J. W. Bonner

Haggard’s Blues

for Jim Gardner

Playing guitar fleshing a
song before I forget – 
it usually comes all
at once. I don’t
understand what I’m saying 
sometimes – like Edgar Cayce.

I started because I
wanted to keep from
being on the wrong
end of a pick.

I’m having to try
harder. I’m older. What
used to come easy
comes hard – or vice-versa
depending on what you’re
talking about. Now I’m
trying to stay alive.

*

I want to go
like Tiny Moore did –
just as I step
up to the mike.