Century Blues

electric guitar
fetish of the century
crude talk of the people
jargon, slang
dark origins
blues bayou strum
white rock n' roll
shrill electric amplified
distorted
turned upon itself
louder than airplanes
or opinions
Limeys
Negroes
long-haired freaks
young gods for the young
guitar said, "Fuck you, big man."
guitar said, "Shake for me."
guitar said, "Listen."
guitar said, "Walk away."
guitar said, "Who are you."
guitar said, "Lick me."
guitar said, "Do it."
And whatever it was, they did.
For a while, at least.
When people heard guitar
(ubiquitous: how could they not?)
knew its patois like a second tongue
upon their genitals and in their throats
it was our lyre"