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Learning the Blues
for
Jon
You taught me testimony,
slow-dragging the night until
our mouths kept time together,
arms around each other,
silhouette huge, rocking
silent on the wall.
Nothing to that dancing,
one foot forward, other
back, pulling me closer
as the music grew, growled—
thunk of Lightnin’s guitar,
Willie Dixon’s sinuous pleas,
I just wanna make love to you
sung over and over, sear
of love undone in his voice.
Lights down, just one bulb
glistens mid-ceiling,
furnace rumbling the house.
I’ve got you close, under
fingertips, near enough
to lick salt off your neck,
for you to whisper all about
Slim Harpo, Koko Taylor,
Sonny Boy’s porkpie grin,
and Bessie’s sweet shimmer,
all that woman loose upon us,
her holy, holy voice.
Allison Joseph, What Keeps Us Here |
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