Let’s go down to Memphis
Listen to some old time blues
That might be news to me
Feel the joy in the melancholy
As wailing guitars push out notes
Like potbellied tears
And tiny little diamonds
We’ll dance by the stage
With that sweet ol’ man with the cap
How do you say no
To a sweet ol’ man with a cap?
We will marvel
At the Beale Street Blues Boy
His portrait on the wall
The reason for it all
We’ll try those deep fried pickles
Savor the sweet tang of the ribs
Lip smackin’, hip packin’
As we sway to the rhythm
Of the house band
Let’s take a walk
Beside the muddy Mississippi
The sound of the sax
Rising softly at our backs
We’ll ride the horse drawn carraige
Lit up like Christmas
Because that is what you do
When you’re down in Memphis
~
Rest in Peace, Mr. B.B. King
(September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015)
~
Dedicated to my friend, Ann and a road trip I will never forget.
mishunderstood 
Nice bold words… stirring up memories of my own. 🙂
Awesome! 🙂
I especially like the “lip-smakin’, hip-packin'” ribs and “the sound of the sax
rising softly at our backs” …cool blues!
Thanks! 🙂
What a great tribute. PS: I like your “show and tell” philosophy–a refreshing take!
Thank you for taking a stroll through my blog today and for the follow. I will definitely check out more of yours as well. 🙂
I’m trying to think of another song your post reminded me of–I think it’s “Walkin’ In Memphis”, but I’ve forgotten the artist. Anyway, it’s good! And yes, I did enjoy my “stroll”.
What a tribute to the King.. I especially like the soul food you describe, it made me hungry.
Greatly evocative poem! I have never been to the South of the USA but I enjoyed what you shared of your trip and especially how you conveyed rhythm and music.
Yes, a fine tribute indeed to B.B. King! I was in Memphis once, but concentrating on the other ‘king’ – Elvis and Graceland. There is something though about the sound of the sax & the mighty Mississippi. Took a riverboat ride there too. Smiles. Your poem has made me want to return. Ha, maybe I would try deep-fried pickles this time.
Fine tribute…and indeed, the thrill is gone. Who will comfort Lucille?
Evocative of the musical hero, bravo.
a beautiful homage…the last four lines are awesome…
A fitting and timely tribute. I can taste the ribs here.
Great tribute to King! I could hear the blues bleeding through… I would def try some deep-fried pickles… so many other things I wanna try deep-fried now that I think about it
Ah.. and as the ‘King’ does show ‘Memphis’
can become a way of life.. with or
without the blues of shows
as YouTube brings it all to life..:)
Love the nod to the ‘joy in the melancholy’ as this contrast is one of the strangest, yet truest, things there is 😉
As wailing guitars push out notes
Like potbellied tears
And tiny little diamonds ~
I love the imagery here. Poignant write.