Tell Me Momma

Our feet slap grey stone
as we excitedly share headphones
and place
our plastic
soles
on slabs
like running hands
across a taut drum skin

we smile
- BIG smiles
we yelp wide eyed
at the mixed reaction of a bemused audience
recorded in Manchester, 1966

I've never heard a man like this before
she says

no

nor have I

never heard a voice call out with such power
such a goose horn
rasping raw howl
of... of...
of life!

My heart jumps with excitement
the wires tugging at my mind
urging me
pushing me
my pace ups a notch
dragging her light frame onward
I want to grab her then
to steady
to stable
to stop
I want to hold her by the shoulders
I
of all people
want
to sing

the scent of her hair is wet with
old coat
her freckles fall off
come coursing down my throat
I feel my tongue
large
tight

her lips purse
we both turn
a stranger cuts between us like a knife
then there’s a moment
- before the moment is completely
gone

then
laughter
and the absurd vibration
of voice boxes