John-Ward Leighton

FOUR O’CLOCK BLUES

Photo ©Copyright 2010 by John-Ward LeightonThe Duke and Ella
on the sound track.
“Take the A train”
I was laying awake
and couldn’t get it out
of my brain.

Kettle on to boil
and over this keyboard
I toil
the words don’t come easily
and I really don’t know how I feel
except that sleep
is not an option.

My face begs for a cold splash
and the taste in my mouth
says don’t go there
as I sit in front of the monitor
typing in my underwear.
I haven’t checked the e mail
and right now
the rest of the world
may have gone to heaven or hell
and I couldn’t tell.

Four o’clock
is really an all alone hour
no one except for the crazies in the street
although the shower has them
under cover and not dancing
or singing in the rain
and like the sudden deluge
their wretched lives
are gurgling down the drain.

Some of the old Ellington
has a slight vinyl hiss
that hits the ears
like a lover’s kiss
and the kettle boils
and automatically turns off
and my coffee has to wait
for me to type this
and pay my dues
to the drowsy club
and damned can’t sleep
four o’clock blues.