Winter 2024

Late November Blues

(inspired by Langston Hughes “The Weary Blues”)


Feet pounding on freezing cement

No joy where I've been, no joy where I went.

This morning will pass, but I pay my rent

For summer's shine, my november has wept.


Don't you wanna love me?

The breeze screams.

Don't you wanna be happy?

The shouts of tumbling leaves.


My pen resumes its march on paper

Oh, my fingers, oh, they scratch and bleed.

But there’s no stopping—from despair,

These words will never be freed.


A brief reprieve my sunshine may bring

Soft healing laughter, medicinal skin.

Her hands will pull mine, together we'll swing

Fabric flying, her smile gives me wings


And yet, the music still fades,

The curtain will fall, the laughter will age.

To frost, succumbs our embrace

The november leaves turn another page