A Case of You

 A Case of You

Another song as poem. This is definitely one of my all-time favourites, and if anyone could sing Joni's songs well apart from her, I'd sing it all the time. I've listened to this song whenever my heart hurts for decades, or just because it suits my mood, and I wish that I could 'write things out' as well as Joni does.

It makes me think, as ever; what the hell would we do, as humans, without art? 

A Case of You (link to YouTube)

Just before our love got lost you said
"I am as constant as a northern star"
And I said, "Constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar"

On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh, Canada
With your face sketched on it twice

Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
And I would still be on my feet
Oh, I would still be on my feet

Oh, I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
I'm frightened by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid

I remember that time you told me
You said, "Love is touching souls"
Surely you touched mine
'Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time

Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet

I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said, "Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed"

Oh, but you are in my blood
You're my holy wine
You're so bitter
Bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet

A late apprenticeship

 

I've been writing poetry for 35 years, have published and performed, and my poetry even helped me get a First for my degree. Getting up to take part in the Open Mic parts of the Bright Scarf nights at The Belfry, then being given my own 'support' slot, has shown me that I still have huge amounts to learn. How to read in a way that gives the listener time to absorb the many things going on in my poems. A little explanation -- throwing the audience a bone. Like the way in which a little information about the things that inspire a painter allow you to get behind their art. I thought I knew how to 'read' my poems. I have a way to go.

Performance

I've had the pleasure, over recent months, of reading poems during the 'poems from the audience' section of Peter Pegnall's Bright Scarf poetry and music nights at The Belfry Centre for Music and Arts in Overstrand. I was honoured to be invited by Peter to read a longer selection of poems in support of the very well-known poet Naomi Foyle. It was an evening of hard acts to follow, with amazingly talented poets and musicians going before me. It has been a long time since I've had to read more than a few poems at a time, and I'm not a natural at putting together a 'set list', being the unassuming sort. But I did it, and enjoyed it, and have to now try to not dissect all the things I could've done better. Isn't that always what we do?