Bluesy Boozy Floozie

I used to have a nice dream
Of livin' down Savannah way,
Where all the rich white folks
Like to sport 'n' play.
Get a li'l house of my own,
Kids runnin' in the yard,
But I need a man to get there
An' gettin' one's so damn hard!
I need a man
Who'll kiss me
An' hold me tight,
I need a man
Who'll love me
Mornin', noon an' night,
I need a man
Who'll call me
His own li'l sweet Suzie,
But the men here just say
I'm a bluesy boozy floozie.

Skies'd always be blue,
An' easy would be the breeze
Blowin' like Momma's kisses
Thru the magnolia trees.
Drinkin' sweet tea in the evenin',
An' makin' love ev'ry night,
But ain't no man 'round here
Who's gonna do me right.
I need a man
Who'll kiss me
An' hold me tight,
I need a man
Who'll love me
Mornin', noon an' night,
I need a man
Who'll call me
His own li'l sweet Suzie,
But all the men here say
I'm just a bluesy boozy floozie.

So I sing the blues in this here joint
'Til it's near eleven,
Then I'll take a man upstairs
To feel somethin' like Heaven.
Know a gal named Miz Ginny
An' she's my special friend,
But I don't want her anywheres near me
When my livin's at an end.
'Cuz I want a man
Who'll kiss me
An' hold me tight,
I want a man
Who'll love me
Mornin', noon and night,
I want a man
Who'll call me
His sweet li'l ole Suzie,
But all the men here know
I'm just a bluesy boozy floozie.


DB/3.2018

Cold Northern Winds

Weevils in my corn pone,
Hard rain on my face,
Sweatin' like hell in them fields,
Lord, why'm I in this place?
Ain't no good one for a free Negro,
Let alone one who's a slave.
Gonna save up all my money,
Hope it won't pay for my grave,
'Cuz I can feel them cold northern winds
An' they're tellin' me where to run.
Gonna buy me a one-way ticket,
An' get outta this hot southern sun.

Sometimes I seen white boys
Climbin' up in the trees,
An' all those boys that was swayin'
Looked exactly like me.
My Momma used to tell me
I was Jesus' special child -
That makes two daddies I don't know,
Guess that's why I was runnin' wild.
I'm goin' up to feel them cold northern winds.
Oh, you just watch how fast I run!
Gonna take the first train outta here
An' away from this goddamn southern sun.

It ain't ever feel safe down here
'Cuz white folks, how they frown!
They'd bury me six feet under
Tho' for them it ain't far 'nuff down!
Ain't I a man and a brother?
Ain't I got a right to live?
Lord, why do I stay here
If it's all take an' no give?
I'm on my way to feel them cold northern winds
An' now I'm feelin' like I've won,
'Cuz I ain't ever gonna look back
To see that evil southern sun.


DB/3.2018

Stinkbug, Stinkbug

Stinkbug, stinkbug,
How the hell did you get in?
Why do you keep flying 'round?
What is it you want from me?
Why are you here?
Stinkbug, stinkbug
Now why are you just sitting there?
Didn't I move you out the door?
Hey, are there still more of you?
Need I even fear?

Stinkbug, stinkbug,
You thought I crushed them, didn't you?
Played the horrid Kleenix killer?
Ensured there was one less of you?
But was that my plan?
Stinkbug, stinkbug,
Isn't that unnecessary?
And an awful way to die?
Could I be a Jainist-Taoist?
Not so much a lesser man?

Stinkbug, stinkbug,
What's up with your spade-shaped body?
And your powerful woody stink?
Does it work just like a skunk's?
Make you just as bold?
Stinkbug, stinkbug,
Why are you here in wintertime?
Do you come in warmer weather?
Hang out with your insect buds?
Not only now when it's so cold?

Stinkbug, stinkbug,
Do you always love yourself?
Yet wish that you were something else?
Perhaps like Poe's bug made of gold?
Or a Monarch butterfly?
Stinkbug, stinkbug,
So what the heck should I do now?
Let you stay or make you go?
Are you in or are you out?
Will you live or will you die?


Out!
But it is nearly
spring,
and that is the important
thing.

Good luck.


DB/3.2018