Blue Juniper

As a white guy, I feel awkward writing blues poetry, because I feel like it’s appropriation. Maybe I’m overthinking it; I find it to be a beautiful form, rhythmically and thematically, and I try to approach it with respect. But with its deep roots in spirituals and African-American culture, I feel as though I don’t have a right to write it. I guess the opinions you, the readership, might have will vary, so just know that I’m not trying to make any kind of overarching comment about the form or history or society or anything by using blues structure. (Or at least, what I think is blues structure; I am not an expert.) The prompt for this one was We Write Poems asking us to write from the point of view of a fairy tale character: I thought of the son from The Juniper Tree (who doesn’t really have a voice except to sing his tale of woe), and the blues idea just seemed to fit correctly. But I tried to make it ambiguous enough that if you didn’t recognize the images from the story, it would still have a blues theme feel to it.

Also, I think I could write another five verses for this. I’m keeping this first draft short for now, but might revise later!

Blue Juniper

I’m light as a sparrow, but I’m heavier than a miller’s stone,
Feel light as a sparrow, but oh, I carry a miller’s stone.
There’s no one more heavy than a boy wanting to go back home.

Got a sister to keep from her mother who loves her so,
Once had a kid sister, crying for mama to love her so.
Could I get some love too? Well, I’m looking: looking high and low.

Up a twisted old tree, I’ve got all I could ever need,
Yes, that gin-scented tree, it’s got everything I need,
Except for a family– can’t grow that from just any old seed.

But I’ll keep on singing til there’s no more tears left to shed
And I’ll go on singing, no more salt in my body to shed.
Then a whirlwind blows in: and evil better bow her head.

I’m light as a sparrow, but I’m heavier than a miller’s stone,
Oh, I’m lighter than sparrows, and heavier than a miller’s stone.
And nothing’s more heavy than a boy wanting to go back home.

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