The Blues

Their music,

those instruments,

touched so easily by talent--

don't you let those smooth sounds

lull you into a state of quiet swaying

or blind acceptance of your conditions,

for once the voices of the blues singers

stretch and reach toward heaven

you'll get it.

Their words?

. . . a lament of hard times

long and drawn out,

but bravely met.

Those voices cry out a prayer

for freedom,

on behalf of us all,

for release from perpetual hardship.