I was twenty,
and you were nineteen
that day along the mall
When I heard a guitar
from deep inside
that round auditorium hall
Up on stage with legends
Son House, Muddy,
Johnny Winter too
A red haired, freckle faced,
blue eyed girl
commenced to sing the blues
You started with an apology
saying you were outclassed
and over matched
But once that voice
left your heart and flew
….in nothing did you lack
I followed you out
that afternoon
in the late State College Fall
And after fifty years of looking back
every moment
I recall
I walked you to the bus
as you said:
“We’re in Harrisburg tonight
“Why don’t you come,
it might be fun
from there I catch a flight”
The bus was full,
my eyes looked south
as I hitchhiked down #322
Fate unexplained
life forever changed
—that special gift from you
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2018)
My Heart Still Chimes
Poor in stock but rich in spirit,
my clock does bow and sway
In rags and tatters all unstitched,
with joy do I still pray
My flesh is weak, my home now burnt
just embers to remind
That within this trouble and burning ash,
on the hour
—my heart still chimes
(Villanova Pennsylvania: April, 2015)