Guitar Dreams Poem by William Kofoed

Bitter night
seventeen degrees
all is covered
in frozen white

comforters and blankets
piled so high
tugged up high
warmth to seek

Christmas time
just days away
my night is filled
with guitar dreams

there was a girl
in earlier days
when I was young
in velvet prime

I did sing
in choirs then
and did croon
solos sweet

she did dream
and did long
that just for her
I'd sing my song

she did seek
a music store
where she did buy
a steel guitar

a present then
she made to me
that I might then
for her sing

steel wires
so narrow they
strung so tight
for tender flesh

six to press
with fingers five
twisted to shapes
that hurt my flesh

books of songs
I did buy
and practiced hard
so many hours

steel too hard
and calluses too slow
I did sell
that steel guitar

classic ones
with nylon strings
my fingers found
to be easier be

and more hours
so many long
I did play
a classic guitar

so long ago
when I did try
and I did fail
to play guitar

in dark of night
at Christmas time
I do dream
of bass guitars

strings of four
and a lower pitch
that I could tune
to a open G

then to barre
with finger straight
then playing chords
would simpler be

and the pitch
much lower then
to match my voice
deep and low

I do dream
in dark of night
that I might play
a bass guitar