Banjo Man (1980 and now)
He shines like a dime when he picks up his ax
He needs this job; these, the flinty hard facts
He smiles and he banters; he’s playing the game
Of what to do once you’ve been dumped by Big Fame…
…If he knew today what we’d thought about him
He’d think “singing waiter” much more than a whim
So many bright moments when we thought, “Oh, man,
he’s a mensch, a survivor – he’s part of The Plan.”
If time were more flexible; had I a jinn,
would that we could do it over again
Humanity, best learned recouping your loss
Humility, best served with extra rib sauce
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Photo courtesy of Musician’s Friend
Sharp Little Pencil 
Debbie
Wonderful poems, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Debbie! Peace, Amy
Joseph Harker
Maybe it’s by virtue of having seen your performance videos, but I always hear songs with particular poems of yours (like this one). And your musical style has a particular cadence/melody that fits this kind of piece really well. Just a note. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Joseph. I suppose I always have a “soundtrack” playing in my mind as I’m writing! Loved composing this piece, really. Peace, Amy
maggie
“Humanity, best learned recouping your loss
Humility, best served with extra rib sauce”
Perfect closing to a good poem that went straight to the gut!
Sharp Little Pencil
The ending was the first thing I wrote. Odd, isn’t it, how these things piece together? Thanks, Maggie! Amy
brian miller
interesting…wish i understood more of the back story on this…have enough to feel it…once the flame is gone, we keep what little bit of it we can dont we…smiles.
Sharp Little Pencil
Brian, the backstory was left out intentionally for reasons I cannot explain. Suffice it to say, if you had a taste of that rib sauce, you would have said, “Now I can die happy!” See you on the blogs! Amy
Lindy Lee
Musical rhythm in this poem…
Hannah Gosselin
It’s so refreshing to see the joy you take in writing, Amy!! This is such a fun poem with momentum!! I can see your characters and the setting well. Wise and clever closing two lines, too! 🙂