MAYBE I SHOULD PLAY AROUND

MAYBE I SHOULD PLAY AROUND

Maybe I should play around, just to shake the kinks out,
Let the words coalesce like a sacred holy mess,
Begin again, paint in colors that shout,
Like some lost and obscene clown,
Maybe I should play around,
Red bulbous nose and pointy shoes.
Forget I was born to sing the blues,
Play a little ragtime instead.
Nothing more and nothing less,
Than to mess a little with your head.

Mountains in my mirror and seashore in my ears,
Maybe I should play around, forget my petty fears.
Dance atop the roof of my home,
Dangerous and all alone,
Throw the words like Pollack threw his paint,
Let them land just where they will,
In the backyard, on the windowsill,
Let them tear and let them taint.
Maybe I should play around,
Come upon a brand new rhyme,
Break barriers of sight and sound,
The sepulchers of time.

Maybe there's no here from there,
I'm a madman on a wordless tear,
Fueled on by a heady wine,
Maybe I'll run out of signs,
Like a buoy on a nameless pier,
Who points the way to an atmosphere,
Where the theme is party down.
Maybe I should just lay low,
Maybe I should play around.

The words they come less easy,
Like a lonely sad parade,
The notes they blow less breezy,
Like ocean winds cascade.
And should you feel a lot less brave,
Accosted by some deadly wave,
All you do is cough up time,
Choking on a teaspoonful
Of the most delicious brine.

Maybe I should play around,
Until I reach my happy place.
A place where no one's lost or down,
A life that's full of grace.
Maybe i should play around,
With a harmonica and blues.
A big 'ole hat like Belushi and Akroyd,
Just play around until I annoy,
While wearin' my blue suede shoes.

In between today and dead,
Play a little blues instead,
Nod my head and just say yes,
Nothing more and nothing less,
Drop the downer, ditch the dread,
Just mess a little with your head.

-Bruce Potts
Copyright 2013
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED