it’s a stupid petty “internet turf war” between WordPress and Blogger/Google in which they have no consideration for us users? Anyway, that is my conspiracy theory… 🙁
A beautiful piece Rob. Edgrrr is adorable. I love how you take us on a journey through the blues. James Cotton was an added plus!
Thank you very much Regina, I am pleased you enjoyed my piece, and the overall post.
Edgrrr says, “thanks Regina, bark at’cha!” 🙂
deep, and your doggie sure is cute!
Thanks Kate. I love my little Edgrrr! 🙂
I love this Rob! So many wonderful lines in this. I think Edgrr is adorable!! Thanks for coming back and joining us. I am sorry about all the glitches with comments. Sometimes technology is a pain, and I am not too tech savvy. 🙂
Thank you Carrie. Seems the Blogger site technology and the WordPress site tech are not in sync. Oh well, I visit all the poets on all the sites at which I participate. I always try to comment on the poet’s work. Sometimes it posts, sometimes it disappears…
“life is carvin’ his journey in his face”
This is my favorite line of this wonderful tale.
Thank you Sara, I am really glad you liked this.
I know a lot of harp players and you’ve captured this one perfectly. Love it!
Thank you Susie! As the lead singer, I used to play occasional harp with my band — but now just for fun. 🙂
this would make a great song. I love the closing stanza especially.sigh. it’s making me re enter my info too.
Glad you enjoyed this Sherry… 🙂
Love these posts.
Cool… 😉
Reading this again I see how I can relate to it deeply! I turned 60 yesterday. Life is carving his journey in my face for sure and my joints feel the ache of time. Love this poem Rob!
Thank you Carrie… 🙂
Well! I totally missed this first time around! Aren’t I the lucky lady you posted it for the last Muse! Harmonica rocks forever!
Love the harp, as we called it in my rock singer years.