OL' SOFT SHOES

By Kyreonna April Davis

Hear the violence in every score!

Hear the violins’ screeches soar!

Every night, my ears bleed sore!

Who’s there tapping on my floor?

A wandering spirit in my home,

Jiving to that saxophone,

To that jazzy, fazzy tune:

A-one, a-two, a-one, two.

Every Holy night since June,

To that jizzy, fizzy tune,

I hear the ol’ soft tappy shoes:

A-tip, a-tap, a-tappy too.

Tapping softly through my door,

Clicking– clacking more and more,

Tippy tapping on my floor:

A-one, a-two, a-three, four.

This final night, I’ll not condone!

With ire ripping up my throat,

I raise my head from my pillow,

I raise my voice and let him know,

“Whoever it be, let it rest!

Every night, you dance your best!

I beggeth thee for a good night’s sleep!

Grant to me, or it’s hell you’ll reap!”

Silence followed after me.

The tipping– tapping falls to cease.

I close my eyes in soft serene.

Awakened by the tapping tease!

Louder and harder the tappy shoes,

Tip-tap tapping to the blues!

The piano plinks its melody!

Harmonicas cry in harmony!

I jump in anger from my bed!

Enraged, I stomp down my steps!

My ankle twists. I trip and slip

Down my stairs and pop a hip!

I’m lying on my cold hard floor

On my back. I’m feeling sore!

The tippy tapping’s hard and more:

A-one, a-two, a-three, four!

I hear the tipping coming near,

The tipping tapping in my ears.

I feel the tippy ol’ soft shoes,

Tapping on my body. Blues!

Tip-tip, tappy on my head.

Tippy tappy ‘til I bled.

Tip-tip, tappy on my chest,

Through my heart, I’m tapped to death.

***

Finally, I’m blessed with sleep-

A still, sombre, hungered sleep.

It cost my life. Shall no one weep!

I’m given freedom and peace to keep.

In my sleep, I hear a tune-

A fizzy, fazzy, jazzy tune.

I hear the trumpets whopping, too:

A-one, a-two, a-one, two.

Strutting– hopping on my grave,

That wandering soul’s still tapping brave.

Haunting me with every tap:

A-click, a-clack, a-tip, tap.

#darkpoetsclub