PEARL

how i've missed      
that lonely girl        
twisting        
all that pain        
into some        
sweet noise --        
     
that growl        
and twang        
and cackle        
emanating        
large        
from your        
small frame        
and wrung        
out        
from deep        
inside     
 
and that        
hard, horny        
shell        
you bragged        
about        
was frail        
as glass        
and, goddamn,  
 
i felt all you sang        
like it was mine        
       
and you      
sung        
them tears        
so good        
and    
everybody        
was finally        
wanting    
to hear it    
just like you        
dreamed --       
just like        
it was s'posed        
to be        
       
and fifty years        
since you're gone    
just like that       
and singers    
blow in    
and blow out    
but baby  
i ain't heard  
nobody        
sing the blues    
as hard          
and true        
as you