A Broken Canary

A Broken Canary



a pretty little brown girl
with a lovely voice
much too big for her body
needin' to come out and shout

cleanin' white folks homes
hummin' as she scrubs
along came a bookin' spider
sat beside her, offerin' to pay

young, vulnerable, lovely
she opened her heart
mixin' lyrics and music
smoky blues, a sad lady lost in love

hungerin' for a man of her own
many men gave her jewels
Louis with eyes that spoke poems
slipped a Gardenia behind her ear

"Lady Day" she became,
the warblers of the day sang her charms
Sinatra said she was one of a kind
behind closed doors, she felt alone

travelin' in the deep South
was a ugly slap in the face
she had the voice of an angel
who had to use an outhouse

the Lady wanted a baby to hold
she and Louis tried but were denied
Why God? She was bein' good
then she lost her man

the old cravin' stirred
the candyman was everywhere
no reason to say "no"
no babies, no man to hold

she couldn't work
judge said no singin'
where they served booze
seemed the world was against her

she was found in seedy hotel
broke, alone, stone cold
a packet of white powder close
her sweet heart finally gave out




By Kathie Stehr
July 20, 2011