On Memphis Minnie

This poem and art disappeared for awhile from the old Radio Weblog site. Found it and thought I'd repeat it over here. Tagging it [new feature on this blog] with 'blues.' Most go back and do a lot of that. When I wrote it, it was snowing in Boston, and my flight to Orlando LotusSphere had been bumped one day. WHRB was in the intercession where it plays artists in lengthy [day-long, week-long, etc] sets.

On Memphis Minnie 

 0. I was on the sofa and outside it snowed Getting ready to go to Florida. They were playin Memphis Minnie on the radio Just Memphis Minnie hour upon hour And I started writing down what I heard And observed 

 1 Her train done been here and gone Look what you get...she says Look what you gettin Gettin for a lousy dime. Splash!...the high hat says in turn Ya gotta think about it I'm gonna strut my stuff...she replies Always calling...calling Calling the Ice Man Warning ... But friendly... Calling the Butcher and of course the Chauffer Taking misterioso up from the country. Taking it for a drive Encountering the Night Watchman As it’s the time for him To punch his clock. Punch That Clock 

 2 The chamber ensemble responding But boy can She Play guitar Piano playing pure hokum Odd for blues cause vaudeville Died ... But it lives on the side in her Victrola lines. She suggests ... Minnie ... that you go down in the alley Implores in fact ... you to quote-unquote Get your business fixed; Down in the Alley 

 3. Ok Some people take a blues yknow And she's right on here ... Go jump off a bridge and drown ... Not the blues singer. Not Minnie. She looked up and down the river Sure But Minnie's mind never took her to jump Overboard and drown.

4 Take it Charlie I think she said but it could have been Joe Joe McCoy take it - at least when I'm looking at you - says she choreographing the blues painting a view muddy river and big boat That's the Minnie thing painting and waiting waiting for the iceman strutting here stuff eye on the big boat singing a blues as she is waiting that's what she do 

 5 Wondering in the SouthSide as now too - a kazoo plays - where is that Butcher Man who can slice your ham? Slice your ham and cut it from the bone on down? She dont have to wait for the Butcher but she must go to the market As she often told her musicians to take it to the bridge Alas One night Minnie take a Strange Man home. He left her And she wonders where can her Strange Man be? For that matter, Where is her Rooster? Too many eggs in her basket she note – Yet, as wolf noted too that rooster been gone. 

 6 We asked Slim about Minnie I'll tell you a story, says he. Memphis Joe, Yank Rachell and them playing cards And Minnie comes home from work. Takes off her falsies, takes out her dentures Unstraps her wooden leg Throws all of that in the bureau draw You turning in with me? She asks Joe. I dont know. He says. Don’t know whether to jump in the bed or the bureau. 

 7 Was a big night for Minnie once when her daddy took her to a show. How poor but how happy but Then - yknow - he was Gone And with midnight train in mind - She must ask - what road is he on? She looks out at the whole damn dark world Minnie World that has so many roads And she asked the questions we would ask If we weren’t just watching The snow Minnie finally asks To RCA man - Melrose? - Recording the blues Can we have a clarinet in this? And what is Big Bill saying to Blind John in the corner? The answer questioning comes Get paid in ones! Breaking ice. Humming a blues in Chicago.- Jack Vaughan