SPARK

Amy Souza
Response

Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good to You
By Paulette Beete
Inspiration piece

A slow burn of tone
no shoulderwailing or headjerks,
the fight’s tight

tween figners and keys,
which isn’t to say he & the Hammond
are merely slowdancing.

Sometimes he likes to
lay into a particular note,
moan it under the guitar & drums

so his mouth spills music
& he seems a little drunk.
Over his stretched notes

the drummer’s urging the skins toward truth
his mouth hangs open
fingers flash slide & glide
building desire

into something
that’s enough
pushing satisfaction

through elbows
through forearms
through sticks

til rhythm haloes the stage
like neon.
The guitar man’s deep in prayer

brailling questions to his frets.
The wide-hipped guitar’s
seductive:

Touch me, play me, pull me.
He wants to take us with him—
but she’s impatient, jealous—

Break me down like this.
Touch me here.
Use all your fingers.

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