Rockabilly Nation

Poem for the week of January 2, 2024

Rockabilly Nation

Six-string reverb
cut like a rusty razor 
New Mexico swerve
twin-lane highway
taut as an E-string
knock down 
a big band hall
leave the ladies 
reckless, electrified 
as Buddy’s Telecaster 
with painted on flames
pealing across
the varied folds 
of an America
drunk on vampires
in drag races
and appropriations
on gasoline burning
flames painted on
a badge of cool
rockabilly revolver
that says at the end
needle caterwauling
there ain’t no going back
let’s shag ass 
for the next show

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Here’s a throwback I dreamed up for a new year. Wouldn’t it be great to be in a rockabilly band? To play county fairs and wear cool shirts? Cover Charlie Feathers and Carl Perkins and the King and Johnny Cash? I haven’t come up with a band name just yet. Something like the Rusty Tornadoes or the Surfing Wolfmen. Or maybe Jimmy V and the Lightning Strikes.

Happy New Year, readers. Here’s a year of good luck and no trouble.

For kicks, go check out some great songs:

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