We're all strangers as we travel this world.
And sometimes we meet
In different times, ways, and places.
We dance our dances, make our music;
We move to the music
That means something to us;
Sometimes we sing along;
Then we all move on.
We're all just passing through.
Now and then, we meet the makers.
Not the stars of today,
But the 91 tear-old who backed the greats,
Who beat back the bottle; outlasted his music peers;
Helped create the Chicago Blues piano sound,
And made his bones in the 50s,
With Howlin' Wolf's Band;
And recorded with Elmore, Sonny, Muddy,
Bo, Buddy, and The Stones.
At 10: 10 PM, Henry Gray is introduced…
And lifts himself from his chair with his cane,
Walks up the 4 wooden stairs to the stage,
Sets himself down, looks around at each musician,
And, with no fanfare, bangs away a boogie beat
That lifts 100 blues lovers from their melancholy ways.
He demonstrates what he's been doing
As he's been passing through.
He still plays many Blues Festivals;
Been featured in Eastwood's "Blues Piano";
Won national Arts awards, and acted in movies.
Here at Antone's in Austin,
He plays a solid hour with a solid house band,
That included Benny Turner on bass,
From the old Freddie King Band.
I met Henry cooling off near the front door.
So nice, I said, really nice; I shook his hand.
Thank you kindly; we're here tomorrow, he says.
Wish I could, man, really would like to, but,
I'm just passing through.
7-2-2016
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
We are all indeed just passing through. Some leave more behind than others
Copy that, Kelly.