This Bitter Earth

It starts with the warmth

Of a piano

Then the sensitive swing

Of an upright bass

And brushes on percussion

And finally

Your voice 

Strong

Emotive

Graceful

Honest

Intuitive

“This bitter earth...”

I listen to you sing

While I drive

Under the sun

Filtering through 

Colorful leaves

You phrasing the words

“What good is love...Mmmmmmmm...That no one shares...”

The four instruments

Dance around each other

Ne plus ultra

As my tears 

Begin to fall

“Today you’re young...Too soon you’re old...”

Oh

You’ve sang this song before

Perhaps

In a past life

You own it with majesty

And like your old man

Dinah Washington and Clyde Otis

Would be so proud