Last summer I had tentative plans to do a cross-country US road trip with some very dear friends. Though it fell through, we’ve promised each other that it will happen when we’re all more settled–or less. In the stead of that adventure I opted to go interrailing when I finished up my essays and exams, part of which (with more to come) is chronicled on my personal blog.

I learned quite a few things during that time, not the least of which being that the inability to go anywhere without a book on hand is a serious character flaw in somebody who needs to travel light. In order to lessen my load and send some good vibrations into to world, I posted books as I finished them to friends I thought would enjoy them. To one of the friends with whom I’d planned the road trip I sent a collection of blues poetry. She boarded a plane in Dublin today to begin her own journey through Central and South America. I can only hope she’s half as excited as I am for her.

Blues Haiku

let me be yo wild
erness let me be yo wind
blowing you all day

-Sonia Sanchez

Lyrics by W.C. Handy.

Get Away 1928
For Martin Sewell

Pack up and hit it
Road warrior got the
Big one

Like the Dipper
Urban area -- a trip
Far gone

Click on the dusty boots
separated troops
Movin' on
Movin' on

Take him off the farm
Seen the Parée
Uh Huh

Hard to 'yes, boss'
After francophillic
got some

Brothers swung low
Belles chimed
Sweet french quiches

"Boy" in the US
All man to 
parisians

Scared the Crow
Plot-condemned--no way
couldn't keep him

Flee to the 
steel belt (work-related
health reasons).

Rusty got the clay
still baked to his
pained face

Collard green and hoe cake
withdrawal from his 
momma's place

Foul hawk breezing through
with the Negro
northern news

you ain't never far away
enough to not need
the blues.

-Tracie Morris

Selections all found in Blues Poems, edited by Kevin Young.