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Preening, you say?
by Becky Larkin
I unfurl my tailfeathers,
and the universe turns
to me. I define blue.
It’s what I do.
I am the essence
of iridescence.
I have eyes in the back––
a hundred wide-open eyes––
to look back at the world,
to stare down those
who would say Behave,
be modest, blend in.
I’d be a chameleon
if such were my nature,
but I have been given
these feathers, this crown,
this ultimate blue.
What can I do?
I couldn’t be sparrow
brown if I wanted.
Oh, yes, I could drag
my tail in the dirt,
hide my hundred blue eyes,
pretend I’m a turkey,
but look what happens
to turkeys. I flaunt
my feathers, defining
blue. It’s what I do.
I am the essence
of iridescence.
lost forgotten pain perdu blues
for Dorothy Bankston's mother who used to say "My mind ain't an ainch long."
By Becky Larkin
The old memory's gone--I don't know if it's fall or spring
Yes my memory went, can't remember last winter or spring
Tied a string on my finger, makes me wonder if I lost a ring.
Lost my mind somewhere and I don't know where to look
Yes I lost my mind and I don't even know where to look
Maybe used it for a mark in an overdue library book.
Left my heart by the side of the road a few miles back
Left my heart in a sack by the road a few miles back
Run down by a truck and squashed by a black Cadillac.
Stuffed my soul in the back of the closet--it was out of style
Pushed my soul back into the closet--it was not my style
Think the moths done got it 'cause I sure ain't seen it in a while.
I lost somethin I need, don't know what I'm lookin for.
Got this hunger in me, don't know what I'm hungry for
I'm just standin here starin and hangin on the icebox door.
Lord I lost my way and the highways all look the same
Searchin for the way, high and low roads look all the same
Just lookin for the place where the mailbox shouts my name.
And now you turn up lookin oh so sad and blue
Said here's you at my door lookin sad and oh so blue
I lost somethin I need but baby it sure ain't you.
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