Leaves In The Wind Poem by Paul Reed

I read that Jimi was your hero
You searched in vain to emulate
All the time supremely unaware
It was you that was really great

Ever searching for a ‘sound’ like his
When there was no need at all
Instead, unknowing, your fingers touched
My soul with vibrato squall

‘Trouble on Double Time’ and ‘Woman’,
‘Mr Big’ and ‘Mouthful of Grass’
That big hole in the ground that you wanted to dig
Grew deeper as I watched the time pass

I still listen with adolescent shiver
To the piercing cry of sunburst Les Paul
I still walk in your shadow
From the garbage cans of the back street crawl

The unreachable high that you craved for
Carried with it too high a price
The heroin stream in your veins
Always the last throw of the dice

Much too soon you took that final flight
With wings that could no longer fly
With ‘Tons of Sobs’ you left me
No forgiving or word of goodbye

The last verse never to be played
A curtain that can never descend
Fretboard growing dusty and shabby
Wishes I can no longer extend

Perhaps you can still hear me play you
Through strings that know more than just sound
Heavy heart muffled but still beating
As that last flight touched the ground