Another Lonesome Song

Rama C. Bauer

Sing us another lonesome song,
Billie Holiday--
one that will let me
feel like a man again.

Thrown in a line about
some beautiful, dark-haired girl;
lost in a cloud of cigarette smoke
and minor chords--
softly swaying in time
with her eyes closed,
head nodding to the beat,

let the melody line sweep
humanity off its feet and be
given a reason to sigh.

Make it slow and wondrous,
like a hymn.

Croon it across, gently,
with a blue-tinged voice
then release it back again
into the One, Eternal night.