Meditation on the Raven Lounge

I paid my dues
to have the Blues
soul been abused
by evening news
seven more dead
from hail of lead
been a desert storm
since before I born
can’t get no peace
the noise increase
rages in head
pressure in red
Black tax stress
survival contest
Got Blues to bless
Got groove caress
Straight no chaser
In azure blazer
where I be king bee
grinda man be free
dance with folks
whose shackles broke
cause we paid dues
to have the Blues
we find release
in chicken grease
before sunlight
smoking all night
party scents rising
over streets despising
little breath of life
we live under knife
cut off breath
be cut to death
if we couldn’t laugh
feet slide a path
hallelujah dance
splash of romance
grasp/ hold it tight
squeeze it out the night
until sun rise
in red eyes
that refuse to cry
nor scream why
get back to plow
what the system allow
daily grind to subsist
no power to resist
so we pay dues
to have the Blues