Slow blues afternoon

always someone
singing this time of day
to a sad soul guitar twanging
‘bout someone done
done me wrong thang

mournful as the mute skies
tilt-heavy and oozing
the anguished utterings
distilled from the sorrow
flicking the windshield
with a misty shudder

on a day like this
who needs an excuse
to be sad
let the raindrops
mingle with the tears
set free the tears
held back too long
let them extinguish
the sputtering
fire-singed heart

just another
minor-league letdown
to file away in
the box of misplaced hopes
just another risk invoked
to parlay a ride
that goes nowhere

just another 30 minutes
in which to write this poem
before I head off to
my next appointment

© 2001 Melissa Songer