Poetry:

I Wish I Were A Soul Train Dancer

I wish I were a Soul Train dancer
On the tv with great moves and rhythm
Flowing through my beautiful body
Adorned in fashion of my own creation
I wish I were a Soul Train dancer
Feeling the beat and smiling the smile
As my shining moment flashed for the
Seconds that I strolled down the line
I wish I were a Soul Train dancer
Knowing that my platform put me in
The minds of those who sought to walk
Down the gossamer halls of cool
I wish I were a Soul Train dancer
Building for the moment that would
Arrive finally after the singers and
Commercials were gone
I wish I were a Soul Train dancer
At the end of the show when Don Cornelius
Was the host saying as always in parting
I wish you Love, peace and soul!
I wish I were a Soul Train dancer
Waiting to return next week
When it will all be a stone gas honey
Instead of a fifty-eight year old white guy with a limp.

Three Fingers Man: A Blues Poem

I like my bourbon whiskey poured two fingers high
Then I sit back and watch all my troubles float on by
But since I met you, baby
I 've done nothin' much but cry

I thought that I could love you
But you left me high and dry
Now I'm a three fingers man
Yes, I'm a three fingers man

It takes a little more than it did before
To lose these blues you gave me
When you walked out the door
Now I'm a three fingers man

Your lovin was so gentle, your lovin was so sweet
The moment I first met you, you knocked me off my feet
Bought you a brand new Lincoln and gave you spending cash
Thought we had something special, something that would last

But your tender lovin was not for me alone
And I soon discovered that you were playin far from home
Thought that I could change you and I hoped you would be true
But I found out that there was nothin I could do

Packed your clothes one evenin '
And left them by the door
Pinned a note to the bag
Said, "Don't come back no more"

Then I left for Johnnie's bar to have a drink or two
When I sat down on the stool, Johnnie knew what to do
He reached for the Bourbon bottle and a drinkin glass Wrapped two fingers around it, looked at me and asked

"The usual, old friend?" as he began to pour
"No", I said to Johnnie, "better add one more".
Now I'm a three fingers man
Yes, I'm a three fingers man

It takes a little more than it did before
To lose these blues you gave me
When you walked out the door
Now I'm a three fingers man

Start Over Again

That's the way life is, my friend
A beginning always follows an end
Maybe not now and maybe not then
But one day we all start over again

I've worked my whole life through
And always found it strange
That the only thing I could always expect
Is that everything will change

I've given my labor for money
I've traded my strength and my time
I've lived in the land of milk and honey
And I've been down to my last dime

That's the way life is, my friend
A beginning always follows an end
Maybe not now and maybe not then
But one day we all start over again

There are the times we hope will last forever
But we know that they never will
There are the people we love and treasure
Their memories in our heart still

There are the roads I have chosen to travel
And the ones that I never will know
There are the plans I have seen unravel
And the places I never expected to go

That's the way life is, my friend
A beginning always follows an end
Maybe not now and maybe not then
But one day we all start over again

I can't know my last tomorrow
But I know I have today
I'll live with the joy and sorrow
And be grateful along the way

As I enjoy the last stretch of highway
And head out beyond the bend
I will look for a new open byway
As I bid you farewell, my friend

That's the way life is, my friend
A beginning always follows an end
Maybe not now and maybe not then
But one day we all start over again

Howard Feigenbaum is an artist and author. His photographs have appeared in art shows in Southern California, on www.art.com and on www.imagesquintprint.com . His children's book, We're All Nuts! (Booksurge Publications), a coming-of-age story about a peanut who discovers that it is not a nut at all, but a legume, is available on www.amazon.com . Howard has written poetry since childhood.