blues poem

In case you need a label like my brother puts on his pictures, that's John Lee Hooker.

A form derived from blues music. There are two kinds of blues poems. The first has no typical form but has blues content. The second might as well be lyrics to a blues song

Stanzas are typically the same line twice and then a third line that rhymes with the other ones. There’s often some slight variation with the first two lines.

Because the blues is one of my top favorite things in the world, I've posted three blues poems/song lyrics I've written. They go from latest to oldest.

NATURE BLUES

I came home one morning and found our house was gone
I came home one morning and found our house was gone
I couldn’t hardly tell what side the street I’s on.

I’da been back there just the other day
I’da been back there just the other day
Built a little sandbox for my babies to play

I went away on business, came back to mud and sand
I went away on business, came back to mud and sand
How God could let this happen, I just don’t understand

Aunty says her babies were playin in the road
Aunty lost her babies playing in the road
The road became a river, that’s the story she told.

I came home one morning and found our house was gone
I came home one morning and found our house was gone
I can’t hardly tell what side my life is on.

MEMORY BLUES

So you say you walked the streets calling out my name
So you say you walked the streets calling out my name
If you thought I’d smile to see you, baby that’s a shame

You disappeared one sunny morning
Now you come back to my door
Expecting me to get all weepy
Well I ain’t gon’ cry no more

It’s been years now honey, won’t you let me go my way
It’s been years now honey, won’t you let me go my way
There ain’t nothing about me same as yesterday

You disappeared one foggy morning
Now you come back to my door
Expecting me to get all weepy
Well I ain’t gon’ cry no more

You say you gotta memory of me I can’t recall
You say you gotta memory I’m sure I don’t recall
You said I told you that I loved you…
…I don’t remember that at all.

PORCH BLUES
(listen)