Originally posted 6/13/2012.

Big Joe Turner

could palm a jump blues
like an egg,
handle it rough,
never break it. 

“Shake Rattle And Roll.”
Big Joe Long Dead smiting us
with the soft club
of his voice.

Big Joe I Wish To Have Seen You Just Once,

how it must have been
back then: discovery
followed by imitation
till the fakers squeaked out loud that

they think they sound as good as you did.
The shell fragments
and the sticky yolk on their hands
say no.

Big Joe Founder,

they are starting
to forget you
and all your kiss curled
imitators too.

Big Joe Turner,

thank you for
the musical ache in our bones,
the unbroken eggs
still hatching.